tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71553930326690292272024-03-12T20:22:24.119-07:00ENB-DocumentsENB.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00449836977074869699noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7155393032669029227.post-82493295074412417322015-07-28T15:12:00.000-07:002015-07-28T15:12:16.990-07:00TNA Election manifesto August 2015 (தமிழ்)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">கூட்டமைப்பின் 2015 ஓகஸ்ற் பொதுத் தேர்தல் அறிக்கை:</span></b><br />
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அந்நியர் ஆட்சியிலிருந்து 1948 இல் இலங்கை சுதந்திரம் பெற்றபோது சாதாரண பெரும்பான்மை ஆட்சி முறையிலான ஒற்றையாட்சி அரசியலமைப்பு முறையொன்று இங்கு பலவந்தமாகத் திணிக்கப்பட்டது. 1949 ஆம் ஆண்டில் இந்திய வம்சாவளித் தமிழர்களில் கணிசமான எண்ணிக்கையிலானோரின் வாக்குரிமை பறிக்கப்பட்டது. இச் செயற்பாட்டை எதிர்த்தனால் ஏற்பட்ட அரசியல் எழுச்சி காரணமாக 1949 டிசம்பரில் இலங்கைத் தமிழரசுக் கட்சி தோற்றம் பெற்றது. இச் சமகாலத்திலேயே அரச ஆதரவுடன் தமிழ் பேசும் மக்கள் பெரும்பான்மையாக வாழும் பகுதிகளில், குறிப்பாக கிழக்கு மாகாணத்தில பெரும்பான்மை இனத்தவர்களைக் குடியேற்றும் திட்டங்கள் தீவிரமடைந்தன.<br />
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இந்தப் பின்னணியில் தான் இலங்கைத் தமிழரசுக் கட்சி ‘தமிழ் மக்கள் ஒரு தேசிய இனத்திற்குரிய அனைத்து அம்சங்களையும் கொண்டவர்கள் என்பதால் தமிழர் ஒரு தனித்துவமான தேசிய இனமெனவும், அந்த அடிப்படையில் சுயநிர்ணய உரிமைக்கு உரித்துடையவர்கள்’ என்கின்ற தனது அரசியற் கோட்பாட்டினை முன்வைத்தது. இந்த உரிமையை செயற்படுத்தவென தமிழ் பேசும் மக்கள் பெரும்பான்மையாக வாழும் வடக்கு-கிழக்கில் கூட்டாட்சி அடிப்படையிலான தன்னாட்சி ஏற்பாடு ஒன்றை இலங்கைத் தமிழரசுக் கட்சி கோரிநின்றது.<br />
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இந்தக் காலப்பகுதியிலிருந்து 1970 வரையிலான கால இடைவெளியில் முதலில் அந்நிய ஆக்கிரமிப்பினாலும் பின்னர் பெரும்பான்மை ஆதிக்கத்தினை வலுப்படுத்திய அரச அமைப்பினாலும் நாம் இழந்த எமது இறைமையினை மீட்டெடுக்க அறவழிப் போராட்டங்கள் பல முன்னெடுக்கப்பட்டன.<br />
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மொழி மற்றும் கலாச்சாரத் தனித்துவ அடையாளங்களைப் பேணவென அன்று தமிழ் மக்களின் தலைவராக விளங்கிய தந்தை செல்வா அவர்களால் முறையே 1957 மற்றும் 1965களில் பிரதம மந்திரிகளான எஸ் டபிள்யூ ஆர் டி பண்டாரநாயக்க, டட்லி சேனாநாயக்க என்பவர்களுடன் வடக்கு-கிழக்கில் உள்ள அரச காணிகளைப் பாரதீனப்படுத்தலைப் பிரதான அம்சமாகக் கொண்ட ஒப்பந்தங்கள் செய்துகொள்ளப்பட்டன. இவ்விரு ஒப்பந்தங்களுமே அன்றைய அரசாங்கங்களால் ஒருதலைப்பட்சமாக கிழித்தெறியப்பட்டன.<br />
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1961 இல் இலங்கைத் தமிழ் அரசுக் கட்சி வடக்கு-கிழக்கில் வாழும் பல்லாயிரக்கணக்கான தமிழ் பேசும் மக்களை இணைத்து சத்தியாக்கிரகப் போராட்டத்தை நடத்தியது. மக்கள் அமைதியான முறையில் கச்சேரி வாசல்களை வழிமறித்து மத வழிபாட்டிலும், போராட்டத்திலும் ஈடுபட்டமை வடக்கு-கிழக்கில் அரச கருமங்களை முற்றிலும் இயங்கா நிலைக்கு உள்ளாக்கியது.<br />
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1970 இல் இலங்கைக்கான சுதேசிய அரசியலமைப்பொன்றை நிறுவும் முகமாக அரசியலமைப்புப் பேரவை ஒன்று ஏற்படுத்தப்பட்டது. இந்தச் செயன்முறையில் தமிழரசுக் கட்சியும் பங்குபற்றியதோடு தமிழ் பேசும் மக்களின் ஜனநாயகத் தீர்ப்பிற்கமைய ஒன்றுபட்ட நாட்டிற்குள் பகிரப்பட்ட இறையாண்மை என்ற அடிப்படையில் வடக்கு-கிழக்கில் வாழும் தமிழ் பேசும் மக்களுடன் ஆட்சி அதிகாரங்களைப் பகிர்ந்து கொள்வதற்கான ஏற்பாடுகள் உள்ளடக்கப்பட வேண்டுமென்று வலியுறுத்தியது.<br />
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இவ் ஆலோசனைகள் பெரும்பான்மை வாக்குகளால் தோற்கடிக்கப்பட இலங்கை தமிழரசுக் கட்சி உறுப்பினர்கள் அரசியல் அமைப்புப் பேரவையிலிருந்து வெளியேறினர். இதே போன்று 1978 ஆம் ஆண்டு அறிமுகப்படுத்தப்பட்ட அரசியலமைப்பிற்கும் தமிழ் மக்கள் தமது சம்மதத்தினை வழங்கவில்லை. முதலாம் மற்றும் இரண்டாம் குடியரசு யாப்புக்கள் இரண்டுமே ஒற்றையாட்சி அரசமைப்பை உறுதிப்படுத்தியதுடன் சிங்கள மொழியினை மாத்திரமே ஒரே அரச கரும மொழியாகக் கொண்டு செயற்படவும் தொடர்ந்தும் பௌத்த மதத்திற்கு முதன்மையான இடத்தை வழங்கவும் வழிவகுத்தன. இந்த இரு குடியரசு யாப்புக்களும் தமிழ் மக்களின் சம்மதமின்றியே நிறைவேற்றப்பட்டன.<br />
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1948 இல் இலங்கை சுதந்திரம் பெற்றதிலிருந்து தமிழ் மக்களின் வரலாற்று வாழ்விடமாகிய வடக்கு-கிழக்கின் இன விகிதாசாரத்தை மாற்றியமைக்கும் முனைப்புடன் திட்டமிட்ட அரச ஆதரவுச் சிங்களக் குடியேற்றங்கள் நடைபெற்றன. 2009 ஆம் ஆண்டு யுத்தம் முடிவுற்ற பின்னர் வடக்கு-கிழக்கில் இது முழு முனைப்புடன் தொடர்ந்தது. அரசாங்கம் வடக்கு மாகாணத்தில் அடக்குமுறையான இராணுவமயமாக்குதல் தொடர்ந்து பேணி வருவதுடன் இராணுவ நோக்கத்திற்கென பெருமளவு காணிகளை அபகரிப்பதிலும் ஈடுபட்டது.<br />
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தமிழ் இளைஞர்களின் உயர் கல்வியைப் பாதித்த தரப்படுத்தல் மற்றும் அரச துறையில் வேலை வாய்ப்பு வழங்குவதில் காட்டிய வெளிப்படையான பாரபட்சம் என்பவற்றுடன் 1956, 1958, 1961, 1977, 1981 மற்றும் 1983 ஆகிய ஆண்டுகளிலும், அதனைத் தொடர்ந்து தொடர்ச்சியாகவும் தமிழ் மக்களுக்கெதிரான திட்டமிட்ட வன்முறை கட்டவிழ்த்துவிடப்பட்டது. அரசு எவ்வித பாதுகாப்பையும் பாதிக்கப்பட்ட தமிழர்களுக்கு வழங்கவில்லை.<br />
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இச் சந்தர்ப்பங்களில் நாட்டின் ஏனைய பாகங்களில் பாதிக்கப்பட்ட தமிழர்கள் நிலம், கடல் மற்றும் வான் வழியாக வடக்குக் கிழக்கிற்கு அன்றைய அரசாங்கங்களினால் அனுப்பி வைக்கப்பட்டனர். இதன் மூலம் இவ்விரு மாகாணங்களையும் தமிழர் தம் தாயகமாகவும் அங்குதான் தமிழர்களுக்கு பாதுகாப்பு உண்டு எனவும் அரசாங்கமே ஏற்றுக்கொண்டது.<br />
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அதிகாரப் பகிர்வு ஏற்பாடுகள்<br />
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1983 ஆம் ஆண்டு தமிழருக்கெதிராகக் கட்டவிழ்த்து விடப்பட்ட இனப் படுகொலையினைத் தொடர்ந்து, தமிழ் பேசும் மக்களுக்குப் பெருமளவு தன்னாட்சி அதிகாரத்தினை வழங்கும் ஒரு மாற்று அரசியல் ஏற்பாட்டின் மூலம் தமிழரின் தேசியப் இனப் பிரச்சினைக்குத் தீர்வு காணும் முயற்சிகள் மேற்கொள்ளப்பட்டன. இலங்கை-இந்திய ஒப்பந்தத்தைத் தொடர்ந்து 1987 இல் குறைந்தபட்ச அதிகாரங்களைக் கொண்ட மாகாண சபை அறிமுகப்படுத்தப்பட்டதுடன், அதி உயர்மட்டக் கலந்துரையாடல்களில் அதிகாரப்பகிர்வு விருத்தி செய்யப்படுமென்ற வாக்குறுதிகளும் வழங்கப்பட்டன.<br />
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தேசியப் இனப் பிரச்சினைக்குத் தீர்வு காணும் ஏனைய முயற்சிகள், 1993 இல் ஜனாதிபதி ரணசிங்க பிரேமதாசவின் ஆட்சிக்காலத்திலே மங்கள முனசிங்க தெரிவுக்குழுவின் தீர்வாலோசனைகள், ஜனாதிபதி சந்திரிக்கா பண்டாரநாயக்க குமாரதுங்கவின் ஆட்சியின் கீழ் 1995, 1997 மற்றும் 2000 ஆம் ஆண்டுகளில் முன்வைக்கப்பட்ட அரசியலமைப்புச் சீர்திருத்த ஆலோசனைகள, அத்துடன் ஜனாதிபதி மகிந்த ராஜபக்ச ஆட்சியின் கீழ் 2006 டிசம்பரில் சர்வ கட்சி பல்லின வல்லுனர் குழுவின் பெரும்பான்மை அறிக்கை ஆகியவற்றிற்கு இட்டுச் சென்றன.<br />
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எரியும் தேசியப் இனப்பிரச்சினைக்குத் தீர்வு காண அரசியல் அரங்கில் எதுவித முன்னேற்றமும் ஏற்படாதிருந்த காலகட்டத்தில், தமிழீழ விடுதலைப் புலிகள் இயக்கம் தனது ஆயுதப் போராட்டத்தினைத் தொடர்ந்து முன்னெடுத்தது. அடுத்தடுத்து ஆட்சி செய்த அரசாங்கங்கள் தமிழீழ விடுதலைப் புலிகளுடன் பேச்சுவார்த்தைகளை மேற்கொண்டன. 2002 பெப்ரவரி மாதம் தமிழீழ விடுதலைப் புலிகளும் அன்றைய இலங்கை அரசாங்கமும் போர் நிறுத்த ஒப்பந்தமொன்றில் கைச்சாத்திட்டதோடு, 2002 டிசம்பரில் ஏற்பட்ட ‘ஒஸ்லோ’ உடன்படிக்கையில் சில அடிப்படைக் கோட்பாடுகளின் மீது இணக்கம் கண்டன. அக் கோட்பாடு பின்வருமாறு அமைந்தது.<br />
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‚ஒன்றுபட்ட இலங்கைக்குள் தமிழ் பேசும் மக்களின் வரலாற்று ரீதியான வாழ்விடப் பகுதிகளில் உள்ளக சுயநிர்ணய உரிமைக் கொள்கையின் பிரகாரம் சமஷ்டிக் கட்டமைப்பின் அடிப்படையிலமைந்த தீர்வொன்றை ஆராய்தல்‛ .<br />
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<b> இராணுவத் தாக்குதலும் அதன் பின் விளைவுகளும்</b><br />
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இருப்பினும், இந்த யுத்த நிறுத்தம் நீண்ட காலம் நீடிக்கவில்லை. அரச படைகளுக்கும் தமிழீழ விடுதலைப் புலிகளுக்குமிடையே மீண்டும் மூண்ட இராணுவ மோதல்கள் 2009 ஆம் ஆண்டு மே மாதம் 19 ஆம் திகதியன்று முடிவுக்கு வந்தது. 30 வருட காலமாக நடந்த இந்தக் கொடூர யுத்தம் வடக்கையும் கிழக்கையும் பேரழிவிற்கு உள்ளாக்கியதோடு, தமிழ் மக்களையும் கதியற்றவர்களாக்கியது. பத்து இலட்சத்துக்கும் மேற்பட்ட தமிழர்கள் பாதுகாப்புத் தேடி வெளி நாடுகளில் தஞ்சம் புகுந்தனர். மேலும், ஐந்து இலட்சம் தமிழர்கள் நாட்டிற்குள்ளேயே அகதிகளாக்கப்பட்டனர்.<br />
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ஒரு இலட்சத்து ஐம்பதினாயிரத்திற்கும் அதிகமான தமிழர்கள் யுத்தம் நடைபெற்ற காலப்பகுதியில் கொல்லப்பட்டுள்ளதுடன், நம்பத்தகுந்த கணக்கெடுப்புக்களின் படி எழுபதாயிரத்திற்கும் மேற்பட்ட பொதுமக்கள் போரின் இறுதிக்கட்டங்களில் கொல்லப்பட்டனர். இதற்கும் மேலாகப் பல்லாயிரக் கணக்கானோரது அவயவங்கள் பாதிக்கப்பட்டதும், மோசமான காயங்களுக்குள்ளானதும், உள அழுத்தங்களுக்கும், உளவியல் பிரச்சினைகளுக்கும் ஆளானதும் நாமறிந்த யதார்த்தம்.<br />
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ஐந்து இலட்சத்திற்கும் அதிகமான தமிழர் தமது வசிப்பிடங்களை இழந்தனர். இவர்களில் பலர் எல்லா சர்வதேச நியமங்களுக்கும், நாகரிக நடைமுறைமைகளுக்கும் எதிராக தடுப்பு முகாம்களில் தடுத்து வைக்கப்பட்டனர். இம் மக்கள் தமது பூர்வீக இடங்களில் மீளக்குடியமர்த்தப்படுவார்கள் என சர்வதேச சமூகத்திற்கும், ஐக்கிய நாடுகளுக்கும் வாக்குறுதியளிக்கப்பட்ட போதும் இந்த வாக்குறுதிகள் இன்றுவரை நிறைவேற்றப்படவில்லை.<br />
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தமிழ் மக்களும் இன்றிருக்கும் அரசியலமைப்பு ஏற்பாடுகளும்சர்வதேச நியமங்களின் படியும், சர்வதேச சாசனங்களின் பிரகாரமும் தமிழர்களாகிய நாங்கள் தனிச் சிறப்புமிக்க மக்கள் குழாமாவோம். ஒரு மக்கள் குழாமான நாங்கள் பேரினவாதத்தின் பிடிக்கு ஆட்படாது கௌரவத்துடனும் சுயமரியாதையுடனும், சுதந்திரமாகவும், அச்சமின்றியும், நாட்டின் ஏனைய மக்களுடன் சமத்துவமுள்ள மக்களாக வாழ விரும்புகின்றோம்.<br />
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இதனால், தனித்துவமான மக்களாகவும், தேசிய இனமாகவும் நாம் எமது வரலாற்று ரீதியான வாழ்விடங்கள் தொடர்பிலும், எமக்குரிய எமது ஒருமித்த உரிமைகள் தொடர்பிலும், மேலும் எமது தலைவிதியை அல்லது எதிர்காலத்தை நாமே தீர்மானிப்பதற்கு எமக்கிருக்கும் உரிமை தொடர்பிலும், அதை உறுதிப்படுத்த ஒன்றுபட்டதும், பிளவுபடாததுமான இலங்கைக்குள் தமிழ்பேசும் மக்கள் வாழும் வடக்கு-கிழக்கில் தக்க தன்னாட்சி முறைமை ஒன்றை நடைமுறைப்படுத்துவது தொடர்பிலும் திடசங்கற்பம் கொண்டிருக்கின்றோம்.<br />
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இவை தொடர்பிலான தற்போதைய அரசியலமைப்பு ஏற்பாடுகள் பொருத்தமற்றதாகவும், திருப்தியற்றதாகவும் அமைந்துள்ளன. தற்போதுள்ள ஏற்பாடுகள் பெரும்பான்மை மக்களுக்குச் சார்பானதாகவும், அவர்களது ஆதிக்கத்தை தமிழர் மீது திணிக்கும் வகையிலுமே அமைந்துள்ளன. நீதி, சமத்துவம், சமாதானம் மற்றும் பாதுகாப்பு என்பவற்றை உறுதிப்படுத்தும் ஓர் அரசியலமைப்புக் கட்டமைப்பின்றி பல்லின சமூகமொன்றில் ஜனநாயகம் செயற்பட முடியாது. இந்த பின்புலத்திலேயே நாம் எதிர்வரும் பாராளுமன்றப் பொதுத் தேர்தலைச் சந்திக்கின்றோம்.<br />
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இறையாண்மை என்பது மக்களிடமே உண்டு, அரசிடம் அல்ல எனத் தமிழ்த் தேசியக் கூட்டமைப்பு உறுதியாக வலியுறுத்துகின்றது. தமிழ் மக்களை ஆளுகின்ற உரிமை கொழும்பிலிருக்கும் அரசாங்கத்திடமல்ல, தமிழ் மக்களிடமே பொதிந்திருக்கின்றது. இதனடிப்படையில், மத்திய அரசிடமும் அதன் முகவரான ஆளுநரிடமும் அதிகாரங்களைக் குவிக்கின்ற 13 ஆம் திருத்தச் சட்டம் முற்றிலும் பிழையானதொன்று. ஏதேச்சாதிகார அரசிற்கு விடுக்கும் அடிப்படை ஜனநாயகச் சவாலின் மீதே எமது அரசியல் சித்தாந்தம் வேரூன்றி நிற்கின்றது.<br />
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இந்த நோக்கம் நாடளாவிய ரீதியில் செயற்படுவதற்கென நாம் கடந்த ஜனவரி 8 இல் நடந்த ஜனாதிபதித் தேர்தலில் எமது மாபெரும் பங்களிப்பை வழங்கியிருந்தோம். ஆகவே, எமது அரசியலானது அனைத்து மக்களதும் தேவைகள் மற்றும் அரசியலபிலாசைகளோடும் தமிழ் பேசும் மக்களது நீதி மற்றும் சமத்துவத்திற்கான போராட்டத்துடனும் பின்னிப்பிணைந்துள்ளது.<br />
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<b>அரசியல் தீர்வு தொடர்பான எமது நிலைப்பாடு</b><br />
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தமிழ்த் தேசியக் கூட்டமைப்பு தேசிய இனப் பிரச்சனைக்குத் தீர்வுகாண அத்தியாவசியமெனக் கருதும் கோட்பாடுகளும், பிரத்தியேக அரசியலமைப்பு ஏற்பாடுகளும் பிரதானமாக இத்தீவில் வாழும் பல்வேறு மக்களிடையே ஆட்சி அதிகாரங்களைப் பங்கிடுவதனூடாகப் பகிர்ந்த இறையாண்மையினை உறுதிப்படுத்தலைக் குறித்தது. உண்மையான நல்லிணக்கத்தையும், நீடித்து நிலைக்கும் சமாதானத்தையும், இலங்கை மக்கள் அனைவருக்கும் பொதுவான அபிவிருத்தியையும் எய்துவதற்குப் பின்வரும் அதிகாரப் பங்கீட்டு அடிப்படைகள் முக்கியம் பெறுகின்றன.<br />
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தமிழர்கள் தமக்கேயுரிய நாகரிகம், மொழி, கலாசாரம், மற்றும் பாரம்பரியத்தைக் கொண்ட தனித்துவமிக்க தேசிய இனமாவர். அத்துடன் தொன்று தொட்டே சிங்கள மக்களுடனும் ஏனைய மக்களுடனும் இந்தத் தீவில் வாழ்ந்து வருகின்றனர்.<br />
புவியியல் ரீதியாகப் பிணைக்கப்பட்டுள்ளதும், தமிழ் பேசும் மக்களைப் பெரும்பான்மையாகக் கொண்டதுமான வடக்கு-கிழக்கு மாகாணங்கள் தமிழ் மக்களதும், தமிழ் பேசும் முஸ்லீம் மக்களதும் பூர்வீக வாழ்விடங்களாகும்.<br />
இலங்கை நாடு ஏற்றுக்கொண்டு, கைச்சாத்திட்டுள்ள ஐக்கிய நாடுகள் அமைப்பின் குடியியலுரிமைகள் மற்றும் அரசியல் உரிமைகள் தொடர்பான சாசனத்திலும், பொருளாதார, சமூக மற்றும் கலாச்சார உரிமைகள் தொடர்பான சாசனத்திலும் அடங்கியிருக்கும் விதிகளின் பிரகாரம் தமிழ் மக்கள் ஒரு தனித்துவமான மக்கள் என்ற அடிப்படையில் சுயநிர்ணய உரிமைக்கு உரித்துடையவர்களாவர்.<br />
முன்னர் இருந்தவாறு ஒன்றுபட்ட வடக்கு-கிழக்கு அலகைக் கொண்ட சமஷ்டிக் கட்டமைப்பிற்குள்ளே அதிகாரப்பகிர்வு ஏற்பாடுகள் தொடர்ந்து நடைமுறைப்படுத்தப்பட வேண்டும். வடக்கு கிழக்கின் வரலாற்றுக் குடிகளான தமிழ் பேசும் முஸ்லிம் மக்களும் மேற்கொள்ளப்படும் அனைத்து அதிகாரப்பகிர்வு ஏற்பாடுகளினதும் நன்மைகளைப் பெற உரித்துடையவர்கள். இது வடக்கு-கிழக்கில் வாழும் எந்த ஒரு மக்கள் மீதும் எவ்வித முரண்பட்ட தாக்கத்தையும் ஏற்படுத்தா வண்ணம் இருத்தல் அவசியம்.<br />
பகிரப்பட்ட இறையாண்மையின் அடிப்படையில் உருவாக்கப்படும் அதிகாரப்பகிர்வு ஏற்பாடானது நிலத்தின் மீதும், தமிழ் மக்களின் பாதுகாப்பை உறுதி செய்யும் வகையில், சட்டம்-ஒழுங்கு, சட்ட அமுலாக்கம் என்பவற்றின் மீதும், சமூக பொருளாதார அபிவிருத்தயின் அங்கங்களான சுகாதாரம், கல்வி, உயர் கல்வி மற்றும் தொழிற் பயிற்சி, விவசாயம், மீன்பிடி, கைத்தொழில், கால்நடை அபிவிருத்தி, பண்பாட்டுத்துறை, உள்நாட்டிலும், வெளிநாட்டிலுமிருந்து வளங்களை திரட்டிக்கொள்ளல் மற்றும் நிதி அதிகாரம் என்பவற்றின் மீதானதாகவும் இருக்க வேண்டும்.<br />
வடக்கு- கிழக்கில் வாழும் இளைஞர்களுக்கு நேரடி வெளிநாட்டு முதலீட்டின் மூலம் புதிய கைத்தொழிற் துறைகளும் வேலை வாய்ப்புக்களும் உருவாக்கப்படல் வேண்டும்<br />
தேசிய பல்கலைக்கழகங்களிற்கு அனுமதி பெறாதோர் தமக்கு உகந்த துறைகளில் உயர் கல்வியைத் தொடர்வதற்கு மாற்று வழிமுறைகள் செயற்படுத்தப்பட வேண்டும்<br />
மேற்குறித்த யாவும் ஒன்றுபட்டதும் பிளவுறாததுமான இலங்கைக்குள் நிறைவேற்றப்பட்டு நடைமுறைப்படுத்தப்பட வேண்டும்.<br />
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<b>பொறுப்புக்கூறல் மற்றும் நல்லிணக்கம் தொடர்பான எமது நிலைப்பாடு</b><br />
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உண்மையானதும் நிலையானதுமான சமாதானத்திற்கு பொறுப்புக்கூறலும், நல்லிணக்கமும் இன்றியமையாதவை. ஐக்கிய நாடுகள் மனித உரிமைகள் சபையில் மார்ச் 2012, மார்ச் 2013, மார்ச் 2014 இல் நிறைவேற்றப்பட்ட தீர்மானங்களின் பரிந்துரைகளதும், மார்ச் 2014 இன் தீர்மானத்தால் அங்கீகாரம் பெற்று எதிர்வரும் செப்டம்பர் மாதம் வெளியிடப்படவிருக்கும் சர்வதேச விசாரணை அறிக்கையினது பரிந்துரைகளதும் முழுமையான நடைமுறையாக்கலை நாம் வலியுறுத்துகின்றோம்.<br />
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உண்மை கண்டறியப்பட வேண்டும் என்பதிலும், அது இலங்கையில் வாழும் சிங்களவர், தமிழர், முஸ்லிம்கள் மற்றும் ஏனைய மக்கள் அனைவருக்கும் தெரிவிக்கப்பட வேண்டும் என்பதிலும் எமக்கு உறுதியான அர்ப்பணிப்புண்டு. உண்மை, நீதி, பரிகாரம் மற்றும் மீள்-நிகழாமைக்கான உறுதி என்பன இலங்கையின் தேசியப் இனப் பிரச்சினை முழுமையாகத் தீர்க்கப்படுவதற்கும், இலங்கை வாழ் பல்வேறு மக்களுக்கிடையே நீதி, சமத்துவம் என்பவற்றின் அடிப்படையில் தோன்றும் நிரந்தரமானதும், உண்மையானதுமான நல்லிணக்கம் நிலைப்பதற்கும் அத்தியாவசியமானவை.<br />
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<b>தமிழ் மக்களது உடனடிப் பிரச்சினைகள்</b><br />
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நாம் நீதியானதும் நிலையானதுமான அரசியல் தீர்வொன்றைக் காண தொடர்ந்து முயற்சிக்கும் அதே வேளை எமது மக்களது உடனடித் தேவைகளைச் சந்திப்பதிலும் முனைப்புடன் ஈடுபடுவோம். குறிப்பான சில விடயங்கள் இங்கு பட்டியற்படுத்தப்பட்டுள்ளன.<br />
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வடக்கிலும் கிழக்கிலும் அர்த்தமுள்ள இராணுவக் குறைப்பிற்கு ஆதாரமாக ஆயுதப்படைகள், இராணுவச் சாதனங்கள் மற்றும் உயர் பாதுகாப்பு வலயங்கள் என்பன அகற்றப்பட வேண்டும். இது இன்று நிலவும் அமைதிச்சூழலில் இன்றியமையாததாகும்.<br />
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வடக்கிலும்- கிழக்கிலும் போரினால் இடம்பெயர்ந்த மக்கள் விரைவாகத் தமது சொந்த இடங்களில் மீளக் குடியேற்றப்பட வேண்டும். இவர்களுக்கான வீடுகளும், வாழ்வாதரங்களும் இவர்களது கௌரவம் குன்றா வண்ணம் மீளமைக்கப்பட வேண்டும்.<br />
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தமிழ்த் தேசியக் கூட்டமைப்பினரது அயராத உழைப்பின் விளைவாக ஜனவரி மாதம் 2015 இல் முன்னைய அரசு தோற்கடிக்கப்பட்டதன் பின்பு ஆட்சிக்கு வந்த அரசாங்கத்தினால் வடக்கில் வலிகாமத்திலிருந்தும், கிழக்கில் சம்பூரிலிருந்தும் வெளியேற்றப்பட்ட மக்களுக்கு அவர்களது காணிகளை மீளக் கையளிப்பதற்கும், அவர்களை மீளக் குடியமர்த்துவதற்குமான தீர்மானம் எடுக்கப்பட்டு, இன்று அது நடைமுறைப்படுத்தப்பட்டுக் கொண்டிருக்கின்றது. இந்தக் விடயங்கள் முற்றாக நிறைவேறும் வரை எமது முயற்சிகள் தொடரும். மேலும், எமது முயற்சியால் முல்லைத்தீவு கேப்பாபிலவில் ஆயிரம் ஏக்கர் நெற்காணி அவற்றிற்கு உரித்தான மக்களிடம் கையளிக்கப்பட்டமை குறிப்பிடத்தக்கது.<br />
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யுத்தம் நிறைவடைந்து ஆறு வருடங்கள் கடந்துவிட்டதனால் பயங்கரவாத தடுப்புச் சட்டத்தின் கீழ் கைதுசெய்து சிறையில் வைக்கப்பட்டிருக்கும் அனைத்து அரசியல் கைதிகளும், போருடன் தொடர்புபட்ட குற்றச்சாட்டுக்களின் பெயரில் சிறையிலிருக்கும் மற்றைய கைதிகளும் விடுதலை செய்யப்பட வேண்டும்.<br />
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உண்மையைக் கண்டறிவதனூடாக இன்று வரை நீடிக்கும் காணாமற்போனோர் விவகாரத்திற்கு முற்றுப் புள்ளி வைக்கப்பட வேண்டும். தமது வாழ்வாதாரமாக இருந்த குடும்பத்தலைவர்களையும் பிள்ளைகளையும் இழந்த காணாமற்போனோர் குடும்பங்கள் துயரங்களைக் கையாளவும், அவர்களை இயல்பு வாழ்க்கைக்குத் திரும்பச் செய்வதற்குமான பன்முகப்படுத்தப்பட்ட விமோசனத் திட்டங்கள் அவர்களுக்குக் கிட்ட வேண்டும்.<br />
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வெளிநாடுகளில் தஞ்சம் புகுந்த தமிழர்கள் தமது வாழ்விடங்களுக்குத் திரும்ப அனுமதி வழங்கப்படுவதோடு, திரும்பத்தக்கதான சூழலும் உருவாக்கப்பட வேண்டும். குறிப்பாக தென்னிந்தியாவில் இருக்கும் ஒரு இலட்சத்திற்கும் அதிகமான அகதிகளின் மீள்வருகைக்கும், மீள்குடியேற்றத்திற்குமான திட்டங்கள் விரைவாக முன்னெடுக்கப்படல் வேண்டும்.<br />
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இளைஞர்களுக்கான வேலை வாய்ப்பை உருவாக்குதல் அடங்கலாக வடக்குக் கிழக்கின் அபிவிருத்திக்கான விரிவானதொரு நிகழ்ச்சித் திட்டம் இலங்கை அரசாங்கத்தினதும், புலம்பெயர் தமிழர்களதும், சர்வதேச சமூகத்தினதும் முனைப்பான ஆதரவுடன் மேற்கொள்ளப்பட வேண்டும்.<br />
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கடந்த அரசின் எதிர்மனப்பாங்கும், ஜனவரித் தேர்தலின் பின்னரான அரசின் உறுதிப்பாடற்ற யதார்த்தமும் இதுவரை மேற்குறிப்பிட்ட திட்டங்களை நடை முறைப்படுத்துவதற்கான அவகாசத்தை வழங்கவில்லை. இப் பொதுத் தேர்தலின் பின்னர் உருவாகும் அரசின் கீழ் இந் நிகழ்ச்சி நிரல் நடைமுறைப்படுத்தப்பட தமிழ்த் தேசியக் கூட்டமைப்பு அயராது உழைக்கும்.<br />
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எமது மக்களின் விவசாயத்திற்கு அவசியமான நீர்த் தேவை மற்றும் குடிநீர்த் தேவை என்பவற்றைப் பூர்த்தி செய்யும் பொருட்டும் வடக்கு-கிழக்கில் உள்ள அனைத்து சிறு குளங்களையும் புனர் நிர்மானம் செய்யும் திட்டத்தினை தமிழ்த் தேசியக் கூட்டமைப்பு முன்னெடுக்கும். மேலும் வடக்கில் நிலவும் குடிநீர்ப் பிரச்சினையினைத் தீர்க்க தமிழ்த் தேசியக் கூட்டமைப்பு ஏற்ற வல்லுனர்களின் உதவியுடன் ஆவன செய்யும்.<br />
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பலாலி விமானத்துறையை சர்வதேச விமான நிலையமாக மாற்றுதல்,<br />
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வடக்கு கிழக்கில்; உள்ள துறைமுகங்களையும் மற்றும் மீன்பிடித்துறைமுகங்களையும்; அபிவிருத்தி செய்தல் என்பன உள்ளடங்கலான பாரிய அபிவிருத்தி திட்டங்கள் வடக்கு கிழக்கில் முன்னெடுக்கப்படும்<br />
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எமது பனைவளத்தை நவீன முறையில் அபிவிருத்தி செய்வதற்கு தேவையான நிபுணத்துவம் மற்றும் தொழில்நுட்ப உதவி பெறப்படும்.<br />
எமது மீனவர்கள் தமது தொழிலில் சுயாதீனமாக ஈடுபடுவதில் எதிர்நோக்கும் சவால்களுக்கு தீர்வுகள் காணப்படுவதுடன் அவர்களது வாழ்வாதார மேம்பாட்டுக்கான பொருத்தமான முன்னெடுப்புக்கள் மேற்கொள்ளப்படும்<br />
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போரினால் விதவையாக்கப்பட்டோர் அநாதைக் குழந்தைகள், முதியோர்கள் மற்றும் அங்கவீனர்கள்வடக்கு கிழக்கில் ஆதரவின்றியிருக்கும் 90,000 இற்கும் அதிகமான விதவைகள் போர் விட்டுச் சென்ற ஆழ்ந்த வடுக்களாய் வாடுகின்றனர். அவர்களது ஆளுமையினை விருத்தி செய்து அவர்களது வாழ்க்கையினை மேம்படுத்த தெளிவானதொரு திட்டம் அவசியம். எம் விதவைகள் இன்று பொருளாதார ரீதியிலும், சமூக ரீதியிலும் பலத்த இன்னல்களிற்கு முகம் கொடுக்கின்றனர். இவர்களது வாழ்வாதாரத் தேவைகளை சீர்செய்யும் திட்டங்களை விரைந்து நடைமுறைப்படுத்தி இவர்களது இக்கட்டான சூழ்நிலையிலிருந்து இவர்கள் விடுவிக்கப்படுவது அவசியம். குழந்தைகள், முதியோர் மற்றும் ஊனமுற்றோரதும் தேவைகளும் நிவர்த்தி செய்யப்பட வேண்டும்.<br />
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<b>முன்னாள் போராளிகளின் புனர்வாழ்வு</b><br />
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முன்னாள் போராளிகளிக்கு வழங்கப்படும் புனர்வாழ்வுத் திட்டங்கள் அவர்கள் தமது வாழ்க்கையை சுயகௌரவத்துடன் மீள ஆரம்பிக்கத்தக்க தொழிற்பயிற்சி, வேலைவாய்ப்பு உருவாக்கம் என்பன அடங்கிய பூரணத்துவமிக்க திட்டங்களாக இருக்க வேண்டும். இவ்விடயம் தொடர்பில் இதுவரை நடைமுறையில் உள்ள திட்டங்கள் தம்மகத்தே பல்வேறு குறைபாடுகளைக் கொண்டிருக்கின்றன. போராளிகளால் தமது வாழ்க்கையை மீண்டும் தொடங்கவோ, வாழ்வாதாரத்தை ஈட்டிக்கொள்ளவோ முடியாத நிலையே தொடர்வதால், இது குறித்த உடனடி வேலைத்திட்டம் அவசியம்.<br />
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<b>மரபுவழிச் சமூக் கட்டமைப்புக்களின் சிதைவு</b><br />
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தமிழர்களை அர்த்தமுள்ள ஆட்சிப் பங்களிப்பிலிருந்து ஒதுக்கிவைத்து, அதற்குப்பதிலாக இராணுவத்தைப் பயன்படுத்தும் இன்றைய யதார்த்தத்தில் பெண்களுக்கெதிரான வன்முறைகள் தலைவிரித்தாடும் சூழலும், இளைஞர்கள் மது மற்றும் போதைப் பொருளுக்கு அடிமையாகும் நிலைமையும் தோற்று விக்கப்பட்டிருப்பதுடன், மரபுவழிச் சமூக கட்டமைப்புக்களின் சிதைவிற்கும் வழிவகுத்துள்ளது. இதனைத் தீர்க்கும் ஒரே வழி மக்களால் தெரிவு செய்யப்பட்ட பிரதிநிதிகளிடம் ஆட்சி அதிகாரங்களைப் பங்கிடுவதேயாகும்.<br />
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<b>சர்வதேச சமூகத்தின் வகிபாகம்</b><br />
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தமிழ் மக்கள் உள்ளுர் பொறிமுறைகளினூடாகத் தமது தேசிய இனப் பிரச்சினைக்கு நியாயமானதும், ஏற்றுக்கொள்ளக் கூடியதுமானதொரு தீர்வினைப் பெற்றுக்கொள்ள அர்ப்பணிப்புடனே இருந்து வந்துள்ளனர். இலங்கை அரசே கிட்டிய சந்தர்ப்பங்களையெல்லாம் உதறித் தள்ளியது மட்டுமல்லாது தொடர்ச்சியாக இலங்கைத் தமிழர் மீது இனஅழிப்பைக் கட்டவிழ்ப்பதனூடாக அடக்கியாளவும் தலைப்பட்டது. இலங்கை அரசின் இந்த நிலைப்பாடே தேசிய இனப் பிரச்சினையை சர்வதேச மயமாக்கியதோடு சர்வதேச வகிபாகத்தை ஏற்றுக்கொள்ள வேண்டிய கட்டாயத்தையும் இலங்கை அரசிற்கு ஏற்படுத்தியது. இலங்கை அரசின் இந்த நிலைப்பாட்டின் தவிர்க்க முடியா விளைவான ஆயுதப் போராட்டம் இன்று முடிவுறுத்தப்பட்டுள்ளது.<br />
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கடந்த அரசு சர்வதேச தலையீட்டின் மூலம் விளைந்த சிறிதளவான நன்மைகளையும் களையத் துடித்தது. இலங்கையில் வாழும் பல்லின மக்களிடையே நிரந்தரமானதும், நிலையானதுமான நல்லிணக்கத்தை ஏற்படுத்தி அதன் மூலம் அனைவரும் சமத்துவமுள்ள குடிமக்களாக வாழ வழிசெய்ய சர்வதேச வகிபாகம் தொடர்வது அத்தியாவசியமானது என்பதே தமிழ்த் தேசியக் கூட்டமைப்பின் நிலைப்பாடாகும்.<br />
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<b>முடிவுரை</b><br />
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யாழ்ப்பாணம், வன்னி, திருகோணமலை, மட்டக்களப்பு மற்றும் அம்பாறை தேர்தல் மாவட்டங்களில் வாழும் வாக்காளர் யாவரும் ஒன்றுபட்டு, முழுமையாக தமது வாக்குகளை இலங்கைத் தமிழ் அரசுக் கட்சி என்ற பெயரிலும், வீட்டுச் சின்னத்திலும் போட்டியிடும் தமிழ்த் தேசியக் கூட்டமைப்பிற்கு வாக்களித்து, தமிழ் மற்றும் தமிழ் பேசும் மக்களது அடிப்படைப் பிரச்சினைகளைத் தீர்ப்பது தொடர்பில் தமிழ் தேசியக் கூட்டமைப்பினால் இந்த விஞ்ஞாபனத்தில் முன் மொழியப்பட்டிருக்கும் செயற்றிட்டங்களுக்கு தங்கள் ஜனநாயக ஆணையினை பூரணமாக வழங்குமாறு தமிழ்த் தேசியக் கூட்டமைப்பு அன்புடன் வேண்டி நிற்கின்றது.<br />
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இத் தேர்தல் அறிக்கையானது தமிழ்த் தேசியக் கூட்டமைப்பின் அங்கத்துவக் கட்சிகளான இலங்கைத் தமிழரசுக் கட்சி, தமிழீழ விடுதலைக் கழகம், ஈழமக்கள் புரட்சிகர விடுதலை முன்னனி, தமிழீழ மக்கள் விடுதலைக் கழகம் ஆகியவற்றால் இணைந்து வெளியிடப்படுகிறது.</div>
ENB.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00449836977074869699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7155393032669029227.post-22830009303598811872014-10-10T18:01:00.003-07:002014-10-10T18:01:37.691-07:00 Full text of Alfred Nobel's Will<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://www.nobelprize.org/alfred_nobel/will/will-full.html"><img alt=" Alfred Nobel" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheHUppf7uzzc3MshQ2oPzvvq9iJtI8EvLulfiw_-sFxff1Lig8Fm5pZhE16u3oPYbdx4-rm4WG4ZUHBSIdPf1AJTmVkN1S9l5QCjDL0YlcvLLLyXmXTukYSLi-TG937n3FVgcIJDabSEU/s1600/nobel+odulu.jpg" height="319" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Full text of Alfred Nobel's Will</span><br />
I, the undersigned, Alfred Bernhard Nobel, do hereby, after mature deliberation, declare the following to be my last Will and Testament with respect to such property as may be left by me at the time of my death:<br />
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To my nephews, Hjalmar and Ludvig Nobel, the sons of my brother Robert Nobel, I bequeath the sum of Two Hundred Thousand Crowns each;<br />
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To my nephew Emanuel Nobel, the sum of Three Hundred Thousand, and to my niece Mina Nobel, One Hundred Thousand Crowns;<br />
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To my brother Robert Nobel's daughters, Ingeborg and Tyra, the sum of One Hundred Thousand Crowns each;<br />
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Miss Olga Boettger, at present staying with Mrs Brand, 10 Rue St Florentin, Paris, will receive One Hundred Thousand Francs;<br />
<br />
Mrs Sofie Kapy von Kapivar, whose address is known to the Anglo-Oesterreichische Bank in Vienna, is hereby entitled to an annuity of 6000 Florins Ö.W. which is paid to her by the said Bank, and to this end I have deposited in this Bank the amount of 150,000 Fl. in Hungarian State Bonds;<br />
<br />
Mr Alarik Liedbeck, presently living at 26 Sturegatan, Stockholm, will receive One Hundred Thousand Crowns;<br />
<br />
Miss Elise Antun, presently living at 32 Rue de Lubeck, Paris, is entitled to an annuity of Two Thousand Five Hundred Francs. In addition, Forty Eight Thousand Francs owned by her are at present in my custody, and shall be refunded;<br />
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Mr Alfred Hammond, Waterford, Texas, U.S.A. will receive Ten Thousand Dollars;<br />
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The Misses Emy and Marie Winkelmann, Potsdamerstrasse, 51, Berlin, will receive Fifty Thousand Marks each;<br />
<br />
Mrs Gaucher, 2 bis Boulevard du Viaduc, Nimes, France will receive One Hundred Thousand Francs;<br />
<br />
My servants, Auguste Oswald and his wife Alphonse Tournand, employed in my laboratory at San Remo, will each receive an annuity of One Thousand Francs;<br />
<br />
My former servant, Joseph Girardot, 5, Place St. Laurent, Châlons sur Saône, is entitled to an annuity of Five Hundred Francs, and my former gardener, Jean Lecof, at present with Mrs Desoutter, receveur Curaliste, Mesnil, Aubry pour Ecouen, S.& O., France, will receive an annuity of Three Hundred Francs;<br />
<br />
Mr Georges Fehrenbach, 2, Rue Compiègne, Paris, is entitled to an annual pension of Five Thousand Francs from January 1, 1896 to January 1, 1899, when the said pension shall discontinue;<br />
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A sum of Twenty Thousand Crowns each, which has been placed in my custody, is the property of my brother's children, Hjalmar, Ludvig, Ingeborg and Tyra, and shall be repaid to them.<br />
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The whole of my remaining realizable estate shall be dealt with in the following way: the capital, invested in safe securities by my executors, shall constitute a fund, the interest on which shall be annually distributed in the form of prizes to those who, during the preceding year, shall have conferred the greatest benefit to mankind. The said interest shall be divided into five equal parts, which shall be apportioned as follows: one part to the person who shall have made the most important discovery or invention within the field of physics; one part to the person who shall have made the most important chemical discovery or improvement; one part to the person who shall have made the most important discovery within the domain of physiology or medicine; one part to the person who shall have produced in the field of literature the most outstanding work in an ideal direction; and one part to the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses. The prizes for physics and chemistry shall be awarded by the Swedish Academy of Sciences; that for physiological or medical work by the Caroline Institute in Stockholm; that for literature by the Academy in Stockholm, and that for champions of peace by a committee of five persons to be elected by the Norwegian Storting. It is my express wish that in awarding the prizes no consideration whatever shall be given to the nationality of the candidates, but that the most worthy shall receive the prize, whether he be a Scandinavian or not.<br />
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As Executors of my testamentary dispositions, I hereby appoint Mr Ragnar Sohlman, resident at Bofors, Värmland, and Mr Rudolf Lilljequist, 31 Malmskillnadsgatan, Stockholm, and at Bengtsfors near Uddevalla. To compensate for their pains and attention, I grant to Mr Ragnar Sohlman, who will presumably have to devote most time to this matter, One Hundred Thousand Crowns, and to Mr Rudolf Lilljequist, Fifty Thousand Crowns;<br />
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At the present time, my property consists in part of real estate in Paris and San Remo, and in part of securities deposited as follows: with The Union Bank of Scotland Ltd in Glasgow and London, Le Crédit Lyonnais, Comptoir National d'Escompte, and with Alphen Messin & Co. in Paris; with the stockbroker M.V. Peter of Banque Transatlantique, also in Paris; with Direction der Disconto Gesellschaft and Joseph Goldschmidt & Cie, Berlin; with the Russian Central Bank, and with Mr Emanuel Nobel in Petersburg; with Skandinaviska Kredit Aktiebolaget in Gothenburg and Stockholm, and in my strong-box at 59, Avenue Malakoff, Paris; further to this are accounts receivable, patents, patent fees or so-called royalties etc. in connection with which my Executors will find full information in my papers and books.<br />
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This Will and Testament is up to now the only one valid, and revokes all my previous testamentary dispositions, should any such exist after my death.<br />
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Finally, it is my express wish that following my death my veins shall be opened, and when this has been done and competent Doctors have confirmed clear signs of death, my remains shall be cremated in a so-called crematorium.<br />
<br />
Paris, 27 November, 1895<br />
<br />
Alfred Bernhard Nobel<br />
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That Mr Alfred Bernhard Nobel, being of sound mind, has of his own free will declared the above to be his last Will and Testament, and that he has signed the same, we have, in his presence and the presence of each other, hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses:<br />
<br />
Sigurd Ehrenborg<br />
former Lieutenant<br />
Paris: 84 Boulevard Haussmann<br />
<br />
R. W. Strehlenert<br />
Civil Engineer<br />
4, Passage Caroline<br />
<br />
Thos Nordenfelt<br />
Constructor<br />
8, Rue Auber, Paris<br />
<br />
Leonard Hwass<br />
Civil Engineer<br />
4, Passage Caroline<br />
=====================================<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb8Dxj2LJUTsIuSwJGZ8F-hqVdGbGr66jYE3uQgfRWSwMdsw_77JfWv8QyBLjXN4neoWuL4bkXNbzxIQWixc_d0CirievF8sTwwUsopiVcIaLo6jfIf50KhMI-8PtpLDa3vkU5pzMrGAw/s1600/nobel_will_p1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb8Dxj2LJUTsIuSwJGZ8F-hqVdGbGr66jYE3uQgfRWSwMdsw_77JfWv8QyBLjXN4neoWuL4bkXNbzxIQWixc_d0CirievF8sTwwUsopiVcIaLo6jfIf50KhMI-8PtpLDa3vkU5pzMrGAw/s1600/nobel_will_p1.jpg" height="640" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Nobel's Wills Page 1</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB8GY9rZdJ15UHIGzQwrwoecjew365t5e_1giKctyJWNW4rFb4eni2hl00hsvOObjOZGQOewtZjxxw3znzeDq-zhjt_o1bHhIw_PHhIjktxxgGLpf_JWbgmknbLEoHcE95st69bGjx5cU/s1600/nobel_will_p2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB8GY9rZdJ15UHIGzQwrwoecjew365t5e_1giKctyJWNW4rFb4eni2hl00hsvOObjOZGQOewtZjxxw3znzeDq-zhjt_o1bHhIw_PHhIjktxxgGLpf_JWbgmknbLEoHcE95st69bGjx5cU/s1600/nobel_will_p2.jpg" height="640" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: left;">Nobel's Wills Page 2</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTX2XPiiqK07Lz0_uNGPsPdyWNg4wbHP5JUZUBmLFJ3lIV4h-Ikv81mv1pbTD0kfiXNgQORTJ52crnXEOpwJYcI83Ab_j262yekPbd5crGlqwjKgeo8A3zDSj15_CVXOQ2HmJ02Yoq_CU/s1600/nobel_will_p3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTX2XPiiqK07Lz0_uNGPsPdyWNg4wbHP5JUZUBmLFJ3lIV4h-Ikv81mv1pbTD0kfiXNgQORTJ52crnXEOpwJYcI83Ab_j262yekPbd5crGlqwjKgeo8A3zDSj15_CVXOQ2HmJ02Yoq_CU/s1600/nobel_will_p3.jpg" height="640" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: left;">Nobel's Wills Page 3</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuMxDeKthHYrJLJ1m14xJ5G0huL5NlWdZVMwhtY9WDkn7XwIFIpS2_7WVvuLRzBHXS8zcSiWmUTfBi96_DfAz76GH4Kmjrv4WILeTqTSAP0WUCwgSp9Nk0JGnpEWQYllI7Hy_v59U0hK8/s1600/nobel_will_p4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuMxDeKthHYrJLJ1m14xJ5G0huL5NlWdZVMwhtY9WDkn7XwIFIpS2_7WVvuLRzBHXS8zcSiWmUTfBi96_DfAz76GH4Kmjrv4WILeTqTSAP0WUCwgSp9Nk0JGnpEWQYllI7Hy_v59U0hK8/s1600/nobel_will_p4.jpg" height="640" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: left;">Nobel's Wills Page 4</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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ENB.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00449836977074869699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7155393032669029227.post-27547778131722739082014-06-30T14:36:00.000-07:002014-06-30T14:36:11.851-07:00இந்தியாவில் முஸ்லிம்களின் நிலை: சகார் குழு அறிக்கையின் சாராம்சம்<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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ENB.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00449836977074869699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7155393032669029227.post-15056779550067463192014-06-19T16:44:00.000-07:002014-06-19T16:44:17.111-07:00Text Of Obama's Remarks on Iraq<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><i>The following is the complete transcript of President Obama’s press conference on the conflict in Iraq in Washington. (Transcript courtesy of Federal News Service.) New York Times</i></b><br />
<br />
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: Good afternoon, everybody. I just met with my national security team to discuss the situation in Iraq. We’ve been meeting regularly to review the situation since ISIL, a terrorist organization that operates in Iraq and Syria, made advances inside of Iraq. As I said last week, ISIL poses a threat to the Iraqi people, to the region and to U.S. interests. So today I wanted to provide you an update on how we’re responding to the situation.<br />
<br />
First, we are working to secure our embassy and personnel operating inside of Iraq. As president, I have no greater priority than the safety of our men and women serving overseas. So I’ve taken some steps to relocate some of our embassy personnel, and we’ve sent reinforcements to better secure our facilities.<br />
<br />
Second, at my direction we have significantly increased our intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets so that we’ve got a better picture of what’s taking place inside of Iraq, and this will give us a greater understanding of what ISIL is doing, where it’s located and how we might support efforts to counter this<br />
threat.<br />
<br />
Third, the United States will continue to increase our support to Iraqi security forces. We’re prepared to create joint operation centers in Baghdad and northern Iraq, to share intelligence and coordinate planning to confront the terrorist threat of ISIL. And through our new Counterterrorism Partnership Fund, we’re prepared to work with Congress to provide additional equipment. We have had advisers in Iraq through our embassy, and we’re prepared to send a small number of additional American military advisers -- up to 300 -- to assess how we can best train, advise and support Iraqi security forces going forward.<br />
<br />
American forces will not be returning to combat in Iraq, but we will help Iraqis as they take the fight to terrorists who threaten the Iraqi people, the region and American interests as well.<br />
<br />
Fourth, in recent days we’ve positioned additional U.S. military assets in the region. Because of our increased intelligence resources, we’re developing more information about potential targets associated with ISIL, and going forward, we will be prepared to take targeted and precise military action if and when we<br />
determine that the situation on the ground requires it. If we do, I will consult closely with Congress and leaders in Iraq and in the region. I want to emphasize, though, that the best and most effective response to a threat like ISIL will ultimately involve partnerships where local forces like Iraqis take the lead.<br />
<br />
Finally, the United States will lead a diplomatic effort to work with Iraqi leaders and the countries in the region to support stability in Iraq. At my direction, Secretary Kerry will depart this weekend for meetings in the Middle East and Europe, where he’ll be able to consult with our allies and partners. And just as all Iraqis’ neighbors must respect Iraq’s territorial integrity, all of Iraq’s neighbors have a vital interest in ensuring that Iraq does not descend into civil war or become a safe haven for terrorists.<br />
<br />
Above all, Iraqi leaders must rise above their differences and come together around a political plan for Iraq’s future. Shia, Sunni, Kurds, all Iraqis must have confidence that they can advance their interests and aspirations through the political process rather than through violence. National unity meetings have to go<br />
forward to build consensus across Iraq’s different communities. Now that the results of Iraq’s recent election has been certified, a new parliament should convene as soon as possible.<br />
<br />
The formation of a new government will be an opportunity to begin a genuine dialogue and forge a government that represents the legitimate interests of all Iraqis.<br />
<br />
Now, it’s not the place for the United States to choose Iraq’s leaders. It is clear, though, that only leaders that can govern with an inclusive agenda are going to be able to truly bring the Iraqi people together and help them through this crisis.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, the United States will not pursue military actions that support one sect inside of Iraq at the expense of another. There’s no military solution inside of Iraq, certainly not one that is led by the United States. But there is an urgent need for an inclusive political process, a more capable Iraqi security force, and<br />
counter terrorism efforts that deny groups like ISIL a safe haven.<br />
<br />
In closing, recent days have reminded us of the deep scars left by America’s war in Iraq. Alongside the loss of nearly 4,500 American patriots, many veterans carry the wounds of that war, and will for the rest of their lives. Here at home, Iraq sparked vigorous debates and intense emotions in the past, and we’ve seen<br />
some of those debates resurface.<br />
<br />
But what’s clear from the last decade is the need for the United States to ask hard questions before we take action abroad, particularly military action. The most important question we should all be asking, the issue that we have to keep front and center, the issue that I keep front and center, is, what is in the national<br />
security interest of the United States of America? As commander in chief, that’s what I stay focused on. As Americans, that’s what all of us should be focused on.<br />
<br />
And going forward, we will continue to consult closely with Congress, we will keep the American people informed, we will remain vigilant, and we will continue to do everything in our power to protect the security of the United States and the safety of the American people.<br />
<br />
So with that, I’m going to take a couple of questions. I’ll start with Colleen McCain Nelson of The Wall Street Journal.<br />
<br />
Q: Thank you, Mr. President. Do you have any confidence in Prime Minister al-Maliki at this point? And can your -- can Maliki bring political stability to Iraq?<br />
<br />
PRESIDENT OBAMA: As I said, it’s not our job to chose Iraq’s leaders. Part of what our patriots fought for during many years in Iraq was the right and the opportunity for Iraqis to determine their own destiny and chose their own leaders. But I don’t think it -- there’s any secret that, right now at least, there is deep divisions between Sunni, Shia and Kurdish leaders. And as long as those deep divisions continue or worsen, it’s going to be very hard for an Iraqi central government to direct an Iraqi military to deal with these threats.<br />
<br />
And so we’ve consulted with Prime Minister Maliki. And we’ve said that to him privately. We’ve said publicly, that whether he is prime minister or any other leader aspires to lead the country, that it has to be an agenda in which Sunni, Shia and Kurd all feel that they have the opportunity to advance their interest through the political process.<br />
<br />
And we’ve seen over the last two years -- actually dating back to 2008, 2009, but I think worse over the last two years -- the sense among Sunnis that their interests were not being served, that legislation that had been promised around, for example, de- Baathification had been stalled. I think that you hear similar<br />
complaints that the government in Baghdad has not sufficiently reached out to some of the tribes and been able to bring them into a process that, you know, gives them a sense of being part of -- of a unity government or a single nation-state.<br />
<br />
And that has to be worked through. Part of the reason why we saw better-equipped Iraqi security forces with larger numbers not be able to hold contested territory against ISIL probably reflects that lack of a sense of commitment on the part of Sunni communities to work with Baghdad. And that has to be fixed if we’re<br />
going to get -- get through this crisis.<br />
<br />
Q: Thank you, Mr. President. Americans may look at this decision that you’re making today as a sneak preview of coming attractions that the number of advisers that you’re planning to send in may just be the beginning of a boots-on-the-ground scenario down the road. Why is Iraq’s civil war in the national security<br />
interest of the United States? And are you concerned about the potential for mission creep?<br />
<br />
PRESIDENT OBAMA: I think we always have to guard against mission creep. So let me repeat what I’ve said in the past: American combat troops are not going to be fighting in Iraq again. We do not have the ability to simply solve this problem by sending in tens of thousands of troops and committing the kinds of blood and treasure that has already been expended in Iraq. Ultimately, this is something that is going to have to be solved by the Iraqis.<br />
<br />
It is in our national security interests not to see an all-out civil war inside of Iraq, not just for humanitarian reasons, but because that ultimately can be destabilizing throughout the region, and in addition to having strong allies there that we are committed to protecting, obviously, issues like energy and global energy<br />
markets continues to be important.<br />
<br />
We also have an interest in making sure that we don’t have a safe haven that continues to grow for ISIL and other extremist jihadist groups who could use that as a base of operations for planning and targeting ourselves, our personnel overseas and eventually the homeland. And you know, if they accumulate more<br />
money, they accumulate more ammunition, more military capability, larger numbers, that poses great dangers not just to allies of ours like Jordan, which is very close by, but it also poses, you know, a great danger, potentially, to Europe and ultimately the United States.<br />
<br />
We have already seen inside of Syria that -- or groups like ISIL that right now are fighting with other extremist groups or an Assad regime that was nonresponsive to Sunni majority there that that has attracted more and more jihadists or would-be jihadists, some of them from Europe. They then start traveling back to<br />
Europe, and that, over time, can create a cadre of terrorists that could harm us.<br />
<br />
So we have humanitarian interests in preventing bloodshed. We have strategic interests in stability in the region.<br />
<br />
We have counter terrorism interests. All those have to be addressed.<br />
<br />
The -- the initial effort for us to get situational awareness through, you know, the -- the reconnaissance and surveillance that we’ve already done, coupled with some -- some of our best people on the ground doing assessments of exactly what the situation is, starting, by the way, with the perimeter around Baghdad and<br />
making sure that that’s not overrun -- that’s a good investment for us to make.<br />
<br />
But that does not -- that does not foreshadow a larger commitment of troops to actually fight in Iraq. That would not be effective in meeting the core interests that we have.<br />
<br />
Q: Just very quickly, do you wish you had left a residual force in Iraq? Any regrets about that decision in 2011?<br />
<br />
PRESIDENT OBAMA: Well, keep in mind that wasn’t a decision made by me. That was a decision made by the Iraqi government. We offered a modest residual force to help continue to train and advise Iraqi security forces. We had a core requirement, which we were require in any situation where we have U.S. troops overseas, and that is -- is that they are provided immunity at the -- since they are being invited by the sovereign government there, so that if, for example, they end up acting in self-defense if they are attacked and find themselves in a tough situation, that they’re not somehow hauled before a foreign court. That’s a core requirement that we have for U.S. troop presence anywhere.<br />
<br />
The Iraqi government and Prime Minister Maliki declined to provide us that immunity. And so -- I think it is important, though, to recognize that despite that decision, that we have continued to provide them with very intensive advice and support and have continued throughout this process over the last five years to not only offer them our assistance militarily, but we’ve also continued to urge the kinds of political compromises that we think are ultimately necessary in order for them to have a functioning multi-sectarian democracy inside the country.<br />
<br />
Juliet. Juliet Eilperin. (Where are you ?).<br />
<br />
Q: (Off mic.) Mr. President, you just mentioned Syria a moment ago?<br />
<br />
PRESIDENT OBAMA: Yeah.<br />
<br />
Q: The United States has been slow to provide significant weapons and training directly to the Syrian opposition. Does the expansion of the Syria war into Iraq change your mind about the type of weapons and training you’re now willing to give the opposition there? Is that what prompted Secretary Kerry to say of Syria, we are augmenting our assistance in significant ways? And can you elaborate on what you’re doing now that you weren’t doing before?<br />
<br />
PRESIDENT OBAMA: You know, that -- that assessment about the dangers of what was happening in Syria has existed since we -- since the very beginning of the Syrian civil war. The question has never been whether we thought this was a serious problem. The question has always been, is there the capacity of<br />
moderate opposition on the ground to absorb and counteract extremists that might have been pouring in, as well as an Assad regime, supported by Iran and Russia, that outmanned them and was ruthless?<br />
<br />
And so we have consistently provided that opposition with support. Oftentimes the challenge is, if you have former farmers or teachers or pharmacists who now are taking up opposition against a battle-hardened regime with support from external actors that have a lot at stake, how quickly can you get them trained?<br />
<br />
How effective are you able to mobilize them? And you know, that continues to be a challenge. And even before the situation that we saw with ISIL going into Iraq, we had already tried to maximize what we can do to support a moderate opposition that not only can counteract the brutality of Assad, but also can make<br />
sure that in the minds of Sunnis, they don’t think that their only alternative is either Mr. Assad or extremist groups like ISIL or al-Nusra.<br />
<br />
Q: (Off mic) -- what you might be doing differently, as the secretary of state alluded to?<br />
<br />
PRESIDENT OBAMA: Well, I think that the key to both Syria and Iraq is going to be a combination of what happens inside the country, working with moderate Syrian opposition, working with an Iraqi government that is inclusive, and us laying down a more effective counterterrorism platform that gets all the countries in the region pulling in the same direction. And I alluded to this in the West Point speech. This is -- I talked about it today with respect to the Counterterrorism Partnership Fund. There is going to be a long-term problem in this region in which we have to build and partner with countries that are committed to our interests, our values.<br />
<br />
And at the same time we have immediate problems with terrorist organizations that may be advancing. And rather than try to play whack-a-mole wherever these terrorist organizations may pop up, what we have to do is to be able to build effective partnerships, make sure that they have capacity. Some of the assets that<br />
have been devoted solely to Afghanistan over the last decade we’ve got to shift to make sure that we have coverage in the Middle East and North Africa.<br />
<br />
You look at a country like Yemen -- a very impoverished country and one that has its own sectarian or ethnic divisions -- there’s -- we do have a committed partner in President Hadi and his government. And we have been able to help to develop their capacities without putting large numbers of U.S. troops on the<br />
ground, at the same time as we’ve got enough CT, or counterterrorism, capabilities that we’re able to go after folks that might try to hit our embassy or might be trying to export terrorism into Europe or the United States.<br />
<br />
And looking at how we can create more of those models is going to be part of the solution in dealing with both Syria and Iraq. But in order for -- for us to do that, we still need to have actual governments on the ground that we can partner with and that we’ve got some confidence are going to pursue the political policies<br />
<br />
of inclusiveness -- in Yemen, for example, a wide-ranging national dialogue that took a long time but helped to give people a sense that there is a legitimate political outlet for grievances that they may have.<br />
<br />
Peter Maer.<br />
<br />
Q: Thank you, sir. Going back to where you see Prime Minister al-Maliki playing a role at this point, you said that it’s a time to rise above differences, that there’s a need for more inclusive government. Is he a unifier? And how much clout does the United States ultimately have with any of the leadership in Iraq at this<br />
point, really?<br />
<br />
PRESIDENT OBAMA: Well, we still provide them significant assistance. I think they recognize that unlike some other players in the region, we don’t have territorial ambitions in their country. We’re not looking to control their assets or their energy. We want to make sure that we’re vindicating the enormous effort and<br />
sacrifice that was made by our troops in giving them an opportunity to build a stable, inclusive society that can prosper and deliver for the basic needs and aspirations of the Iraqi people.<br />
<br />
And at the same time, they are a sovereign country. They have their own politics. And what we have tried to do is to give them our best advice about how they can solve their political problems. Now that they are in crisis, we are indicating to them that there’s not going to be a simple military solution to this issue. If you<br />
start seeing the various groups inside of Iraq simply go to their respective corners, then it is almost certain that Baghdad and the central government will not be able to control huge chunks of their own country.<br />
<br />
The only way they can do that is if there are credible Sunni leaders, both at the national level and at the local level, who have confidence that a Shia majority, that the Kurds, that all those folks are committed to a fair and just governance of the country.<br />
<br />
Right now that doesn’t exist. There’s too much suspicion. There’s too much mistrust.<br />
<br />
And the good news is that an election took place in which despite all this mistrust, despite all this frustration, despite all this anger, you still had millions of Iraqis turn out, in some cases in very dangerous circumstances. You now have a court that has certified those elections, and you have a constitutional process to<br />
advance government formation.<br />
<br />
So far, at least, the one bit of encouraging news that we’ve seen inside of Iraq is that all the parties have said they continue to be committed to choosing a leadership and a government through the existing constitutional order.<br />
<br />
So what you’re seeing, I think, is, as -- as the prospects of civil war heighten, many Iraqi leaders stepping back and saying, let’s not plunge back into the abyss. Let’s see if we can resolve this politically.<br />
<br />
But they don’t have a lot of time, and you have a group like ISIL that is doing everything it -- that it can to descend the country back into chaos.<br />
<br />
And so one of the messages that we had for Prime Minister Maliki but also for the speaker of the house and, you know, the other leadership inside of Iraq is get going on this -- on this government formation.<br />
<br />
It’ll make it a lot easier for them to shape a military strategy. It’ll also make it possible for us to partner much more effectively than we can currently.<br />
<br />
Q: Given the prime minister’s track record, is he a unifier? Can he play that role when -- after what we’ve seen play out over the last couple of weeks has brought into play?<br />
<br />
PRESIDENT OBAMA: Yeah. I think the test is -- is before him and other Iraqi leaders as we speak. Right now they can make a series of decisions. Regardless of what’s happened in the past, right now is a moment where the fate of Iraq hangs in the balance. And the test for all of them is going to be where they can<br />
<br />
overcome the mistrust, the deep sectarian divisions, in some cases just political opportunism and say, this is bigger than anyone of us, and we’ve got to make sure that we -- we do what’s right for the Iraqi people. And -- and that’s a challenge. That’s not something that the United States can do for them. That’s not<br />
something, by the way, that the United States armed forces can do for them. We can provide them the space, we can provide them the tools, but ultimately, they’re going to have to make those decisions.<br />
<br />
In the meantime my job is to make sure that American personnel there is safe, that we are consulting with the Iraqi security forces, that we’re getting a better assessment of what’s on the ground and that we’re recognizing the dangers of ISIL over the long term and developing the kinds of comprehensive<br />
counter terrorism strategy that we’re going to need to deal with this issue.<br />
<br />
And that’s going to involve some short-term responses to make sure that ISIL is not obtaining capacity to endanger us directly or our allies and partners, but it also is going to require some long-term strategies as well because part of what we’ve seen with respect to ISIL is, you know, a broader trend that I talked about<br />
at West Point, a -- rather than a single network, a discrete network of terrorists, this fluid combination of hardened terrorists, disaffected local leadership. And where there’s vacuums, they’re filling it and creating the potential for, you know, serious danger for all concerned.<br />
<br />
All right? Thank you all.<br />
<br />
Q: (Off mic) -- on Iran, Mr. President -- on Iran, Mr. President, any word on what you are willing to do and who you’re willing to work with?<br />
<br />
PRESIDENT OBAMA: (Inaudible) -- you know, our view is that Iran can play a constructive role if it is helping to send the same message to the Iraqi government that we’re sending, which is that Iraq only holds together if it’s inclusive and that -- if the interests of Sunni, Shia and Kurd are all respected. If Iran is coming in solely as an armed force on behalf of the Shia and it -- if it is framed in that fashion, then that probably worsens the situation and the prospect for a government formation that would actually be constructive over the long term.<br />
<br />
Q: (Off mic) -- sense of that right now?<br />
<br />
PRESIDENT OBAMA: Well, you know, I think that just as Iraq’s leaders have to make decisions, I think Iran has heard from us, we’ve indicated to them that it is important for them to avoid steps that might encourage the kind of sectarian splits that might lead to civil war.<br />
<br />
And you know, the one thing that I think is -- you know, has to be emphasized, we have deep differences with Iran across the board on a whole host of issues.<br />
<br />
Obviously what’s happened in Syria in part is the result of Iran coming in hot and heavy on one side. And you know, Iran obviously should consider the fact that if it is -- if its view of the region is solely through sectarian frames, they could find themselves fighting a whole lot of places. And that’s probably not good for<br />
the Iranian economy or the Iranian people over the long term either.<br />
<br />
I suspect there are folks in Iran who recognize that. You know, a Iraq in chaos on their borders is probably not in their interests. But old habits die hard. And you know, we’ll have to see whether they can take what I think would be a more promise path over the next several days.<br />
<br />
All right? Thank you very much, everybody.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
ENB.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00449836977074869699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7155393032669029227.post-48645558099779606862014-05-28T19:38:00.000-07:002014-05-28T19:38:42.600-07:00Article 370<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Article 370</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjrMEj0qleyUIJjuoO7CSXdqKfRfNor4bd2SMXs0LpQps5sVhP6A61XoDJNYHLqINhAs_8qs_h-pRvq8ad-z493eW-w15vlxOpuooYS5wzwJMNd-T5N5soGiG0E-H2j6Ne3Y-1eOFAXgs/s1600/COI.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjrMEj0qleyUIJjuoO7CSXdqKfRfNor4bd2SMXs0LpQps5sVhP6A61XoDJNYHLqINhAs_8qs_h-pRvq8ad-z493eW-w15vlxOpuooYS5wzwJMNd-T5N5soGiG0E-H2j6Ne3Y-1eOFAXgs/s1600/COI.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><u>THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA</u></span></b></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>PART XXI</b></div>
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<b>[TEMPORARY, TRANSITIONAL </b><b>AND SPECIAL PROVISIONS —Art. 370.]</b></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Temporary provisions with respect to the State of Jammu and Kashmir.</span></b></div>
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(1*) [370. (1) Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution,—<br />
<br />
(a) the provisions of article 238 shall not apply in relation to the State of Jammu and Kashmir;<br />
<br />
(b) the power of Parliament to make laws for the said State shall be limited to—<br />
<br />
(i) those matters in the Union List and the Concurrent List which, in consultation with the<br />
Government of the State, are declared by the President to correspond to matters specified in the Instrument of Accession governing the accession of the State to the Dominion of India as the matters with respect to which the Dominion Legislature may make laws for that State; and<br />
<br />
(ii) such other matters in the said Lists as, with the concurrence of the Government of the State, the President may by order specify.<br />
<br />
Explanation.—For the purposes of this article, the Government of the State means the person for the time being recognised by the President as the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir acting on the advice of the Council of Ministers for the time being in office under the Maharaja’s Proclamation dated the fifth day of March,1948;<br />
<br />
(c) the provisions of article 1 and of this article shall apply in relation to that State;<br />
<br />
(d) such of the other provisions of this Constitution shall apply in relation to that State subject to such exceptions and modifications as the President may by order(1*) specify:<br />
<br />
Provided that no such order which relates to the matters specified in the Instrument of Accession of the State referred to in paragraph (i) of sub-clause (b) shall be issued except in consultation with the Government of the State:<br />
<br />
Provided further that no such order which relates to matters other than those referred to in the last preceding proviso shall be issued except with the concurrence of that Government.<br />
<br />
(2) If the concurrence of the Government of the State referred to in paragraph (ii) of sub-clause (b) of clause (1) or in the second proviso to sub-clause (d) of that clause be given before the Constituent Assembly for the purpose of framing the Constitution of the State is convened, it shall be placed before such Assembly for such decision as it may take thereon.<br />
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(3) Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing provisions of this article, the President may, by public notification, declare that this article shall cease to be operative or shall be operative only with such exceptions and modifications and from such date as he may specify:<br />
<br />
Provided that the recommendation of the Constituent Assembly of the State referred to in clause (2) shall be necessary before the President issues such a notification.<br />
==========================<br />
(1*) ><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">In exercise of the powers conferred by this article the President, on the recommendation of the Constituent Assembly of the State of Jammu and Kashmir, declared that, as from the 17th day of November, 1952, the said art. 370 shall be operative with the modification that for the Explanation in cl. (1) thereof, the following Explanation is substituted, namely:—“Explanation.—For the purposes of this article, the Government of the State means the person for the time being recognised by the President on the recommendation of the Legislative Assembly of the State as the *Sadar-I-Riyasat of Jammu and Kashmir,acting on the advice of the Council of Ministers of the State for the time being in office.”.</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Ministry of Law Order No. C.O. 44, dated the 15th November, 1952).</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">*Now “Governor”.</span></i><br />
============================<br />
Source: http://www.tnpsc.gov.in/departmental/CONSTITUTION%20OF%20INDIA.pdf<br />
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ENB.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00449836977074869699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7155393032669029227.post-71353950551631460692014-04-14T17:47:00.000-07:002014-04-14T18:51:31.504-07:00Full text: BJP manifesto for 2014 Lok Sabha elections<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Full text: BJP manifesto for 2014 Lok Sabha elections</span></b><br />
IBNLive.com | Apr 07, 2014 at 11:13am IST<br />
<br />
The Bharatiya Janata Party released its manifesto for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections on Monday, the day the first phase of the polls began in the states of Assam and Tripura. The BJP manifesto pledges 'Ek Bharat, Shreshta Bharat - Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas' (One India, Best India - Unity and Development for everyone). The highlights of the BJP manifesto are that it pledges to tackle inflation and corruption and also reiterates its stand to explore all possibilities within the framework of the Constitution to facilitate the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Following is the full text of the manifesto:</span></b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Preface</span></b><br />
<br />
India is the most ancient civilization of the world and has always been looked upon by the world as a land of wealth and wisdom. India has been credited to have developed, apart from philosophy and mathematics, science and technology of a very high order, which had attracted scholars from all over the world. Al-Andalusi, a Spanish scholar in the 11th Century, in his monumental work 'Tabaqat al- Umam' had discussed the state of science in different countries. He writes, "The first nation to have cultivated science is India... India is known for wisdom of its people. Over many centuries all the kings of the past have recognized the ability of Indians in all branches of knowledge." Andalusi further states, "Indians, as known to all nations for many centuries, are the metal (essence) of wisdom, the source of fairness and objectivity. They are the people of sublime pensiveness, universal apologues, and useful and rare inventions."<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Full text: BJP manifesto for 2014 Lok Sabha elections</span></b><br />
<br />
The highlights of the BJP manifesto are that it pledges to tackle inflation and construct the Ram Mandir.<br />
India's contribution to the march of civilization goes back to several thousand years before the Christian era. From the Vedas to Upanishads and Gautam - the Buddha and Mahavira - the 24th Jain Tirthankara and then to Kautilya and Chandra Gupta and down up to the eighteenth century, India was respected for its flourishing economy, trade, commerce and culture. It had an international outreach from Korea to Arabia, from Bamiyan to Borobudur and beyond. Before the advent of Britishers, Indian goods were internationally recognized for their quality and craftsmanship. India had a much bigger role and presence in industry and manufacturing than any nation in Europe or Asia. It had a well-developed banking system and equally renowned businessmen, along with its financiers, who were contributing to create a flourishing and progressive economy. According to Sunderland, India was also one of the greatest shipbuilding nations and consequently had an access to international markets. Indian prosperity held the world in thrall. It was this wealth which attracted the foreigners - from Alexander to the Britishers.<br />
<br />
Historical records establish the level of progress and prosperity attained by India before the advent of the Europeans. Indian advancement in mathematics, astronomy, physics and chemistry along with the biological sciences has been well recognized. India was a land of abundance, prosperity, affluence, a land of sharing and caring living in perfect harmony and peace with the nature. From ancient times almost all religions practiced in different parts of the world, have existed peacefully in India and will continue to do so. India thus provides the most ennobling experience in spiritual co-existence.<br />
<br />
BJP recognizes that no nation could chart out its domestic or foreign policies unless it has a clear understanding about itself, its history, its roots, its strengths and failings. In a highly mobile and globalized world, it is imperative for a nation to know its roots that provide sustenance to its people. \<br />
Indian freedom struggle, which was inspired by Tilak, Gandhi, Aurobindo, Patel, Bose and others, had a clear vision of the civilizational consciousness of India. These leaders had directed the freedom movement, keeping the Indian ways and thoughts in the centre of their action. They had a vision to reconstruct the political and economic institutions of India as a continuum of civilizational consciousness, which made India one country, one people, and one Nation.<br />
<br />
After achieving independence, the leaders at the helm of affairs lost the spirit and the vision, which the freedom movement had evoked. They discarded the vision and adopted the institutional framework of administration created by the Britishers which was quite alien to India's world-view. It is unfortunate that these leaders could not comprehend India's inner vitality, which was the main force responsible for India's survival despite several attacks and prolonged foreign rule and thus, failed to rekindle the spirit of India.<br />
Even after nearly seven decades of our independence, the country has not been able to discover its innate vitality, the sense of time and the will to act. As a result, in spite of being the oldest civilization and a young republic, we are engulfed by a multi-dimensional crisis. A crisis, which has encompassed all walks of life. The rising disparities, social and communal divide and terrorism leading to a fractured society, are worsening the situation rapidly. The present crisis is the result of this confusion and disconnect from the seekings and sensibilities of the people. This is worse confounded by the weak and spineless leadership of the UPA Government. The tragedy is further heightened by their failure to diagnose the malady and find the remedy. Instead of creating a socio-economic and political paradigm of governance drawn from the civilizational consciousness of India, the leaders tried to follow whatever was being practiced in this or that western country.<br />
<br />
Thus, we have wasted more than half of a century. Many other countries, even with smaller size and lesser resources, have surpassed us in development parameters. Another reason for this is that the Governance in these decades was marred by lack of trust, leading to excessive controls.<br />
<br />
It was also marked by lack of openness in Government and lack of people's participation. This has led to concentration of power in a few hands and lack of transparency breeding corruption and nepotism on a massive scale. The so-called 'liberalization' came in 1990s, but it was half-hearted. It didn't work because the rest of the eco-system remained the same. However, the beginning of the 21st century showed some light under the NDA rule. India started being reckoned as an economic superpower. The six-year rule of NDA had given the Nation many firsts, building an image in the International community. However, many of the hopes, potentials and projects have not been fully realized in the subsequent years. But after 2004, UPA came into power and the situation started worsening again. We missed a historic national opportunity once more.UPA's biggest blow to the Indian political system is that they have taken out Genuineness from Governance; Authenticity from Administration. UPA has shown Governance of Enactment, not Action. It has given an Administration of Entitlement without Delivery. We have become a polity of Promises, and not Performance. We represent an economy of deficits, a work culture of delays and an asset base of deficiency. Worse, Congress-led UPA has made India a global synonym of Corruption, Scandal and Stagnation. To make it even worse, today, we are passing through total Decision and Policy Paralysis. Sluggish economic growth, unprecedented price rise and unstable Currency are its most visible facets.<br />
<br />
The following demand urgent solutions; economy including agriculture, energy, environment including natural resources, education and health, employment, external and internal threats to security, empowerment, Governance, and erosion of moral and societal values.<br />
<br />
If India has to survive as a nation, which it has to, in order to play its destined role in the comity of nations, if it has to make its voice heard for creating a peaceful and egalitarian world order, then we must take up the challenges with urgency and determination and provide proper solutions for them. It is a pity that we have a demoralized leadership presiding over the state apparatus, which is incompetent to handle the present problems. What is needed today is to arrive at a consensus about the 'Idea' of India and also to think and redesign our approach in consonance with the seekings and preferences of the Indian people.<br />
<br />
The situation in the country is deteriorating rapidly. Delay in resolving the crisis would be dangerous. What is needed is to take lessons from history, recognise the vitality and resilience of India, the power of its world-view and utilize its strength, which drove it to glorious heights and analyse its weaknesses, which led to this abysmal fall. Pick up the thread from the point where the continuum of our civilizational consciousness was lost and reorient the polity in consonance with those strong points of Indian psyche which will be the engine for our future glory. Let's keep the windows open, have a clear understanding of the global scenario and how without destroying our uniqueness we can assimilate the best of the technological advancements.<br />
We can achieve this goal provided the leaders seriously set to this task. What we need is a political party committed to deliver and a leadership with strong determination and political will. As Vivekananda had said, "All power is within you. You can do anything. Believe in that." Yes, the power lies in the people of India, in the inner sanctum sanctorum of Mother India. What is needed is to ignite the spark and Mother India would rise in her full glory.<br />
<br />
As Sri Ma had once said that India had become the symbolic representation of all the difficulties of modern mankind but India will also be the land of its resurrection to a higher and truer life. The BJP will leave no stone unturned to fulfill the dream of 1.22 billion Indians.<br />
<br />
Today, India is blessed with the rare capacity and opportunity of Democracy, Demography and Demand. If we are able to consolidate and harness them, we will be able to reach the heights which India deserves. The biggest reason for a sorry state of affairs is bad intentions on the part of those who have ruled the country for sixty years. And that is where we would show the first difference. For BJP, the goal of the policies and practices would be: Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat! The path would be: Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas. This is our commitment to the Nation and to the People.<br />
<br />
With this determination of the party under the charismatic leadership of Shri Narendra Modi, we enter the elections to the 16th Lok Sabha and would work whole-heartedly to give a stable, strong, visionary and progressive Government to India.<br />
<br />
It is an opportunity to change our fate and of our nation. Glory to Mother India, glory to Her children.<br />
March 26, 2014<br />
Dr. (Prof.) Murli Manohar Joshi<br />
Chairman<br />
Manifesto Committee -2014<br />
Attend the Imminent<br />
Decade under the UPA - I and II can rightly be summed in one line, the 'Decade of Decay', in which India had a free fall on all fronts - be it governance, economy, diplomacy, foreign policy, border safety, etc. At the same time, corruption, scams and crime against women have reached to unacceptable levels. There has been gross misuse and total denigration of government and institutions. There has also been erosion of authority of the office of the Prime Minister. The Government dithered by each passing day, casting gloom and doom on the country that was once under the NDA regime called the 'Emerging Superpower'. In 2004, NDA left the Government with a near double digit growth. The Congress- led UPA could not even maintain that growth and mismanaged the country so badly, that the growth rate declined to 4.8%, resulting the country falling in a<br />
deep mess. We have lost a wonderful opportunity and have pushed the country 20 years behind and rendered millions of men and women jobless.<br />
<br />
Critical and urgent challenges facing the nation have been left unaddressed. Beyond impacting the immediate short-term, this is corroding the long-term potential of the nation. People feel frustrated and have lost hope in the system. Things must change, and they must change now. BJP will take immediate and decisive action to address these issues on a priority basis.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Price Rise</span></b><br />
<br />
Runaway food inflation has crippled household budgets and contributed to the overall inflationary trend under the Congress-led UPA's watch. Even worse, the food and nutritional security of millions is threatened. However, the Congress-led UPA government has remained insensitive and indifferent to the plight of the people; tying itself into knots with short-term, mis-directed steps. The committee of Chief Ministers, headed by Shri Narendra Modi, has already submitted a report on food inflation in 2011. The report was unfortunately not acted upon by the Congress-led UPA<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Government.</span></b><br />
<br />
The BJP-led NDA Government's record of holding the prices is a demonstration of our commitment to break the vicious cycle of high inflation and high interest rates. Our immediate task will be to rein in inflation by several steps, such as:<br />
- put in place strict measures and special Courts to stop hoarding and black marketing.<br />
- setting up a Price Stabilisation Fund.<br />
- unbundle FCI operations into procurement, storage and distribution for greater efficiency.<br />
- leverage on technology to disseminate Real time data, especially to farmers - on production, prices, imports, stocks and overall availability.<br />
- evolve a single 'National Agriculture Market'.<br />
- promote and support area specific crops and vegetables linked to food habits of the people.<br />
Employment and Entrepreneurship<br />
The country has been dragged through 10 years of Jobless Growth by the Congress-led UPA Government. Under the broader economic revival, BJP will accord high priority to job creation and opportunities for entrepreneurship. We will:<br />
- strategically develop high impact domains like Labour-intensive manufacturing (viz. textile, footwear, electronics assembly, etc.) and Tourism.<br />
- strengthen the traditional employment bases of agriculture and allied industries, and retail - through modernization as well as stronger credit and market linkages.<br />
- harness the opportunities provided by the upgradation of infrastructure and housing, for its job generating potential.<br />
- encourage and empower our youth for self-employment - incubating entrepreneurship as well as facilitating credit.<br />
- address the employability issue by initiating a multi-skills development programme in mission mode. Focus will be on job creation and entrepreneurship, in both rural and urban areas.<br />
- transform our Employment Exchanges into Career Centres - connecting our youth with job opportunities in a transparent and effective manner through the use of technology; as well as providing counselling and training.<br />
Corruption<br />
Corruption is a manifestation of poor Governance. Moreover, it reflects the bad intentions of those sitting in power. All pervasive corruption under the Congress-led UPA has become a 'National Crisis'.<br />
We will establish a system, which eliminates the scope for corruption. We will do this through:<br />
- public awareness<br />
- technology enabled e-Governance - minimizing the discretion in the citizen-government interface.<br />
- system-based, policy-driven governance - making it transparent.<br />
- rationalization and simplification of the tax regime - which is currently repulsive for honest tax payers.<br />
- simplification of the processes and procedures at all levels - bestowing faith in the citizens, institutions and establishments.<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Black Money</span></b><br />
<br />
By minimizing the scope for corruption, we will ensure minimization of the generation of black money. BJP is committed to initiate the process of tracking down and bringing back black money stashed in foreign banks and offshore accounts. We will set up a Task Force for this purpose and to recommend amendments to existing laws or enact new laws. The process of bringing back black money to India what belongs to India, will be put in motion on priority. We will also proactively engage with foreign Governments to facilitate information sharing on black money.<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Decision and Policy Paralysis</span></b><br />
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The country has suffered a decade of maladministration and scams in addition to decision and policy paralysis; thus bringing growth and development to a grinding halt leading to a 'Governance deficit'. This situation will be changed and the engine of Government will be ignited again with strong willpower and commitment to public interest. We will also encourage the bureaucracy to take right decisions and contribute their might in building a modern India.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Poor Delivery</span></b><br />
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Wherever we go, we encounter bottlenecks. We experience it on a daily basis - in government offices for even the simplest of public services, in our courts buried in high pendency and so on. Similarly, we are known by a culture of missing links and lack of last mile connectivity. We have water but no pipeline to carry it; we have schools but no teachers; we have computers and machines but no electricity; we have scientists but no labs; we have instruments but no one to work on them. This reduces the pace of our performance and results into wastage of time, money and energy. Intent to do the right thing and the will to do things rightly, is missing. This has to be attended to on a priority basis.<br />
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Whatever we do and provide for, the whole chain has to be kept in mind. With this in mind, we will:<br />
- remove bottlenecks and missing links in all sectors, activities and services.<br />
- focus on proper planning and execution for right outcomes.<br />
- strive for scale and speed with futuristic vision.<br />
- Build institutions for today and tomorrow.<br />
Credibility Crisis<br />
The biggest challenge that India faces today is to restore the credibility of, and trust in the Union Government. In recent years, the Union Government has lost every semblance of credibility. Its intentions, integrity and initiatives, all are questionable. The Congress party has not only lowered the dignity of the Government, but also the dignity of India. This is what is driving recent adversities like the falling rupee and countries riding roughshod over us. The BJP will work for restoring the trust and credibility of the Government. We will also ensure that the chain of responsibility and accountability is built in the system.<br />
Team India<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Centre-State Relations</span></b><br />
Strengthen the Framework<br />
India is a diverse country. Diverse communities settled in vastly different regions have their own aspirations. Taking these aspirations into consideration, the centre and the states therefore have to evolve a working system, which leads to harmonious relations. The genuine grievances of every state will be addressed in a comprehensive manner.<br />
- We will place Centre-State relations on an even keel through the process of consultation and strive for harmonious Centre-State relations.<br />
- Our Government will be an enabler and facilitator in the rapid progress of states. We will evolve a model of national development, which is driven by the states.<br />
- Team India shall not be limited to the Prime Minister led team sitting in Delhi, but will also include<br />
Chief Ministers and other functionaries as equal partners.<br />
- Ensure fiscal autonomy of States while urging financial discipline.<br />
- Create 'Regional Councils of States', with common problems and concerns, with a view to seeking solutions that are applicable across a group of states.<br />
- We will encourage cooperation among states on security-related issues, inter-state disputes and for removing inter-regional economic disparities and promoting tourism.<br />
- We recognize the special needs and unique problems of the hill and desert states. In consultation with the Governments of these states, state-specific developmental priorities/ models will be evolved so that the aspirations of the people are met.<br />
- Given the unique status of Union Territories (UTs), they will receive special attention. We will focus on developing and strengthening the economy of UTs. Tourism will be promoted, tribal welfare and their rights will receive full attention, and infrastructure and coastal area development will be given top priority.<br />
- We reiterate our commitment to the protection and integrated development of our island territories.<br />
- The moribund forums like 'National Development Council' and 'Inter-State Council' will be revived and made into active bodies.<br />
- Involve the state Governments in the promotion of foreign trade and commerce.<br />
- Help the states mobilize resources through investments in industry, agriculture and infrastructure.<br />
Integrating the Nation - Its Vastness and Voices<br />
In a democracy, everyone is not only free, but also encouraged to voice his or her concerns. It is also necessary that these voices be heard and concerns redressed. However, all this should happen within the framework of our constitution and with the spirit of 'India First'. We have to keep the Nation at the forefront of our thoughts and actions. Any activity, which disrupts the integrity of the nation, cannot be in the interest of any segment of the society or any region of the country. All Indians living in different regions of the country have an equal stake in the progress of the country and they have to be assured of the fruits of the progress.<br />
- Presently, we see that there is a vast regional disparity between different regions of the country along developmental parameters, particularly between the western part and the eastern part. Despite their richness in both natural as well as human resources, eastern part of India still lags behind.<br />
- We shall give the highest priority towards bringing the eastern parts of the country on par with the western parts. To that extent, there shall be special focus and emphasis on the development of the eastern side of India.<br />
- Government will play the role of an enabler and a facilitator to the rapid progress of the states; planning along regional aspirations, strengths and potentials, evolving appropriate strategies for various zones of the country - hilly regions, plains, desert and coastal areas.<br />
Regional aspirations: BJP has always stood for greater decentralization through smaller States.<br />
Northeast : Resource rich North-Eastern states are lagging behind in development due to poor governance, systemic corruption and poor delivery of public services. NDA government had initiated concrete steps to address the issue of development of Northeast by setting up the Ministry of<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">North- Eastern Region. We will empower this Ministry with a broader charter and non-lapsable funds for the rapid development of the region.</span></b><br />
BJP will:<br />
- put special emphasis on enhancing the connectivity within the region and to the rest of the country.<br />
There will be special emphasis on massive infrastructure development, especially along the Line of Actual Control in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim.<br />
- address the issue of Flood control in Assam and river water management.<br />
- nurture more job generating opportunities like tourism and IT industry.<br />
- address the issue of infiltration and illegal immigrants in the Northeast region on a priority basis.<br />
This will include clear policy directions and effective control at the ground level.<br />
- complete all pending fencing work along the India-Bangladesh and India-Myanmar border, stepping up border security.<br />
- take measures for the safety of North-Eastern students studying across the country including setting up Hostels for North-Eastern students at various educational centres.<br />
- deal with Insurgent groups with a firm hand.<br />
Jammu and Kashmir: Jammu and Kashmir was, is and shall remain an integral part of the Union of India. The territorial integrity of India is inviolable. BJP will pursue an agenda of equal and rapid development in all the three regions of the state - Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh.<br />
- The return of Kashmiri Pandits to the land of their ancestors with full dignity, security and assured livelihood will figure high on the BJP's agenda.<br />
- The long pending problems and demands of refugees from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) will be addressed.<br />
- BJP reiterates its stand on the Article 370, and will discuss this with all stakeholders and remains committed to the abrogation of this article.<br />
- All steps will be taken to provide good governance, better infrastructure, educational opportunities, healthcare and more job opportunities, leading to a better quality of life in the valley.<br />
Seemandhra and Telangana: BJP is committed to do full justice to Seemandhra, and address the issues of development and governance of Seemandhra and Telangana.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Decentralization and People's Participation</span></b><br />
From Representative to Participatory Democracy<br />
India is a country of immense diversity - a highly decentralized federal structure is thus crucial in meeting the varied ideas and aspirations of our diverse people. Power is currently concentrated in Delhi and the State capitals. We believe this power should be genuinely decentralized. BJP has stood for greater decentralization through devolving of powers to the states. A vast reservoir of People's Power has not yet been tested in the real sense. We have not been able to involve the people in Governance as functionaries and facilitators.<br />
- People's Participation: Our developmental process will be a people's movement - of Jan bhagidari.<br />
We will make them the active drivers of development rather than mere passive recipients.<br />
- People's Engagement: Through Pro-active, Pro-people Good Governance, we will ensure the Government itself directly reaches out to the people, especially the weak and marginalized sections of society.<br />
- We will further evolve the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model into a People-Public-Private<br />
Partnership (PPPP) model.<br />
- BJP is committed to strengthen self-Governance at the local level and we will empower Panchayati<br />
Raj Institutions with extensive devolution of the 3 Fs - Functions, Functionaries and Funds.<br />
- Good performers amongst the Panchayats will be rewarded with additional developmental grants.<br />
- Strengthen the institution of the Gram Sabha, respecting their inputs and initiatives for development process.<br />
- We will actively involve people in policy formulation and evaluation through various platforms.<br />
- We will encourage Openness in the Government, involving all stakeholders in the decision-making processes.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Reform the System</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Good Governance: Transparent, Effective, Involving and Encouraging</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">India First</span></b><br />
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BJP believes in India being one country, one people and one nation. BJP recognizes the importance of diversity in Indian society, and the strength and vibrancy it adds to the nation. The party believes in the principle of unity in diversity.<br />
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India constitutes of all its' people, irrespective of caste, creed, religion or sex. It constitutes of all the communities - ethnic, social and cultural groups and also our culture, which is defined by tolerance and co-existence. The hallmark of India is "Unity in Diversity". It constitutes of each and every inch of our land, its natural resources and mental and physical energy we possess. It constitutes of all the institutions made in the past and present.<br />
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India First simply means nurturing and protecting all the elements, which India is made of. It does not exclude anyone or anything - it only includes everything and everyone, which India is made of. It is complete India; without exclusion, without exception. It also means that whatever is in the interest of India will be in the interest of all the elements that India is made up of, including its citizens.<br />
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The counter to the concept of 'India First' is what is happening today; appeasement of one, at the cost of the other, using Institutions for protecting the interest of a particular party or persons. It is reflected in the thinking that whatever is not in the interest of a party is not in the interest of India.<br />
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Clearly, Governance on these lines is not in the interest of India.<br />
Simply speaking, 'India First' puts the national interest first while taking any decision or step both by Governments and citizens. Even more simply put, you have to just see the face of India and Indians when you are in doubt. This is what separates 'India First' from the present day politics and Governance of the Congress-led UPA.<br />
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For BJP:<br />
- the only philosophy and religion of a Government should be India First.<br />
- the only epic of a Government should be India's Constitution.<br />
- the only power of a Government should be the power of the people.<br />
- the only prayer of a Government should be the welfare of its people.<br />
- the only way of a Government should be 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas'.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Open Government and Accountable Administration</span></b><br />
Administrative reforms will be a priority for the BJP. Hence, we propose to implement them through an appropriate body under the PMO. The objective will be to bring in transparency in Government's decision- making process. Government systems and processes would be relooked to make them citizen friendly, corruption free and accountable. Every effort will be made to meet the development aspirations of the people and make the Government agencies accountable to the citizens. We will set-up an effective Lokpal institution. Corruption at any level will be dealt with firmly and swiftly.<br />
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From birth certificate to school admission, from setting up business to paying of taxes, our present systems complicate the lives of our own people. We will reform it and make it easy in terms of access, efficiency and delivery. Following specific action will be initiated:<br />
- digitization of Government records will be taken up on top priority so that they are easily accessible.<br />
- performance review, social and environment audit would be mandated for all Government schemes and programmes.<br />
- open up Government to draw expertise from the industry, academia and society into the services.<br />
- government will be redefined by elimination of whatever is obsolete in laws, regulations, administrative structures, practices and would be purposive.<br />
- we will generate 'Kartavya Bhavna' among public servants as lives and productivity of people is dependent on the quality and efficiency of public services.<br />
On the whole, hallmarks of our Governance model would be:<br />
- People-centric<br />
- Policy driven<br />
- Time bound delivery<br />
- Minimum Government, Maximum Governance<br />
E-Governance: Easy, Efficient and Effective<br />
BJP believes that IT is a great enabler for empowerment, equity and efficiency. The NDA Government had made IT one of the major thrust areas. With the result, India is the IT capital for the whole world. But back home, the benefits of IT have not percolated down. This will be a high priority area for BJP that IT touches the lives of ordinary men and women. BJP has been known for good Governance and e- Governance will become the backbone for good Governance. BJP aims to nurture a Digital India - making every household and every individual digitally empowered.<br />
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Information Technology has made it possible to make information and services reach to the ordinary men and women even in remote areas, easily and effectively. Availability of information is the key to empowerment of the stakeholders. This also reduces the scope for discretion and manipulation.<br />
We will:<br />
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- focus on increasing the penetration and usage of broadband across the country. Deployment of broadband in every village would be a thrust area.<br />
- leverage technology for e-Governance and engage proactively with the people through social media for participative governance and effective public grievance redressal mechanism.<br />
- generate IT based jobs in rural and semi-urban areas.<br />
- make technology enabled products affordable for students.<br />
- use technology to reduce the burden of books on children. Make all institutions and schools e- enabled in a phased manner. Digital learning and training to be used extensively.<br />
- pursue a mission mode project under the 'National Rural Internet and Technology Mission' for use of telemedicine and mobile healthcare for rural healthcare delivery; use of IT for agriculture for real time information; Self Help Groups; retail trade and SMEs; and rural entrepreneurs, etc.<br />
- initiate a National e-Governance Plan to cover every Government office from the centre to the panchayats. The 'E-Gram, Vishwa Gram' scheme in Gujarat to be implemented nationwide.<br />
- promote e-Bhasha - National Mission for the promotion of IT in Indian Languages.<br />
- focus to bring SC/ST, OBCs and other weaker sections of the society within the ambit of IT<br />
enabled development.<br />
- deploy IT to protect India's priceless cultural and artistic heritage, which includes digitization of all archives and museology.<br />
- promote 'open source' and 'open standard' software.<br />
- mandate digitization of all government work to reduce corruption and delays.<br />
- set up High-speed digital highways to unite the nation.<br />
- use technology to reduce Transmission and distribution losses.<br />
- use mobile and e-Banking to ensure financial inclusion.<br />
BJP aims to make every household digitally literate with a goal to make India the Global Knowledge hub, with IT being a major driver and engine of growth.<br />
Institutional Reform - Administrative, Judicial, Police and Electoral<br />
Administrative<br />
Today, people of this country are frustrated with the present system. Our administrative set up should be people-centric, responsive and result-oriented. With this in mind, we are committed to bring the following reforms:<br />
- the administration and its members will be made truly accountable to their tasks as well as the people through rigorous evaluation process.<br />
- good performance will be rewarded; non-performers will be given opportunities and training support to improve.<br />
- rationalization and convergence among the Ministries, departments and other arms of the<br />
Government will be ensured to focus on delivery.<br />
- open up government to draw expertise from the industry, academia and society.<br />
- services of youth in particular will be tapped to contribute in governance with Fellowship and<br />
Internship programmes launched at various levels.<br />
Judicial<br />
BJP is committed to ensure Justice for All - justice which is prompt and accessible. Understanding that Justice Delayed is Justice Denied, we will adopt a multi-pronged approach to address the high pendency of cases in our judicial system.<br />
We will:<br />
- accord high priority to judicial reforms to address the issue of appointment of judges, filling the vacancies, opening new courts, setting up a mechanism for speedy clearance of the backlog of cases at various levels in the judiciary.<br />
- initiate a mission mode project for filling the vacancies in the judiciary and for doubling the number of courts and judges in the subordinate judiciary.<br />
- set up a National Judicial Commission for the appointment of judges in higher judiciary.<br />
- create a fund for modernization of courts to improve the operational efficiency of courts.<br />
- set up a separate class of courts for cases involving specified commercial laws which fast track the litigation process.<br />
- reform the criminal justice system to make dispensation of justice simpler, quicker and more effective and after examining the recommendations of the earlier reports on this subject.<br />
Initiate the computerization and networking of courts all over the country.<br />
- extend fast track courts to all layers of the judiciary.<br />
- expand alternative dispute redressal mechanisms through Lok Adalats and Tribunals.<br />
- implement the National Litigation Policy in letter and spirit to reduce average pendency time of cases.<br />
- review and reduce significantly the number of cases, in which the Government is a litigant in the next five years.<br />
- periodically review and refine/ scrap outdated laws.<br />
- create courts specially equipped to deal with IPR cases.<br />
- give special emphasis to the development of Alternate Dispute Resolution mechanisms - like<br />
Lok Adalats, Arbitration and Conciliation centres.<br />
- set up a comprehensive National e-Library, empowering Lawyers.<br />
- aim to enhance the number of women in the Bar as well as Bench, reducing the gender gap in judiciary.<br />
- evolve a national network of specialized universities having expertise in complementary domains<br />
- like Forensics, Arbitration, IPR, International Law, etc.<br />
- develop India into a Global Hub for Arbitration and Legal Process Outsourcing.<br />
We will simultaneously reform the legal system to make it more accessible to the common man. We will:<br />
- undertake a comprehensive review of the legal system to simplify complex legislations - converge overlapping legislation, as well as remove contradictory and redundant laws.<br />
- establish an institutional mechanism to periodically review and give suggestions for refining our laws.<br />
- simplify legal procedure and language.<br />
- make legal information open and freely accessible.<br />
- run legal awareness programmes and introduce in school curriculum - making the common man aware of his rights and duties.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Police</span></b><br />
Our police forces are entrusted with the crucial responsibility of maintaining law and public order, which forms one of the central pillars of our democracy. We will work with the states to empower them with the authority, independence and resources necessary to deliver:<br />
- Roll out a comprehensive strategy for bringing the Indian Police at par with international standards.<br />
- Facilitate training and capacity building of Police forces.<br />
- Modernize the police force, equipping them with the latest technology.<br />
- Initiate the networking of police stations across the country for intelligence sharing and crime control.<br />
- Strengthen Investigations, making them Swift, Transparent, Fair, Clear and Decisive - acting as an inescapable deterrent to wrong- doers and a protective shield to the innocent.<br />
- Develop specialized expertise in investigation; through continuous training, especially in evolving competencies.<br />
- Overhaul our intelligence set up, with special focus on coordination and integration of human and technological intel - comprehensively gearing it towards collecting real time, specific and actionable inputs.<br />
- Modernize our Prison system with technology and infrastructure; to strengthen the security as well human rights and correctional dimensions.<br />
- Work towards evolving common national standards and protocols.<br />
- Train and technologically enable the police to track, pursue, as well as prevent Cyber Crime.<br />
- Bring Coastal States together on a common platform to discuss issues of Marine Policing.<br />
- Reinterpret the age-old concept of community policing in modern times; evolving ways for the police to reach out to the people, building bonds of trust and friendship - including spreading out into areas of public safety and public wellness.<br />
- Give special emphasis for improving the working conditions and welfare of police personnel.<br />
Electoral<br />
BJP is committed to initiate electoral reforms to eliminate criminals. The BJP will seek, through consultation with other parties, to evolve a method of holding Assembly and Lok Sabha elections simultaneously. Apart from reducing election expenses for both political parties and Government, this will ensure certain stability for State Governments. We will also look at revising expenditure limits realistically.<br />
Widen the Platform<br />
Certain segments of India have been historically disadvantaged. Due to a lopsided development approach and skewed allocation of resources, they continue to lag behind the rest of the country in socio- economic indicators in spite of having abundant natural resources and talent.<br />
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Consequently, our demographic dividend is not being fully actualized. It is the duty of the government to enable every Indian to realize his or her full potential, ensuring equitable growth and development. We are committed towards this end, and will ensure the same by:<br />
- Empowering each and every Indian through health and education.<br />
- Increasing Opportunities by making Job creation central to our economic model.<br />
- Ensuring a basic level of Infrastructure to all - Home, Electricity, Water, Toilets and Access.<br />
Poor and Marginalized - Bridge the Gap<br />
Our Government will be a government of the poor, marginalized and left behind. Every Indian has a right over everything that India has. From this, he or she is free to weave his or her own dreams. The India of tomorrow will have 125 crore such dreams, and will be built on the same. We will not only empower our citizens with the ability to dream; we will enable them with the capability to actualize their dreams.<br />
The real test of the success of a development process lies in the happiness of the common man. The fruits of growth and development must reach the weakest, most deprived and remotest of people. With firm belief in the concept of Antyodaya - uplifting the poorest of the poor - Extreme Poverty and malnutrition will be treated as a National priority, and will be addressed on Mission Mode.<br />
We will:<br />
- strengthen Delivery of poverty alleviation programs through convergence, transparency and efficiency.<br />
- identify 100 most backward districts of the country to bring them at par with other districts through prioritized and integrated development.<br />
- strengthen the natural resource base of the people to tide over natural calamities.<br />
- aim to gainfully employ rural poor in agriculture and allied activities.<br />
- enable the urban poor to develop skills so that they take advantage of the emerging opportunities.<br />
- facilitate partnership across all levels of government, civil society, academic and financial institutions in this national mission of poverty alleviation.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Food Security</span></b><br />
BJP has always held that 'universal food security' is integral to national security. BJP will take steps to ensure that the benefits of the scheme reach the common man and that the right to food does not remain an act on paper or a political rhetoric. BJP will review all the laws and schemes, in consultation with the states, to ensure a corruption-free efficient implementation of food security, which would be a priority.<br />
BJP will:<br />
- review the successful PDS models, and incorporate the best practices to revise the existing PDS, for benefitting the common man.<br />
- address the issue of under-nutrition and malnutrition.<br />
- encourage the production of cereals, pulses and oils.<br />
- radically transform the Food Corporation of India (FCI).<br />
- ensure contingency stocks for any exigencies arising due to natural calamities or external factors.<br />
- seek the participation of voluntary organizations in running community kitchens.<br />
SCs, STs, OBCs and Other Weaker Sections - Social Justice and Empowerment<br />
The BJP is committed to bridge the gap, following the principles of Samajik Nyay (social justice) and Samajik Samrasata (social harmony). This social justice must be further complemented with economic justice and political empowerment. Instead of pursuing identity politics and tokenisms,<br />
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we will focus on empowering the deprived sections of society. Steps will be taken to create an enabling ecosystem of equal opportunity - for education, health and livelihood. We will accord highest priority to ensuring their security, especially the prevention of atrocities against SCs & STs.<br />
We believe that accelerated social justice and integrated development is the key to the progress of our country and success of our democracy. The BJP is committed to bridge the divide following the principle of social justice (Samajik Nyay) and social harmony (Samajik Samrasata).<br />
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Instead of pursuing identity politics and tokenisms, which have not led to any tangible results for the SC, ST, OBCs and other weaker sections of our society, the BJP will focus on tangible development and empowerment.<br />
- A high priority for SC, ST, OBCs and other weaker sections would be to create an ecosystem for education and entrepreneurship.<br />
- BJP is committed to the eradication of untouchability at all levels.<br />
- BJP is committed to eliminate manual scavenging.<br />
- BJP will look at more effective ways to pull these people out of the poverty line.<br />
- BJP will ensure that the funds allocated for schemes and programmes for SC, ST, OBCs and other weaker sections are utilized properly.<br />
- A mission mode project would be made for housing, education, health and skills development.<br />
- Special focus would be on the children, especially the girl child, with regards to health, education and skills development.<br />
Tribal development will be one of the focus areas. BJP believes that half-hearted, incremental and piecemeal attempts for the development of tribals have not helped. So the BJP commits to make a comprehensive, all-encompassing long-term strategy to empower tribals and ensure their welfare. The goal would be to ensure tribal development while preserving the unique identities of this community. The Governments of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh have successfully implemented the tribal welfare and development schemes and their model would be used for tribal welfare and development.<br />
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BJP will initiate a 'Van Bandhu Kalyan Yojna' at the national level to be overseen by a 'Tribal Development Authority'. This scheme will focus on:<br />
- Setting up the entire education network for tribals.<br />
- Upgrading housing, water and health facilities.<br />
- Electrification of tribal hamlets and provision of all - weather roads.<br />
- Initiating new economic activities.<br />
- Promoting the products associated with the tribal culture by setting tribal haats in tourist towns and other centres.<br />
- Ensure that the tribal land is not alienated.<br />
- Facilitating access to minor forest produce and creating a network of rural haats (markets).<br />
- Establishing the National Centre for Tribal Research and Culture to preserve the tribal culture and languages.<br />
- Enhancing the funds for tribal welfare and development.<br />
Minorities - Equal Opportunity<br />
BJP believes that in India's 'Unity in Diversity' lies India's biggest strength. We cherish the depth and vibrancy that the diversity in Indian society adds to the nation. BJP is thus committed to the preservation of the rich culture and heritage of India's minority communities; alongside their social and economic empowerment.<br />
It is unfortunate that even after several decades of independence, a large section of the minority, and especially Muslim community continues to be stymied in poverty. Modern India must be a nation of equal opportunity. BJP is committed to ensure that all communities are equal partners in<br />
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India's progress, as we believe India cannot progress if any segment of Indians is left behind.<br />
We will:<br />
- Ensure that the young, and the girl child in particular get education and jobs without discrimination.<br />
- Strengthen and modernize minority educational systems and institutions; dovetailing them with modern requirements. National Madrasa modernization programme would be initiated.<br />
- Empower with vibrancy in Livelihood and Entrepreneurial opportunities.<br />
- Augment their traditional artisanship and entrepreneurial skill, which are a backbone of our cottage and small-scale industry - strengthening these sectors through better market linkages, branding and access to credit.<br />
- Empower Waqf Boards in consultation with religious leaders; taking steps to remove encroachments from and unauthorized occupation of Waqf properties.<br />
- Curate their rich heritage and culture - maintenance and restoration of heritage sites; digitization of archives; preservation and promotion of Urdu.<br />
- Ensure a peaceful and secure environment, where there is no place for either the perpetrators or exploiters of fear.<br />
- Facilitate the setting up of a permanent Inter-faith Consultative mechanism to promote harmony and trust, under the auspices of religious leaders.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Neo-Middle Class - Meet their Aspirations</span></b><br />
India has a large middle class with immense understanding, talent and purchasing power. In addition, a whole new class has emerged. Those who have risen from the category of poor and are yet to stabilize in the middle class, the 'neo middle class'. This class needs proactive handholding. Having moved out of poverty, their aspirations have increased. They want amenities and services of a certain standard. They thus now feel that Government facilities and services are not up to the mark, and hence resort to the private sector for things like education, health and transport. This is obviously costly, putting the neo middle class into a daily dilemma. As more and more people move into this category, their expectations for better public services have to be met. We have to strengthen the Public Sector for providing efficient services to our citizens. In<br />
particular attention will be paid on government providing:<br />
- Educational scholarships and educational facilities.<br />
- Medical insurance and quality healthcare services.<br />
- Middle-income housing.<br />
- Efficient public transport systems.<br />
Rural Areas - High Priority<br />
Two-thirds of our people live in villages. Lack of amenities to live and opportunities to work, however, are restricting our rural life. Both these factors are the result of prolonged neglect. A full-fledged programme for 'Rural Rejuvenation' will be made and implemented which will comprise of integrated strategies for personal, economic and social well being of the villagers. Through the idea of Rurban, we will bring urban amenities to our rural areas, while retaining the soul of the village.<br />
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Agriculture, rural development and poverty alleviation go hand in hand. Major thrust area for rural development would be to improve village level infrastructure in terms of roads, potable water, education, health, supply chain, electricity, broadband, job creation, security in rural areas and linkage to markets.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Urban Areas - High Growth Centres</span></b><br />
More than one-third of our population is already living in our cities and towns. Soon, the urban areas will cover half our people. Moreover, our cities should no longer remain a reflection of poverty and bottlenecks. Rather they should become symbols of efficiency, speed and scale.<br />
- We will look at urbanisation as an Opportunity rather than a Threat.<br />
- Major steps will be undertaken in Transport and Housing for 'Urban Upliftment' in India.<br />
- We will initiate building 100 new cities; enabled with the latest in technology and infrastructure - adhering to concepts like sustainability, walk to work etc, and focused on specialized domains.<br />
- The approach to urban development will be based on integrated habitat development - building on concepts like Twin cities and Satellite towns.<br />
- Upgrade existing urban centres, transitioning focus from basic infrastructure to public utility services like Waste and Water Management - for a clean and healthy city life.<br />
- Cleanliness and Sanitation will be given priority - efficient Waste and Water management systems will be set up. Model towns will be identified for rolling out integrated waste management infrastructure.<br />
- Wi-Fi facilities will be made available in public places and commercial centres.<br />
- Urban poverty alleviation scheme would be a key thrust area.<br />
- Use technology for scientific, strategic and long term town planning - including GIS based mapping.<br />
- Build quality integrated Public Transport systems, discouraging usage of private vehicles.<br />
Leap Forward<br />
We have to give the taste of a developed country to this very generation. We have to take a quantitative and qualitative leap. The time of knee jerk reactions and incremental changes has gone. What we need is a quantum jump and a total change. We also believe that development has to be holistic, uniform and all pervasive. Further, we have to make the people active partners in whatever is happening and empower them to take advantage of the development process. We will make an effort that government withdraws from those services which could be done by others and devote that extra time, money and energy for social sectors, particularly for development of the weaker sections. And a common thread will run across all our ideas and initiatives. This common thread is the wire and wave of Technology - maximum application of technology for making governance easy, economical and effective.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Social Security - A Caring Government, Passionate Society</span></b><br />
India has always been a caring society. It is in our culture to help the aged, the weak and the helpless. We have to retain this. We have to educate our younger generations about this. The social security schemes of the Governments have to be made more meaningful. Our aspirations get frustrated when we encounter a weak social infrastructure. We need it on a daily basis.<br />
Children - the Future of the Nation<br />
"There can be no keener revelation of a society's soul than the way in which it treats its children" - Nelson Mandela<br />
Indicators related to children welfare are an indicator of the progress of the nation, be it health, education or safety of children. Under the UPA rule, the same has not been given its due weightage. BJP is committed to address the issues related to children, like malnutrition and under-nutrition, problem of child labour, child-trafficking and missing children, sexual abuse, school dropouts and the increasing crime rate among juveniles. BJP will take the following steps to ensure survival, development, participation and protection of children:<br />
- Lay special emphasis on vulnerable children and especially those belonging to the vulnerable communities like SCs, STs, OBCs, migrants, slum dwellers, street dwellers and those with disabilities.<br />
- Ensure effective implementation of the Right to Education, Right to Food Security Act.<br />
- Review, amend and strengthen the Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act,<br />
2012 and Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS).<br />
- Focused efforts will be made to address issue of anaemia.<br />
- Reduce the burden of books on children without compromising on the quality of education.<br />
- Endeavour to inculcate values amongst children.<br />
Senior Citizens<br />
BJP is committed to the welfare of senior citizens, especially their security and health care. We will take measures to deal with the issues related to the senior citizens in a focused manner.<br />
BJP will:<br />
- Provide financial support, exploring ideas like additional tax benefits and higher interest rates.<br />
- Invest in setting up and improving old-age homes.<br />
- Harness their experience in the National Interest. Devise schemes and programs to engage the senior citizens as volunteers / part time workers in various development programmes of the government, in urban and rural areas. This will not only help in utilizing their time, but also it would be an effective utilization of their experience and may add an additional source of income for them.<br />
Specially Abled<br />
About 70 million people are suffering from disability, and BJP considers it a serious neglect. The welfare and rehabilitation of disabled people is integral to our vision of a caring society and that of a responsive government. The BJP commits to:<br />
- Enact the 'Rights of the Persons with Disabilities bill' (RPWD).<br />
- Use technology to deliver low cost quality education to specially-abled students 'in-home' - through E-learning.<br />
- Identify each and every special needs person across the country - establishing a web based disability registration system to issue universal ID for all applicable government benefits (healthcare, transportation, jobs, education etc).<br />
- Ensure disabled friendly access to public facilities, public buildings and transport.<br />
- Ensure maximum economic independence of the disabled by creating more income generation models for them.<br />
- Support and aid voluntary organizations working for the care of the disabled.<br />
- Provide a higher tax relief for the family member taking care of the disabled.<br />
Youth - Making India Unstoppable<br />
'Young men, my hope is in you. Will you respond to the call of your nation? Each one of you has a glorious future if you dare believe me. Have a tremendous faith in yourselves, like the faith I had when I was a child, and which I am working out now. Have that faith, each one of you, in yourself-that eternal power is lodged in every soul-and you will revive the whole of the country.' - Swami Vivekananda<br />
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BJP considers youth as the most productive asset of the nation who have played a key role in taking the country to a near double digit growth. All sectors dominated by youth are doing exceptionally well. India is the oldest civilization but the youngest country and this necessitates that the policies must be based on the judicious mix of experience of energy, and be 'Youth inclusive', so that youth are an integral part of the development process. We commit to review and revise policies to seek participation of youth in decision-making and nation building process and actively get the youth to participate in decision-making bodies.<br />
- we will initiate the 'Young Leaders programme' in all sectors, to recognize, reward and involve these exceptionally talented youth to serve as role models and mentors for others.<br />
- set up the National Youth Advisory Council.<br />
- BJP will initiate nation-wide 'district level incubation and accelerator programme' for encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship.<br />
- procedure to avail Student's loans will be simplified and loans made affordable.<br />
- set up neighbourhood Children's/ Youth Parliament across India that leads to vibrant student committees.<br />
- Will launch a programme, 'Youth for Development'.<br />
Promotion of Sports<br />
BJP recognizes the importance of sports in society and for all age groups. Sports have a direct relation to fitness, good health and productivity. India has not fared well in sports, and needs to invest for promotion of sports in an organized manner.<br />
- BJP will promote all sports - traditional and modern.<br />
- More funds will be allocated to sports, and we will encourage the State Governments to fully discharge their responsibility in the promotion of sports.<br />
- Steps would be taken to inculcate a culture of sports at the school level by arranging sports facilities and training needs for promoting a healthy lifestyle, and making sports as a compulsory part of the school curriculum.<br />
- Launch a 'National Sports Talent Search System', so that extraordinary sporting talent is identified at a very young age. Such promising boys and girls will be selected for special training. The existing rural sports programme and National Women Sports Festival will be broadened to reach every village and to identify talent for nurturing and excellence development.<br />
- Attractive career path needs to be planned for sportspersons providing security of career through jobs in government, PSUs and private sector.<br />
- Establish sports academies across the country.<br />
- Special scheme would be devised for sportspersons to ensure social security.<br />
- Encourage business houses to patronize sports and sportspersons.<br />
- Mandate all new housing colonies to include sports facilities.<br />
Women - The Nation Builder<br />
BJP recognizes the important role of women in development of the society and growth of the nation, and remains committed to give a high priority to Women's Empowerment and welfare. BJP ruled states have demonstrated this through various schemes. BJP also recognizes the need for women's security as a precondition to women's empowerment and will undertake the following for women welfare:<br />
- Women's welfare and development will be accorded a high priority at all levels within the government, and BJP is committed to 33% reservation in parliamentary and state assemblies through a constitutional amendment.<br />
- Launch a national campaign for saving the girl child and educating her - Beti Bachao - Beti Padhao.<br />
- Structure a comprehensive scheme, incorporating best practices from past successes like Balika Samruddhi, Ladli Laxmi and Chiranjeevi Yojana to support encourage positive attitude amongst families towards the girl child.<br />
- Program for women healthcare in a mission mode, especially focusing on domains of Nutrition and Pregnancy - with emphasis on rural, SCs, STs and OBCs.<br />
- We will enable women with training and skills - setting up dedicated Women ITIs, Women wings in other ITIs.<br />
- Strict implementation of laws related to women, particularly those related to rape.<br />
- Fund for relief and rehabilitation of rape victims lies unused at the Centre as the Government has not worked out the modalities of dispensation. BJP will clear this on priority.<br />
- Government will create an Acid Attack victims welfare fund to take care of the medical costs related to treatment and cosmetic reconstructive surgeries of such victims.<br />
- Make police stations women friendly, and increase the number of women in police at different levels.<br />
- Introduce self defence as a part of the school curriculum.<br />
- Using information technology for women's safety.<br />
- Set up an All Women Mobile Bank to cater to women.<br />
- Special skills training and business incubator park for women.<br />
- Setting up special business facilitation center for women.<br />
- Expand and improve upon the network of women / working women hostels.<br />
- Set up a dedicated W-SME (Women Small and medium enterprises) cluster in every district.<br />
- Review the working conditions and enhance the remuneration of Anganwadi worker's.<br />
- Remove any remaining gender disparities in property rights, marital rights and cohabitation rights.<br />
- Special adult literacy initiative would be started for women with focus on SCs, STs, OBCs, and slum residents.<br />
- Will ensure that the loans to Women Self Help Groups would be available at low interest rates.<br />
- Special programs aimed at girls below poverty line, tribals and indigent women.<br />
- Appropriate measures would be taken to check female foeticide, dowry, child marriage, trafficking, sexual harassment, rape and family violence.<br />
- We will transform the quality of life of women in Rural India by providing electricity, tapped water, cleaner fuel and toilets in every home.<br />
Education - Enroll and Excel<br />
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BJP believes that education is the most powerful tool for the advancement of the nation and the most potent weapon to fight poverty. Education in India needs to be revitalized and reorganized to make future generations proud of their culture, heritage and history and also for creating confidence in the vitality of India. Every effort shall be made to ensure 'equality of opportunity in access and success' to all learners; creating a harmonious, and cohesive egalitarian society that practices democratic values. This would be possible only when Education accords due emphasis on national integration, social cohesion, religious amity, national identity and patriotism. It must also be analyzed how far education has contributed to moral, ethical and humanistic values in the individuals and the society.<br />
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Education must create minds free from superstitions, hatred and violence and become an important vehicle to cement national unity, social cohesion and religious amity. Our endeavour should be to inculcate moral, ethical and humanistic values in the individuals and the society.<br />
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India has to become a knowledge society and has to reverberate with educated skilled manpower of high standards required to meet the challenges of 21st century. This requires a bold and visionary leadership to introduce appropriate policy and structural changes.<br />
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Highest priority would be given to address the acute shortage of teachers and researchers, quality of education and research, and also the employability factor associated with most of the courses. Education should not only lead to employability but also job creation and entrepreneurship by introducing a national multi-skills orientation program.<br />
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We intend to review and revise education system; the salary structures associated with the teaching staff and most importantly, address the shortfall of faculty and related issues in the country. The system shall be made people-friendly and the credibility of the system shall be restored.<br />
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Investment in education yields the best dividend. Public spending on education would be raised to 6% of the GDP, and involving the private sector would further enhance this.<br />
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Under the scheme of 'Quality education for all', BJP would take the following steps;<br />
School Education<br />
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- NDA's flagship program 'Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan': Mechanism would be set up for its performance audit and to have real time information about its performance. Programme shall be strengthened and expanded with a goal to remove illiteracy.<br />
- Universalization of secondary school education and skills development through functional school shall be seriously pursued with particular focus on rural, tribal and difficult areas.<br />
- The content and process of school education shall be thoroughly reviewed to make it dynamic, stress-free, attractive and responsive to the emerging national needs.<br />
- Girls shall be provided all possible help to continue and complete school education.<br />
- The digital divide shall not be allowed to create further divisions in the learning situations of children.<br />
- Special pedagogy would be developed for differently-abled students.<br />
- On priority, a national modernization programme for madrasa's would be started.<br />
- Mid-day meal scheme would be revitalized in terms of management and delivery.<br />
- We will explore ways to reduce the daily burden of carrying books to school for children, which would also entail use of technology for education as a mission mode project.<br />
- Establish a national E-Library to empower school teachers and students.<br />
- Initiate a multi-country student exchange programme for broadening the horizon of school going children.<br />
- Creative talents of students will be recognized and encouraged.<br />
Higher and Professional Education<br />
The basic objective of higher and professional education is not only rapid advancement of the affluent sector of the society but also to improve the lot of the last man in the line.<br />
The content should be designed to prepare the students to understand the current challenges and equip themselves to be able to readily adjust in a fast changing global scenario. Policy interventions would include:<br />
- enhancing the pivotal role of the teachers by reworking the work culture of teacher training institutions with a goal to prepare committed and performing teachers.<br />
- optimum utilization of physical and manpower resources.<br />
- a mechanism for close interaction between industry (including SME), academia and community would be instituted.<br />
- needs assessment exercise will be done for identifying the future needs across sectors, and the same would be used for developing appropriate courses for higher education, to ensure that the country has adequate manpower for every sector, both established and emerging, in the economy.<br />
- will provide autonomy with steps to ensure accountability for institutions of higher learning.<br />
- will raise the standard of education and research, so that Indian universities become at par with the top global universities and find their place in the global league.<br />
- the credibility of the regulatory bodies shall be restored. The procedures to make appointments to senior positions shall be made transparent and merit and ability shall be the sole criterion.<br />
- UGC will be restructured and it will be transformed into a Higher Education Commission rather than just being a grant distribution agency.<br />
- we will revisit the Apprenticeship Act to facilitate our youth to Earn while they Learn.<br />
Vocational Training<br />
- Would set up Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) and virtual classrooms to make it convenient for working class people and housewives to further their knowledge and qualifications.<br />
- Correspondence courses will be started in new domains for self-employment, family run businesses, entrepreneurship and innovation, and these courses would be provided for free to women. The goal would be to prepare the youth for jobs being created by the emerging sectors, foster a spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship, leading to more incomes and job creation.<br />
BJP will set up a National Commission on Education to report in two years on the state of education and the reforms needed. Based on the report, BJP will implement a National Education Policy to meet the changing dynamics of the population's requirement with regards to quality education, innovation and research, aiming to make India a knowledge superpower by equipping its students with the necessary skills and knowledge and to eliminate the shortage of manpower in science, technology, academics and industry.<br />
Skills - Focusing on Productivity and Employability<br />
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Skillful hands, bright minds, discipline and perseverance makes Indian talent an asset worldwide. We have to live up to this potential, preparing the World's Largest Workforce. We have to make our youth productively employed and gainfully engaged. We also have to develop India as a Knowledge Powerhouse. We have to train and nurture our human resource. We have to use it for leap-frogging our Nation into the future. Unfortunately, the initiatives taken by Congress for this have fallen woefully short, being almost non-starters.<br />
We will take up skill development on a mission mode, at an unprecedented scale.<br />
- Skill Mapping - to help scientifically plan our national human resource development that India would need (like engineers, architects, doctors, nurses, lawyers, accountants, plumbers, carpenters, welders, etc.).<br />
- Launch a 'National Multi-skill Mission'<br />
- We will run short-term courses, in the evenings, focusing on employable skills.<br />
- We will also set up Centres of Excellence in various sectors in partnership with the Industry.<br />
- To ensure industry responsive manpower, we will bring together industry, universities and government.<br />
- We will promote vocational training on a massive scale. Rigid segregation of formal education and skill development will be broken; a mechanism will be established to give vocational qualifications of Academic Equivalence.<br />
- We will also create institutional mechanisms to refresh and upgrade abilities through continuing education - to make them employable.<br />
We will focus on need based skill development and employability; making our youth employable even in the most sophisticated jobs.<br />
We will:<br />
- put emphasis on imparting soft skills to enhance employability including a national program on foreign languages.<br />
- launch a national programme for digital empowerment through computer literacy of the people, especially the youth.<br />
- we will assess the talent and capacity of our youth from an early age; so they can be groomed accordingly.<br />
- we will push for greater practical and research training encouraging real world experience through internships and apprenticeships.<br />
Health Services - Increase the Access, Improve the Quality, Lower the Cost<br />
India needs a holistic care system that is universally accessible, affordable and effective and drastically reduces the out of pocket spending on health. NRHM has failed to meet the objectives and will be radically reformed. BJP accords high priority to health sector, which is crucial for securing the economy.<br />
The overarching goal of healthcare would be to provide, 'Health Assurance to all Indians and to reduce the out of pocket spending on health care', with the help of state governments.<br />
The current situation calls for radical reforms in the healthcare system with regards to national healthcare programs and delivery, medical education and training and financing of healthcare. Our government would focus on the following reforms in healthcare:<br />
- the last healthcare policy dates back to 2002. India now needs a comprehensive healthcare policy to address the complex healthcare challenges, keeping in view the developments in the healthcare sector and the changing demographics. BJP will initiate the New Health Policy.<br />
- initiate the 'National Health Assurance Mission', with a clear mandate to provide universal healthcare that is not only accessible and affordable, but also effective, and reduces the OOP spending for the common man.<br />
- Education and Training - Will review the role of various professional regulatory bodies in healthcare and consider setting up an overarching lean body for healthcare. High priority will be given to address the shortfall of healthcare professionals.<br />
- Modernize Government hospitals, upgrading infrastructure and latest technologies.<br />
- Reorganize Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in order to converge various departments dealing in healthcare, food and nutrition and pharmaceuticals, for effective delivery of healthcare services.<br />
- Increase the number of medical and para-medical colleges to make India self sufficient in human resources, and set up an AIIMS like institute in every state.<br />
- Yoga and Ayurveda are the gifts of ancient Indian civilization to humanity and we will increase the public investment to promote Yoga and AYUSH. We will start integrated courses for Indian System of Medicine (ISM) and modern science and Ayurgenomics. We will set up institutions and launch a vigorous program to standardize and validate the Ayurvedic medicine.<br />
- Move to pre-emptive care model where the focus and thrust will be on child health and prevention.<br />
- School health program would be a major focus area, and health and hygiene will be made a part of the school curriculum.<br />
- Focus on Rural Health care delivery.<br />
- Senior Citizens healthcare would be a special focus area.<br />
- Give high priority to chronic diseases, and will invest in research and development of solutions for chronic diseases like obesity, diabetes, cancer, CVD etc.<br />
- Occupational health programs will be pursued aggressively.<br />
- Utilize the ubiquitous platform of mobile phones for healthcare delivery and set up the 'National eHealth Authority' to leverage telemedicine and mobile healthcare for expanding reach and coverage and to define the standards and legal framework for technology driven care.<br />
- Universalization of emergency medical services-108.<br />
- Re-orientation of herbal plants board to encourage farming of herbal plants.<br />
- Population stabilization would be a major thrust area and would be pursued as a mission mode program.<br />
- Programme for Women Healthcare with emphasis on rural, SC, ST and OBC in a mission mode.<br />
- Mission mode project to eradicate malnutrition.<br />
- Launch National Mosquito Control mission.<br />
Poor Hygiene and Sanitation have a far reaching, cascading impact. We will ensure a 'Swachh Bharat' by Gandhiji's 150th birth anniversary in 2019, taking it up in mission mode by converging resources and building around jan bhagidari:<br />
- Create an open defecation free India by awareness campaign and enabling people to build toilets in their home as well as in schools and public places.<br />
- Set up modern, scientific sewage and waste management systems.<br />
- We will introduce Sanitation Ratings measuring and ranking our cities and towns on 'sanitation';<br />
and rewarding the best performers.<br />
- Make potable drinking water available to all thus reducing water-borne diseases, which will automatically translate into Diarrhoea-free India.<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Economic Revival</span></b><br />
When the NDA Government completed its tenure the baton was handed over to the incoming UPA Government with GDP growth nearing double digit in 2004. Inflation was under control. Fiscal Deficit and Current Account Deficit were kept within limit and the overall Economy was showing robust fundamentals. In contrast, now at the end of Congress-led UPA regime, the GDP growth has plummeted to very low of 4.8%, the inflation and price rise beyond control, the fiscal deficit and current account deficit in the alarm zone, and the manufacturing sector facing a recession. The Congress-led UPA has indulged in massive scams during its last five years. In recent years, the Indian Rupee has seen a free fall like never before.<br />
This is basically the result of policy and decision paralysis of the UPA Government. Decisions are simply not taken. And if they are taken, they turn into scandals. All this has destroyed the reputation of our economy. To reverse this process, the first thing, which is required, is to restore confidence in the integrity of the decision-making and sanctity of our decisions.<br />
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We will bring back credibility and trust in government, re-sowing confidence in the India story domestically as well as internationally. Through consistent, long-term policies, we will not just spur the process of economic growth, but also ensure that it is stable as well as balanced.<br />
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We will:<br />
- find out solutions, which are effective in the short run and lasting in the long run.<br />
- strictly implement Fiscal discipline, without compromising on funds availability for development work and asset creation<br />
- allocate resources efficiently and effectively to re-energize the engines of growth.<br />
- re-visit the policy framework for investments both foreign and domestic to make them more conducive.<br />
- undertake Banking reforms to enhance ease and access, as well as accountability.<br />
- we will encourage Savings as an important driver of investment and growth.<br />
NPAs<br />
NPAs have increased sharply over the past few years and the trend continues. BJP will take necessary steps to reduce NPAs in Banking sector. Also, BJP will set up a strong regulatory framework for the non-banking financial companies to protect the investors.<br />
Taxation<br />
UPA Government has unleashed 'Tax terrorism' and 'uncertainty', which not only creates anxiety amongst the business class and negatively impacts the investment climate, but also dents the image of the country. BJP realizes the importance of having a Tax Policy Roadmap, so that people are aware of the future and plan accordingly. We will:<br />
- provide a non adversarial and conducive tax environment<br />
- rationalize and simplify the tax regime<br />
- overhaul the dispute resolution mechanisms<br />
- bring on board all State governments in adopting GST, addressing all their concerns<br />
- provide tax incentives for investments in research and development, geared towards indigenization of technology and innovation<br />
Foreign Direct Investment<br />
Barring the multi-brand retail sector, FDI will be allowed in sectors wherever needed for job and asset creation, infrastructure and acquisition of niche technology and specialized expertise. BJP is committed to protecting the interest of small and medium retailers, SMEs and those employed by them. The FIPBs (Foreign Investment Promotion Board) functioning shall be made more efficient and investor- friendly<br />
Agriculture - Productive, Scientific and Rewarding<br />
Agriculture is the engine of India's economic growth and the largest employer, and BJP commits highest priority to agricultural growth, increase in farmer's income and rural development.<br />
BJP will:<br />
- increase public investment in agriculture and rural development.<br />
- take steps to enhance the profitability in agriculture, by ensuring a minimum of 50% profits over the cost of production, cheaper agriculture inputs and credit; introducing latest technologies for farming and high yielding seeds and linking MGNREGA to agriculture.<br />
- Put in place welfare measures for farmers above 60 years in age, small and marginal farmers and farm labours.<br />
- Introduce and promote low water consuming irrigation techniques and optimum utilization of water resources.<br />
- Introduce soil assessment based crop planning and setting up mobile soil testing labs.<br />
- Re-orient pest management and control programmes.<br />
- implement and incentivize the setting up of the food processing industry that has remained just a plain talk till now. This will lead to better income for farmers and create jobs. We aim to set up 'agro food processing clusters', with high value, export-quality and vacuum packed food processing facilities, etc.<br />
- Focus on the quality, productivity and trade of spices.<br />
- Set up the 'Organic Farming and Fertilizer Corporation of India', to promote organic farming and fertilizers, and provide incentives and support for marketing organic produce.<br />
- Introduce rotation farming for herbal products, based on geographical mapping, to enhance the income of farmers.<br />
- Implement a farm insurance scheme to take care of crop loss due to unforeseen natural calamities.<br />
- Strengthen and expand rural credit facilities.<br />
- Promote horticulture, floriculture, pisciculture, bee-keeping and poultry for generating jobs and income for rural India<br />
- Promote fish farming and aqua culture. Measures would be taken for the welfare of fisherman<br />
- Create Cluster based storage systems (e.g. Rice cluster, Wheat Cluster, Veg - Fruit cluster, Spices cluster).<br />
- Introduce the concept of consumer friendly farmers' market to reduce wastages and increase incomes and risk coverage.<br />
- Reform the APMC act.<br />
- Work with the states to set up seed culture labs in each district and regional agriculture innovation labs to conserve agro-biodiversity and to identify and preserve rare indigenous varieties.<br />
- Explore setting up of regional Kisan TV channels.<br />
- Give high priority to poverty alleviation in rural areas.<br />
Genetically Modified (GM) foods will not be allowed without full scientific evaluation on its long-term effects on soil, production and biological impact on consumers.<br />
Land acquisition is a contentious issue due to the opacity of the land acquisition process. BJP will adopt a 'National Land Use Policy', which will look at the scientific acquisition of non-cultivable land, and its development; protect the interest of farmers and keep in mind the food production goals and economic goals of the country. It's implementation would be monitored by the National Land Use Authority, which will work with the State Land Use Authorities to regulate and facilitate land management. The power and functions of the National Land Use Authority would be similar to those of other regulatory bodies.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Industry - Modern, Competitive and Caring</span></b><br />
We should no longer remain a market for the global industry. Rather, we should become a Global Manufacturing Hub. We have to encourage our industry to innovate and collaborate internationally. We have to encourage industry to produce efficiently and cost-effectively.<br />
Economic freedom implies that Government will not get in the way of the freedom of individuals to start and operate legitimate businesses. Increased economic freedom will break open the economic space to new entrants, especially in the form of small and medium-enterprises, creating jobs and prosperity. Particularly:<br />
- We will ensure that a conducive, enabling environment is created making 'doing business' in<br />
India easy.<br />
- We will focus on cutting the red tape, simplifying the procedures and removing the bottle- necks.<br />
- We will ensure logistics infrastructure, including stable power.<br />
- Our attempt will be to move towards a single-window system of clearances both at the centre and also at the State level through a Hub-spoke model.<br />
- We will put in place a mechanism that will ensure that the Central and state governments work in close coordination and synergy while giving clearances to mega projects.<br />
- Decision-making on environment clearances will be made transparent as well as time-bound.<br />
- We will set up World class Investment and Industrial regions as Global Hubs of Manufacturing.<br />
- We will set up a task force to review and revive our MSME sector (Micro and Small Medium scale<br />
Enterprises); enabling it with better access to formal credit and technology for modernization.<br />
- Frame the environment laws in a manner that provides no scope for confusion and will lead to speedy clearance of proposals without delay.<br />
Manufacturing<br />
A strong manufacturing sector will not only bridge the demand-supply gap leading to price stabilization, but also create millions of jobs and increase incomes for the working class. Above all, it will increase the revenue for government and lead to import substitution to bring down the import bill. We will make India a hub for cost-competitive labour-intensive mass manufacturing. To give boost to manufacturing, BJP will:<br />
- Accord high priority to the growth of manufacturing, so that we can create enough jobs in the country. This sector must grow fast to ensure employment and asset creation.<br />
- Take steps for Interest rate rationalization and have a clear tax policy to remove uncertainty and create investor confidence.<br />
- Take all steps; like removing red-tapism involved in approvals, to make it easy to do business, invest in logistics infrastructure, ensure power supply and undertake labour reforms, besides other steps to create a conducive environment for investors.<br />
- Increase the public spending on R&D and Incentivize R&D investments by the industry to increase the competitiveness of the manufacturing sector.<br />
- We will facilitate setting up of software and hardware manufacturing units.<br />
- Encourage Indian companies to go global and we will support Indian companies in this endeavor.<br />
We believe that Indian entrepreneurs have the capability to take on global markets.<br />
- Set up trade facilitation to ensure easier customs clearances and visas for business travel.<br />
- Initiate a Government - Industry Dialogue, a channel for regular interface with the industry.<br />
MSMEs (Micro, small and medium enterprises)<br />
BJP considers that the role of SME sector is crucial for the economic development of our country. The sector needs to be developed by providing international linkages for exports, availability of credit through a dedicated SME bank, supply chain efficiencies, adoption of IT, support in R&D and innovation, and a policy support for enhancing the mandate to purchase from SME for large scale projects. Overall goal is to enhance the competitiveness of the SME sector leading to a larger contribution to our economic growth and employment generation.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Cooperative Sector</span></b><br />
Every effort will be made to encourage the cooperative sector. BJP commits to review the existing laws with regards to the cooperative sector, and will amend the multi-state cooperative act to remove lacunae and anomalies.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Handicrafts</b></span><br />
We will move up the value chain of the sector driven by a focus on Quality.<br />
- Market linkages - both national and international<br />
- Access to credit and information and skills upgradation<br />
- Value addition will be encouraged through avenues like - branding, packaging and technology.<br />
Artisans<br />
Schemes will be drawn for skills upgradation and enhancement of business opportunities for artisans like smiths, weavers, carpenters, hair-dressers, shoe-smiths, and potters.<br />
Services - Driven by Quality and Efficiency<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Business and Trade</span></b><br />
The modern era is an era of exchange. Over-regulation needs to be addressed to stop the harassment of the businessmen and traders. At the same time, we have to set up transparent systems, which ensure credibility of our goods and services. At the same time, the bottlenecks in transporting and exporting them have to be removed. Also, the flow of information about our tradable items has to be made available to the rest of the world.<br />
- Focus on Zero defect products.<br />
- Build world class Ports; connecting them with roads and rail to the hinterland so as to drive the maritime trade of the country.<br />
- Air Cargo facilities will be enhanced throughout the country.<br />
- An Export Promotion Mission will be established integrating all stakeholders.<br />
- Current accounts deficit will be brought down aggressively by focusing on exports and reducing the dependency on imports. Value addition on our products will be the biggest task.<br />
- We shall work with the State governments to usher in the GST in an appropriate timeframe. For implementing the same, a robust IT network system will be put in place.<br />
- We will embark on the path of IPRs and Patents in a big way.<br />
- Take all necessary steps to protect the interest of retailers, small traders and small vendors and equip them with the latest techniques and methods to modernize them and make them competitive.<br />
- Commit to ensure that the retailers and SMEs don't have to spend time and money for seeking multiple licenses to start the business. There will a system in place to avoid harassment of small traders.<br />
- Ensure easy availability of institutional credit.<br />
- Review obsolete and multiple laws to reduce and simplify them.<br />
- Remove ambiguity in rules to make way for prompt decisions without any scope for discretion.<br />
- Telecom revolution has touched length and breadth of the country but there is significant scope and necessity to improve the quality of voice and data to fully leverage the potential.<br />
Tourism - Untapped Potential<br />
BJP recognizes the role tourism and hospitality can play as a foreign exchange earner and its ability to create millions of jobs every year. Tourism plays a key role in socio-economic progress through creation of jobs, enterprise, infrastructure development, and foreign exchange earnings.<br />
BJP realizes that the tourism sector needs a clear plan for growth, and BJP commits to initiate a mission mode project to create 50 tourist circuits that are affordable and built around themes like: a.) Archaeological and Heritage, b.) Cultural and Spiritual, c.) Himalayan, d.) Desert, e.) Coastal,<br />
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f.) Medical (Ayurveda and Modern Medicine), etc. This will lead to creation of infrastructure and employment around each tourist circuit and help in boosting revenue generation.<br />
Specialized course in tourism will be started for capacity development. Safety and Security of tourists would be accorded due priority.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Labour Force - The Pillar of Our Growth</span></b><br />
BJP recognizes the fact that the labour is the key to the revival of the economy and so are the laws governing them. We believe in promoting a harmonious relationship between labour and the industry, with both playing an important contributory role in economic growth and development.<br />
We will ensure that the interests of labour in the unorganized sector are protected.<br />
For the organized labour, we propose to encourage industry owners and labour to embrace the concept of 'Industry Family'. This concept, in which industry owners and labours bond as a family, is guided by the principles of efficiency, skill development and upgradation, productivity, appropriate wages and perquisites, and security towards this end. We will:<br />
- issue identity cards to the unorganized sector labourers, and arrangements will be made to provide them good quality health and education services. Also, their skills will be upgraded through appropriate training programs.<br />
- extend access to modern financial services to labour - including considering the option of setting up a dedicated Workers Bank.<br />
- bring together all stakeholders to review our Labour laws which are outdated, complicated and even contradictory.<br />
- strengthen the Pension and Health Insurance safety nets for all kinds of labourers.<br />
Housing - No Longer a Mirage<br />
We will roll out a massive Low cost Housing programme to ensure that by the time the nation completes 75 years of its Independence, every family will have a pucca house of its own. It will be an innovatively designed scheme that dovetails various existing programmes and also encourages the housing sector by appropriate policy interventions and credit availability including interest subventions, where necessary.<br />
Our proposed programme will further ensure that these houses are equipped with the basic facilities of toilet, piped water supply, electricity and proper Access. To do this we will amongst others:<br />
- Prioritize all our resources towards this goal.<br />
- Leverage on land as a resource in urban areas and demand for unskilled labour in the rural areas.<br />
- Innovatively structure the programme to converge and dovetail various existing programmes, while adding the missing links.<br />
- Simultaneously encourage the overall housing sector, through appropriate policy interventions and credit availability and interest subvention schemes.<br />
Physical Infrastructure - Better than the Best<br />
India should no longer be limited by its infrastructure. In fact, we have to create robust infrastructure, which drives growth. For this purpose, we have to devote ourselves for a decade. We have to think big. Also, looking to the expansion in our population as well as social and economic activities, we have to build our infrastructure in a futuristic way. Growth of this sector means the growth of cement, steel, electricity and many other associated industries and directly leads to massive job creation. To achieve this, we will take following steps.<br />
- Work on the Freight Corridors and attendant Industrial Corridors will be expedited. This will result in the faster movement of people and goods.<br />
- Remote states like those in the Northeast and Jammu and Kashmir will be connected with the rest of India through world class highways and rail lines.<br />
- National Highway construction projects will be expedited, especially Border and Coastal highways.<br />
- Every village will be connected through all-weather roads.<br />
- We shall modernize existing and operational Airports, and build new ones especially connecting smaller towns and all tourism circuits. In addition, there is a potential for inland air transportation to various remote and local locations in the country. Such air strips will be developed so that low<br />
cost air travelling becomes possible within the country.<br />
- We will evolve an economic model of Port-led development. India is blessed with a long coastline.<br />
We will modernize existing ports on one hand, and develop new ones on the other - stringing together our Sagar Mala project.<br />
- Public Private Partnership would be encouraged to tap into private sector resources as well as expertise. An institutional framework would be established for the same; while regulators would be given greater autonomy as well as accountability.<br />
Next Generation Infrastructure<br />
We will:<br />
- set up Gas Grids to make gas available to households and industry.<br />
- set up a National Optical-Fibre Network up to the village level; and Wi-Fi zones in public areas.<br />
- harness our advanced satellite technology and expertise for development.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Transport</b></span><br />
The BJP realizes the importance of travel for the vibrancy of the economy and social unity. BJP will:<br />
- Create a public transport system, which can reduce the dependence on personal vehicles for transport, thereby, reducing cost, time to travel as well as ecological cost.<br />
- Launch an Integrated Public transport project which will include roadways, railways and waterways.<br />
- Develop waterways for passenger and cargo transport.<br />
- Develop National logistics network for faster movement of goods.<br />
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<b>Railway</b><br />
Indian Railways is the lifeline of the country. It will be modernized, strengthened and upgraded to serve passengers as well as the country's economy. This will be done in a planned manner focusing on national development, rather than political exigency.<br />
- Hinterland will be connected to the ports through strategic new Rail networks.<br />
- Agri Rail network will be established - with Train Wagons designed to cater to the specific needs of perishable Agricultural products like milk and vegetables as well as light weight wagons for salt movement.<br />
- Tourist Rail - including Pilgrimage Rail.<br />
- Railways Modernization, inducting of state-of-the-art technology.<br />
- Special focus on developing skilled human resources to meet future demand.<br />
- Prioritize Safety and invest in long required overhaul of stressed infrastructure, strict norms and warning systems.<br />
- Modernize and equip all stations with requisite infrastructure and public utilities.<br />
- Convert all unmanned crossings into manned crossings in a phased manner.<br />
- Initiate R&D for indigenous railways, coach design and signals.<br />
- We will launch Diamond Quadrilateral project - of High Speed Train network (bullet train).<br />
Water - Make It Reach to All Homes, Farms and Factories<br />
Trends indicate that India would be a 'water stressed' state by 2050, and the gap between the demand and supply would be 50%. BJP recognizes the seriousness of the issue. Also, most importantly, potable drinking water is not available to the entire population despite more than six decades of independence. Water is a dwindling resource, with the threat of water scarcity looming large. We will address this in a comprehensive manner across multiple dimensions. BJP remains committed to giving high priority to water security.<br />
- Launch the 'Pradhan Mantri Gram Sinchayee Yojana' with a motto of 'har khet ko paani'. We will launch multi-pronged 'water strategy' for reducing farmer's dependence on monsoon. Increase irrigated land by completing the long pending irrigation projects on priority.<br />
- We will nurture ground water recharge harnessing rain water to reduce dependence on ground water.<br />
- Encourage efficient use, water conservation, recycling and rain water harvesting.<br />
- Sewage treatment plants to prevent the pollution of rivers.<br />
- Desalination plants for drinking water supply in coastal cities.<br />
- Inter-linking of rivers based on feasibility.<br />
- Examination of ground water to eliminate toxic chemicals, particularly arsenic and fluorides. To ensure drinking water security to all. We will:<br />
- Encourage setting up of drinking water supply grid in water scarce areas.<br />
- Promote decentralized, demand-driven, community-managed water resource management, water supply and environmental sanitation.<br />
- Facilitate piped water to all households.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Energy - Generate More, Use Rationally, Waste Less</span></b><br />
BJP realizes the need to focus on generation and distribution of power as a national security issue, so that the growth is not negatively impacted due to supply issues in the energy sector. The overarching goal of energy security is to ensure affordable energy for various consumer segments. Steps will be taken to avoid over- dependence on any one fuel and ensure supplier diversity, to avoid reliance on one supplier, country and developing indigenous capacities to meet the emerging needs.<br />
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BJP will:<br />
- Come out with a responsible and comprehensive 'National Energy Policy'.<br />
- Focus on development of energy infrastructure, human resource development and upgradation of technology.<br />
- Take steps to maximize the potential of oil, gas, hydel power, ocean, wind, coal and nuclear sources. BJP considers energy efficiency and conservation crucial to energy security.<br />
- Set up small-hydro power generation projects to harness the hydropower that is not being used at the moment. Small projects can be set up with local support and without displacement of the local population.<br />
- Take Steps to increase the domestic coal exploration and production, to bridge the demand and supply gap. Oil and gas explorations would also be expedited in the country. This will also help to reduce the import bill.<br />
- Give a thrust to renewable sources of energy as an important component of India's energy mix.<br />
- Expand and strengthen the national solar mission.<br />
Science and Technology - India Innovates and India Leads<br />
India has been a knowledge economy and has been a leader in science and technology from the ancient times. India now needs policies and programs to reclaim its global leadership position in science and technology. BJP recognizes the need to create an ecosystem for fundamental research and innovation, keeping the objective of science with a human face in the service of the common man. Science and technology has enormous potential to bridge the disparities between the urban and rural India, rich and poor. Scientific education and technology needs to be encouraged, promoted, practiced and leveraged with renewed vision and vigour.<br />
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BJP recognizes the central role of science and technology in raising the quality of life of the people of the country, particularly of the disadvantaged sections of society in creating wealth for all, in making India globally competitive, in utilizing natural resources in a sustainable manner, in protecting the environment and ensuring national security. We will also encourage and incentivize private sector investments - both domestic and foreign, in science and technology and in high-end research aimed towards innovation.<br />
We will focus on the following:<br />
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- ensuring food, agricultural, nutritional and environmental, wealth, health and energy security of the people on a sustainable basis, using science and technology.<br />
- mounting a direct and sustained effort on the alleviation of poverty, enhancing livelihood security, removal of hunger and malnutrition, reduction of drudgery and regional imbalances, both rural and urban, and generation of employment, by using scientific and technological capabilities along with our traditional knowledge pool.<br />
- encouraging research and innovation in areas of relevance for the economy and society, particularly by promoting close and productive interaction between private and public institutions. Sectors such as agriculture (particularly soil, water management, human and animal nutrition and fisheries), water, health, education, industry, energy including renewable energy, communication and transportation would be accorded highest priority. Leveraging of technologies such as information technology, biotechnology and material sciences would be done with special importance.<br />
- encouraging research and application to meet the challenges of climate change and for forecasting, prevention and mitigation of natural hazards, particularly floods, cyclones, earthquakes, drought and landslides.<br />
- promoting international science and technology cooperation towards achieving the goals of national development and security, and making it a key element of our international relations.<br />
- devise schemes, programs and opportunities to encourage the youth to take scientific research and innovation as a career.<br />
- provide work environment and professional opportunities in fundamental scientific research, to make research careers more appealing, so that the nation can harness the best of brains for scientific research leading to enhancing the national productivity and competitiveness and reverse brain drain.<br />
- build world class, regional centres of excellence of scientific research in the field of nanotechnology, material sciences, thorium technology and brain research.<br />
- create an ecosystem for multi-country and inter-disciplinary collaborative research, and establish an Intellectual Property Rights Regime which maximizes the incentive for generation and protection of intellectual property for all type of inventors.<br />
- achieving synergy between industry and scientific research. Autonomous technology transfer organizations will be created as associate organizations of universities and national laboratories to transfer the know-how generated by them to industry. Industry will be encouraged to adopt or support educational and research institutions to help direct science and technology endeavours towards tangible industrial goals.<br />
- promotion of innovation by creating a comprehensive national system of innovation.<br />
- indigenous knowledge, based on our long and rich tradition will be further developed and harnessed for the purpose of wealth and employment generation<br />
- to promote science popularization schemes extensively.<br />
- bring the changes in secondary education to focus on application of science.<br />
- set an institute of Big data and Analytics for studying the impact of big data across sectors for predictive science.<br />
- to do research for the eradication of tropical diseases.<br />
- Establish institutes of Technology for Rural Development.<br />
- establish a Central University dedicated to Himalayan Technology.<br />
- promote research and application of nuclear science in medicines, industry and agriculture.<br />
Flora, Fauna and Environment - Safeguarding Our Tomorrow<br />
The present generation has to make this world a better place to live. A better place not only for us, but for our future generations as well. We have to nurture the environment, institutions, people, resources and amenities. We have to combine the past, the present and the future. We have to have a holistic view of human life for sustainable development.<br />
We have to develop the assets and amenities for ourselves in a manner that leaves an equally good or even better environment for the future generations. We will put sustainability at the centre of our thoughts and actions, working on the principle that inclusive growth cannot be limited by the barriers of time and space - it has to be built on the foundations of the past, leverage on the opportunities of the present, and preserve and enhance its resources for the future. We will take Climate Change mitigation initiatives with all seriousness and work with the global community and institutions in this regard.<br />
We will:<br />
- Encourage Cleaner production.<br />
- Cleaner fuels will be promoted so as to bring down the pollution levels particularly in the cities.<br />
- The concept of pro-active 'Carbon Credit' will be promoted.<br />
- Ecological Audit of projects and pollution indexing of cities and townships will be done on scientific basis.<br />
- Pollution control mechanisms will be set up on priority basis.<br />
- In addition to protecting the existing forests and wildlife reserves, the wastelands of the country will be used for social forestry.<br />
- Guidelines for Green buildings and energy efficient work places will be brought out.<br />
- R&D and Human Resource Development in Environment Technology will be promoted.<br />
- Set up fool proof mechanisms for protection and preservation of wild life.<br />
- Encourage citizen's participation in reforestation, agro-forestry and social forestry, through targeted programmes.<br />
- Encourage and incentivize innovative garbage disposal and waste management practices, especially recycling techniques.<br />
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<b>The Himalayas</b><br />
BJP is committed to serious endeavors for creating a global awareness regarding the conservation of Himalayas and will take the following steps:<br />
- Launch 'National Mission on Himalayas' as a unique programme of inter-governmental partnership, in coordinated policy making and capacity building across states and sectors.<br />
- Create a 'Himalayan Sustainability Fund'.<br />
- Create a Central University dedicated to the Himalayan Technology.<br />
- Give due Importance to the programmes devised to arrest the melting of Himalayan glaciers from which most of the rivers in North India originate.<br />
Natural & National Resources - Use When Required, Protect Where Necessary<br />
Indian belief has been best encapsulated in Gandhiji's words that "there is enough for everyone's need<br />
- but not for everyone's greed". Need is not the issue. Greed is. A country's progress depends upon its resources and how they are harnessed and protected. Those in power have to realize they are just trustees of the resources of the nation. The resources are neither meant for them nor for their masters. If we bring this basic shift in thinking of the Government, which Mahatma Gandhi also advocated, all problems will be resolved.<br />
In recent years, it has been noticed that country's tangible and intangible resources have been looted with impunity. The adverse result is being felt on two sides: Firstly, the proceeds of the resources have not gone to the public exchequer. Secondly, because of this culture of usurping, the same resources are not available for public purposes. The management of natural resources is marred with either misappropriation or misallocation. This has to be set right.<br />
- We will set in place national policies on critical natural resources like coal, minerals, spectrum, etc. - spelling out in black and white how much should be utilized at what time and pace; how this should be strategically phased out to ensure sustainability; who should be allotted what responsibility of extraction and at what cost.<br />
- State Governments will be taken into confidence for harnessing of these resources.<br />
- We will implement auction of precious resources through efficient mechanisms including e- auction.<br />
- Resource mapping, exploration and management will be undertaken through the use of technology.<br />
- Value addition will be encouraged in all resources, instead of just marketing. Secure Indians - Zero Tolerance on Terrorism, Extremism and Crime Comprehensive national security is not just about borders, but in its broad terms includes military security; economic security; cyber security; energy, food and water and health security; and social cohesion and harmony. To effectively address the issues of national security, we need to address the issues of - human resources, science and technology, system of governance and money.<br />
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National security cannot be compartmentalized based on one of issues but needs a clear roadmap to address it. Over the past decade, lack of a strong and visionary leadership, coupled with multiple power centres, has failed to address the issue of national security, leading to a chaotic situation and denting India's image in the international arena.<br />
India has a sensitive neighbourhood and there are internal security issues. There have been intrusions inside the LAC (Line of actual control), loss of squadrons of combat aircraft by the air force, witnessing of a series of accidents by the Navy, leading to a loss in its combating capability built over many decades, communal riots, Maoist attacks, increase in incidence of Pakistan backed terror groups in India, illegal immigration across the eastern border, and racists' attacks in the national capital. All these are indications of surrendering of India's interest. This calls for a review and overhauling of the current system. With the financial situation worsening, the issue of national security can acquire a horrifying dimension.<br />
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BJP recognizes the importance of identifying a clear roadmap to address the issue head-on, with radical systemic changes.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Internal Security</span></b><br />
BJP will:<br />
- Revive the anti-terror mechanism that has been dismantled by the Congress, strengthen the role of NIA and put a system in place for swift and fair trial of terror related cases.<br />
- Reform the National Security Council to make it the hub of all sector-related assessments. It will be accountable for real-time intelligence dissemination. Digital and Cyber security will be a thrust area.<br />
- Insulate intelligence agencies from political intervention and interference.<br />
- Completely revamp the intelligence gathering system by modernizing the intelligence department.<br />
- Provide the State governments with all assistance to modernize their respective police forces and equip them with the latest technology. This will be taken up on a mission mode approach.<br />
- Strengthen and expand the Civil Defence and Home Guards mechanism to create a group of citizens for community defence, self-defence and disaster management.<br />
- Encourage and strengthen NCC training at the college and University level.<br />
- Chalk a national plan in consultation and participation of the state Governments, to address the challenges posed by the Maoist's insurgency. Talks with the insurgent groups will be conditional and within the framework of the constitution.<br />
- Take urgent steps for the safety of the migrant workers and communities from the Northeast and other states.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">External Security - Its Boundary, Beauty and Bounty</span></b><br />
BJP will:<br />
- Address the issue of reforms with regards to defence equipment, support services, organizational reforms and other related matters.<br />
- Address the increasing shortage of commissioned and non-commissioned staff in the defence forces on a priority basis, in a time bound manner.<br />
- Implement one rank, one pension.<br />
- Build a War Memorial to recognize and honour the gallantry of our soldiers.<br />
- Take measures to make Short Service Commission more attractive.<br />
- Set up the National Maritime Authority which will be equipped with the best of infrastructure, and will focus on coastal security.<br />
- Modernize armed forces, and increase the R&D in defence, with a goal of developing indigenous defence technologies and fast tracking of defence purchases.<br />
- Deal with cross border terrorism with a firm hand.<br />
- Review and improve the border management. Punitive measures will be introduced to check illegal immigration.<br />
- Set up four dedicated defence universities to meet the shortage of manpower.<br />
- Appoint a Veterans Commission to address the grievances of veterans, including reforming ECHS and re-employment of ex-servicemen.<br />
- Ensure greater participation of Armed Forces in the decision-making process of the Ministry of Defence.<br />
- Implement measures to improve the efficiency of Armed Forces Tribunals, and minimize appeals by the Government.<br />
- Ensure that servicemen can register and vote from their place of posting.<br />
- Initiate the process of digitization of defence land in cantonment and in other places.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Defence Production</span></b><br />
With its skilled human resources and technical talent, India can emerge as a global platform for defence hardware manufacture and software production. BJP will strengthen the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO); encourage private sector participation and investment,<br />
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including FDI in selected defence industries.<br />
- Technology transfer in defence manufacturing will be encouraged to the maximum.<br />
- We will find solutions to the problems hampering the growth of the defence sector.<br />
- We will encourage domestic industry to have a larger share in design and production of military hardware and platforms for both domestic use and exports, in a competitive environment.<br />
Independent Strategic Nuclear Programme<br />
BJP believes that the strategic gains acquired by India during the Atal Bihari Vajpayee regime on the nuclear programme have been frittered away by the Congress. Our emphasis was, and remains on, beginning of a new thrust on framing policies that would serve India's national interest in the 21st century. We will follow a two-pronged independent nuclear programme, unencumbered by foreign pressure and influence, for civilian and military purposes, especially as nuclear power is a major contributor to India's energy sector.<br />
BJP will:<br />
- Study in detail India's nuclear doctrine, and revise and update it, to make it relevant to challenges of current times.<br />
- Maintain a credible minimum deterrent that is in tune with changing geostatic realities.<br />
- Invest in India's indigenous Thorium Technology Programme.<br />
Foreign Relations - Nation First, Universal Brotherhood<br />
BJP believes a resurgent India must get its rightful place in the comity of nations and international institutions. The vision is to fundamentally reboot and reorient the foreign policy goals, content and process, in a manner that locates India's global strategic engagement in a new paradigm and<br />
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on a wider canvass, that is not just limited to political diplomacy, but also includes our economic, scientific, cultural, political and security interests, both regional and global, on the principles of equality and mutuality, so that it leads to an economically stronger India, and its voice is heard in the international fora.<br />
BJP believes that political stability, progress and peace in the region are essential for south Asia's growth and development. The Congress-led UPA has failed to establish enduring friendly and cooperative relations with India's neighbours. India's relations with traditional allies have turned cold. India and its neighbours have drifted apart. Instead of clarity, we have seen confusion. The absence of statecraft has never been felt so acutely as today. India is seen to be floundering, whereas it should have been engaging with the world with confidence. The collapse of the Indian economy has contributed to the sorry state of foreign affairs in no small measure.<br />
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We will build a strong, self-reliant and self-confident India, regaining its rightful place in the comity of nations. In this, we will be firstly guided by our centuries old tradition of olq/kSo dqVqEcde~. At the same time, our foreign policy will be based on best National interests. We will create a web of allies to mutually further our interests. We will leverage all our resources and people to play a greater role on the international high table.<br />
India has long failed to duly appreciate the full extent and gamut of its soft power potential. There is a need to integrate our soft power avenues into our external interchange, particularly, harnessing and focusing on the spiritual, cultural and philosophical dimensions of it. India has always<br />
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played a major role in world affairs, offering a lot to the World. This has been its tradition since time immemorial. The magnetic power of India has always been in its ancient wisdom and heritage, elucidating principles like harmony and equity. This continues to be equally relevant to the world<br />
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today in today's times of Soft power. We will adopt Proactive Diplomacy to spread the same. India was reckoned not only as Vishwaguru but also a vibrant trading society. Our ancestors used to trade with foreign nations through the routes of sea, centuries ago. This was based on the<br />
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strength of our business acumen and integrity, our products and crafts. The symbols of our ancient civilizations stand as a testimony to our architectural and urban planning excellence. We will revive Brand India with the help of our strengths of 5 T's: Tradition, Talent, Tourism, Trade and<br />
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Technology.<br />
Guiding Principles of our Foreign Policy will be:<br />
- Equations will be mended through pragmatism and a doctrine of mutually beneficial and interlocking relationships, based on enlightened national interest.<br />
- We will champion uniform international opinion on issues like Terrorism and Global Warming.<br />
- Instead of being led by big power interests, we will engage proactively on our own with countries in the neighbourhood and beyond.<br />
- In our neighbourhood we will pursue friendly relations. However, where required we will not hesitate from taking strong stand and steps.<br />
- We will work towards strengthening Regional forums like SAARC and ASEAN.<br />
- We will continue our dialogue, engagement and cooperation, with global forums like BRICS, G20.<br />
IBSA, SCO and ASEM. States will be encouraged to play a greater role in diplomacy; actively building relations with foreign countries to harness their mutual cultural and commercial strengths.<br />
Also,<br />
- We will expand and empower our pool of diplomats, ensuring our message is taken to the world and our great nation represented on the whole in a befitting manner.<br />
- The NRIs, PIOs and professionals settled abroad are a vast reservoir to articulate the national interests and affairs globally. This resource will be harnessed for strengthening Brand India.<br />
- India shall remain a natural home for persecuted Hindus and they shall be welcome to seek refuge here.<br />
Cultural Heritage<br />
Ram Mandir: BJP reiterates its stand to explore all possibilities within the framework of the constitution to facilitate the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.<br />
Ram Setu: Ram Setu is a part of our cultural heritage and also of strategic importance due to its vast thorium deposits. These facts will be taken into consideration while taking any decision on 'Sethu- Samudram Channel' project.<br />
Ganga: River Ganga is a symbol of faith in India, and has a special place in the Indian psyche. It is Mukti dayini. In addition it is also Jivan dayini for the parts of the country it flows. People and cattle depend on it for agriculture, fodder and drinking water. Pure water of the Ganga are thus<br />
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essential for the spiritual as well as physical well being of India.<br />
Unfortunately however, even after decades of independence, the Ganga continues to be polluted and is drying. BJP commits to ensure the cleanliness, purity and uninterrupted flow of the Ganga on priority. In addition, a massive 'Clean Rivers Programme' will be launched across the<br />
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country driven by people's participation.<br />
Cow and its Progeny: In view of the contribution of cow and its progeny to agriculture, socio-economic and cultural life of our country, the Department of Animal Husbandry will be suitably strengthened and empowered for the protection and promotion of cow and its progeny.<br />
- Necessary legal framework will be created to protect and promote cow and its progeny.<br />
- A National Cattle Development board will be set up to implement a Programme for the improvement of indigenous livestock breeds.<br />
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Heritage Sites: We will provide appropriate resources for the maintenance and restoration of all national heritage sites, and to prevent their vandalisation in any form. The digitization of archives and archeological and museological records would be initiated. A National Mission for beautifying and improving the infrastructure and amenities at pilgrimage centres of all faiths will be launched.<br />
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Languages: Indian Languages are repositories of our rich literature, history, culture, art and scientific achievements. Many of our dialects are important source for knowing our heritage. BJP would promote Indian languages, and put measures for the development of all Indian languages, so that they become a powerful vehicle for creating a knowledge society.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Uniform Civil Code</span></b><br />
Article 44 of the constitution of India lists Uniform Civil Code as one of the Directive Principles of state policy. BJP believes that there cannot be gender equality till such time India adopts a Uniform Civil Code, which protects the rights of all women, and the BJP reiterates its stand to draft a<br />
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Uniform Civil Code, drawing upon the best traditions and harmonizing them with the modern times.<br />
Conclusion - Amritmay Bharat<br />
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We aim to build a modern, prosperous and vibrant India - Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat, based on our ethos and values. We have to convert ourselves into a knowledge based society and economy, powered by experience, tools of technology and energy of our people. BJP commits itself to this task and promises to work relentlessly towards this goal, for which we are seeking sixty months.<br />
<br />
In 2022, we will be celebrating 75 years of India's Independence. In Indian culture, this is celebrated as Amrit Mahotsav. For us, every day and every step, every journey and every process will be dedicated to make Amritmay Bharat. And all this will be done by all of us, for all of us!<br />
<br />
This is not the time to sit back. This is the time when each of us has to get up and contribute our might to bring the change.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Let's come together, vote BJP to make Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat.</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Jai Hind!</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Vande Mataram!</span></b></div>
</div>
ENB.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00449836977074869699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7155393032669029227.post-43315531555200907282014-03-25T04:05:00.000-07:002014-03-25T04:05:03.133-07:00Text: Draft resolution HRC 25 14 March 2014<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
UNCLASSIFIED<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Draft resolution HRC 25 14 March 2014</span></b><br />
25/1. Promoting reconciliation, accountability, and human rights in Sri Lanka<br />
The Human Rights Council,<br />
<br />
1. Reaffirming the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations,<br />
<br />
2. Guided by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenants on Human<br />
Rights and other relevant instruments,<br />
<br />
3. Bearing in mind General Assembly resolution 60/251 of 15 March 2006,<br />
<br />
4. Recalling Human Rights Council resolutions 5/1, on institution building of the Council, and 5/2,<br />
on the code of conduct for special procedures mandate holders, of 18 June 2007,<br />
<br />
5. Recalling also Human Rights Council resolutions 19/2 of 22 March 2012 and 22/1 of 21<br />
March 2013 on promoting reconciliation and accountability in Sri Lanka,<br />
<br />
6. Reaffirming that it is the responsibility of each State to ensure the full enjoyment of all human<br />
rights and fundamental freedoms of its entire population,<br />
<br />
7. Reaffirming also that States must ensure that any measure taken to combat terrorism complies<br />
with their obligations under international law, in particular international human rights law, international<br />
refugee law and international humanitarian law, as applicable,<br />
<br />
8. Recognizing the Human Rights Council’s support of Reaffirming that all Sri Lankans<br />
to are entitled to the full enjoyment of their human rights regardless of creed, faith religion,<br />
belief, or ethnicity, in a peaceful and unified land,<br />
<br />
9. Welcoming and acknowledging the progress made by the Government of Sri Lanka in<br />
rebuilding infrastructure, demining, and resettling the majority of internally displaced persons, but noting<br />
nonetheless that considerable work lies ahead in the areas of justice, reconciliation, land use and<br />
ownership demilitarization, and the resumption of livelihoods, and stressing the importance of the full<br />
participation of local populations, including representatives of civil society and minorities, in these<br />
efforts,<br />
<br />
Welcoming the announcement made by the Government of Sri Lanka that elections to the Provincial<br />
Council in the Northern Province will be held in September 2013,<br />
<br />
10. Welcoming the successful Provincial Council elections held on September 21, 2013 and<br />
in particular the high turn out and participation in all three provinces, but noting with concern<br />
reports of election related violence, as well as voter and candidate intimidation,<br />
<br />
11. Expressing appreciation for the efforts of the Government of Sri Lanka in facilitating the visit of a<br />
technical mission from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and<br />
providing her with open access, and encouraging the Government to increase its dialogue and<br />
cooperation with the Office of the High Commissioner, and welcoming the visit of the High<br />
Commissioner to Sri Lanka in August 2013,<br />
<br />
12. Expressing deep concern over reported intimidation and retaliation against civil<br />
society members who engage with UN human rights mechanisms including those who met with<br />
the High Commissioner during her visit,<br />
<br />
13. Expressing serious concern at the continuing reports of violations of human rights in Sri Lanka,<br />
including sexual and gender based violence, enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, torture<br />
and violations of the rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly, threats<br />
to judicial independence and the rule of law, as well as intimidation of and reprisals against human<br />
rights defenders, members of civil society, lawyers and journalists,<br />
<br />
14. Alarmed at the significant surge in attacks rapid rise in violence and discrimination on<br />
the basis of religion or belief, particularly against members of religious minority groups in Sri<br />
Lanka, including Hindus, Muslims and Christians,<br />
<br />
15. Calling upon the Government of Sri Lanka to fulfil its public commitments, including on the<br />
devolution of political authority which is integral to reconciliation and the full enjoyment of human<br />
rights by all members of its population,<br />
<br />
16. Taking note of the report of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission of Sri Lanka, its<br />
findings and recommendations, and acknowledging its possible contribution to the process of<br />
meaningful national reconciliation in Sri Lanka,<br />
<br />
17. Recalling the constructive recommendations contained in the Commission’s report, including the<br />
need to credibly investigate widespread allegations of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappe<br />
-arances, demilitarize the north of Sri Lanka, implement impartial land dispute resolution mechanisms, re<br />
evaluate detention policies, strengthen formerly independent civil institutions, reach a political settlement on<br />
the devolution of power to the provinces, promote and protect the right of freedom of expression for a<br />
persons and enact rule of law reforms,<br />
<br />
18. Taking note also of the national plan of action to implement the recommendations of the Lessons<br />
Learnt and Reconciliation Commission of the Government of Sri Lanka and its commitments as set<br />
forth in response to the findings and recommendations of the Commission,<br />
<br />
19. Noting Reiterating Noting that the national plan of action does not adequately address all of<br />
the findings and constructive recommendations of the Commission, and encouraging the Government<br />
of Sri Lanka to broaden the scope of the plan to adequately address all elements of the Commission<br />
report,<br />
<br />
20. Noting Also reiterating Noting with concern that the national plan of action and the<br />
Commission’s report do not adequately address serious allegations of violations of international<br />
human rights law and international humanitarian law,<br />
<br />
21. Emphasizing Emphasizes the importance of a comprehensive approach to transitional<br />
justice incorporating the full range of judicial and non judicial measures, including, among<br />
others, individual prosecutions, reparations, truth seeking, institutional reform, vetting of<br />
public employees and officials, or an appropriately conceived combination thereof, in order to,<br />
inter alia, ensure accountability, serve justice, provide remedies to victims, promote healing<br />
and reconciliation, establish independent oversight of the security system and restore<br />
confidence in the institutions of the State and promote the rule of law in accordance with<br />
international human rights law, with a view to preventing recurrence of violations and abuses<br />
<br />
22. Underlining underlines that truth seeking processes, such as truth and reconciliation<br />
commissions, that investigate patterns of past human rights violations and their causes and<br />
consequences are important tools that can complement judicial processes and that, when<br />
established, such mechanisms have to be designed within a specific societal context and to be<br />
founded on broad national consultations with the inclusion of victims and civil society,<br />
including non governmental organizations,<br />
<br />
23. Recalling Reaffirms the responsibility of States to comply with their relevant<br />
obligations to prosecute those responsible for gross violations of human rights and serious<br />
violations of international humanitarian law constituting crimes under international law, with a<br />
view to end impunity;<br />
<br />
24. Recalling the High Commissioner’s conclusion that national mechanisms have<br />
consistently failed to establish the truth and achieve justice, and her recommendation that the<br />
Human Rights Council establish an international inquiry mechanism to further investigate the<br />
Noting the call made by the High Commissioner for an independent and credible international<br />
investigation into alleged violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian<br />
law and monitor any domestic accountability processes,<br />
<br />
25. Encouraging the Government to increase its dialogue and cooperation with the Office of the<br />
High Commissioner, including with regard to technical assistance,<br />
<br />
1. Welcomes the oral update of 25 September 2013 and the report of 24 February 2014 of<br />
the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on advise and technical<br />
assistance for the Government of Sri Lanka on promoting reconciliation and accountability in<br />
Sri Lanka and the recommendations and conclusions contained therein, in particular including on the<br />
establishment of a truth seeking mechanism and national reparations policy as an integral part of a<br />
more comprehensive and inclusive approach to transitional justice;<br />
<br />
2. Calls upon Encourages the Government of Sri Lanka: to implement the recommendations<br />
made in the reports of the Office of the High Commissioner, and also calls upon the Government<br />
to conduct an independent and credible investigation into allegations of violations of international<br />
human rights law and international humanitarian law, as applicable; to hold accountable those responsible<br />
for such violations; to end continuing incidents of human rights violations and abuses in Sri Lanka;<br />
and to implement the recommendations made in the reports of the Office of the High Commissioner;<br />
<br />
3. Reiterates its call upon the Government of Sri Lanka to implement effectively the constructive<br />
recommendations made in the report of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission, and<br />
to take all necessary additional steps to fulfil its relevant legal obligations and commitment to initiate<br />
credible and independent actions to ensure justice, equity, accountability and reconciliation for all Sri Lankans;<br />
<br />
4. Urges the Government of Sri Lanka to investigate all alleged attacks, by individuals<br />
and groups, on temples, mosques, and churches and to take steps to prevent future attacks;<br />
and calls on the Government of Sri Lanka to investigate and hold accountable perpetrators of<br />
attacks on places of worship, journalists, human rights defenders, members of religious<br />
minority groups, and other members of civil society, as well as on temples, mosques and<br />
churches, and further urges the Government of Sri Lanka to hold perpetrators to account and<br />
take steps to prevent such attacks in the future;<br />
<br />
5. Calls upon the Government of Sri Lanka to release publically the results of its<br />
investigations into alleged violations by security forces, including the attack on unarmed<br />
protesters in Weliweriya on August 1, 2013, and the Army Court of Inquiry report of 2013;<br />
<br />
6. Encourages Calls upon the Government of Sri Lanka to provide ensure that the<br />
Northern Provincial Council and its Chief Minister with the resources and authority necessary<br />
to govern, as required by is able to operate effectively, in line with the 13th Amendment of Sri Lanka’s<br />
constitution;<br />
<br />
7. Welcomes the decision of the Government of Sri Lanka to facilitate the visit by the<br />
Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons in December 2013,<br />
and to issue an invitation to the Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Migrants; and<br />
calls upon the Government to facilitate the effective implementation of durable solutions for<br />
IDPs, including the longterm displaced<br />
<br />
7 bis. Further welcomes the invitation to the Special Rapporteurs on the Human Rights of<br />
Migrants and the Right to Education;<br />
<br />
7 ter. Encourages the Government of Sri Lanka to cooperate with other special procedures mandate<br />
holders and to respond formally to their outstanding requests, including long standing requests;<br />
<br />
8. Welcomes Takes note of the High Commissioner’s recommendations and conclusions<br />
regarding ongoing human rights violations and on the need for an independent and credible<br />
international inquiry mechanism in the absence of a credible national process with tangible<br />
results, and requests the Office of the High Commissioner:<br />
<br />
a) to continue to monitor the human rights situation in Sri Lanka and assess progress<br />
toward accountability and reconciliation, on relevant national processes;<br />
<br />
b)to lead a comprehensive investigation into alleged serious violations and abuses of<br />
human rights and related crimes by both parties in Sri Lanka and establish the facts<br />
and circumstances of such violations and of the crimes committed with a view to<br />
avoiding impunity and ensuring accountability, with input assistance from relevant<br />
experts special procedures mandate holders as appropriate,;<br />
<br />
c) to present an oral update to the Human Rights Council at its twenty seventh fourth<br />
session, and a comprehensive report followed by a discussion on the implementation of<br />
the present resolution at its twenty eighth fifth session.<br />
<br />
9. Encourages the Office of the High Commissioner and relevant special procedures mandate<br />
holders to provide, in consultation with and with the concurrence of the Government of Sri Lanka,<br />
in consultation with and with the concurrence of the Government of Sri Lanka, advice and technical<br />
assistance on implementing the above mentioned steps;<br />
<br />
10.Calls upon the Government of Sri Lanka to cooperate with the Office of the High Commissioner<br />
concerning the implementation of this resolution.</div>
ENB.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00449836977074869699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7155393032669029227.post-89954844142522949682014-03-12T20:24:00.000-07:002014-03-12T20:49:20.240-07:00UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<strong style="color: #333333; text-transform: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS</span></strong></h2>
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<span style="font-size: small;">PREAMBLE</span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world,</span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people,</span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law,</span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Whereas it is essential to promote the development of friendly relations between nations,</span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Whereas the peoples of the United Nations have in the Charter reaffirmed their faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women and have determined to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,</span></h2>
<h2 align="left" style="background-color: white; clear: both; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 1em 0px 0.4em;">
<span style="color: #7f0d0d; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-transform: uppercase;">Whereas Member States have pledged themselves to achieve, in co-operation with the United Nations, the promotion of universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms,</span></h2>
<h2 align="left" style="background-color: white; clear: both; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 1em 0px 0.4em;">
<span style="color: #7f0d0d; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-transform: uppercase;">Whereas a common understanding of these rights and freedoms is of the greatest importance for the full realization of this pledge,</span></h2>
<h2 align="left" style="background-color: white; clear: both; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 1em 0px 0.4em;">
<span style="color: #7f0d0d; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-transform: uppercase;">Now, Therefore THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY proclaims THIS UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance, both among the peoples of Member States themselves and among the peoples of territories under their jurisdiction</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #7f0d0d; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-transform: uppercase;">Article 1.</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #7f0d0d; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-transform: uppercase;">All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #7f0d0d; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-transform: uppercase;">Article 2.</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #7f0d0d; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-transform: uppercase;">Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #7f0d0d; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-transform: uppercase;">Article 3.</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #7f0d0d; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-transform: uppercase;">Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #7f0d0d; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-transform: uppercase;">Article 4.</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #7f0d0d; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-transform: uppercase;">No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #7f0d0d; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-transform: uppercase;">Article 5.</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #7f0d0d; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-transform: uppercase;">No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #7f0d0d; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-transform: uppercase;">Article 6.</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #7f0d0d; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-transform: uppercase;">Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #7f0d0d; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-transform: uppercase;">Article 7.</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #7f0d0d; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-transform: uppercase;">All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #7f0d0d; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-transform: uppercase;">Article 8.</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #7f0d0d; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-transform: uppercase;">Everyone has the right to an effective remedy by the competent national tribunals for acts violating the fundamental rights granted him by the constitution or by law.</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #7f0d0d; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-transform: uppercase;">Article 9.</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #7f0d0d; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-transform: uppercase;">No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #7f0d0d; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-transform: uppercase;">Article 10.</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #7f0d0d; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-transform: uppercase;">Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him.</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #7f0d0d; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-transform: uppercase;">Article 11.</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #7f0d0d; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-transform: uppercase;">(1) Everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law in a public trial at which he has had all the guarantees necessary for his defence.</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #7f0d0d; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="text-transform: uppercase;">(2) No one shall be held guilty of any penal offence on account of any act or omission which did not constitute a penal offence, under national or international law, at the time when it was committed. Nor shall a heavier penalty be imposed than the one that was applicable at the time the penal offence was committed.</span></span></h2>
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<span style="color: #7f0d0d; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-transform: uppercase;">Article 12.</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #7f0d0d; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-transform: uppercase;">No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #7f0d0d; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-transform: uppercase;">Article 13.</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #7f0d0d; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-transform: uppercase;">(1) Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state.</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #7f0d0d; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="text-transform: uppercase;">(2) Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country.</span></span></h2>
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<span style="color: #7f0d0d; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-transform: uppercase;">Article 14.</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #7f0d0d; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-transform: uppercase;">(1) Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution.</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #7f0d0d; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="text-transform: uppercase;">(2) This right may not be invoked in the case of prosecutions genuinely arising from non-political crimes or from acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.</span></span></h2>
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<span style="color: #7f0d0d; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-transform: uppercase;">Article 15.</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #7f0d0d; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-transform: uppercase;">(1) Everyone has the right to a nationality.</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #7f0d0d; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="text-transform: uppercase;">(2) No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality nor denied the right to change his nationality.</span></span></h2>
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<span style="color: #7f0d0d; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-transform: uppercase;">Article 16.</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #7f0d0d; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-transform: uppercase;">(1) Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution.</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #7f0d0d; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="text-transform: uppercase;">(2) Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses.</span></span></h2>
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<span style="color: #7f0d0d; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="text-transform: uppercase;">(3) The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State.</span></span></h2>
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<span style="color: #7f0d0d; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-transform: uppercase;">Article 17.</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #7f0d0d; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-transform: uppercase;">(1) Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others.</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #7f0d0d; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="text-transform: uppercase;">(2) No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property.</span></span></h2>
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<span style="color: #7f0d0d; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-transform: uppercase;">Article 18.</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #7f0d0d; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-transform: uppercase;">Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, </span></h2>
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<span style="color: #7f0d0d; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-transform: uppercase;">Article 19.</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #7f0d0d; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-transform: uppercase;">Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #7f0d0d; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-transform: uppercase;">Article 20.</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #7f0d0d; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-transform: uppercase;">(1) Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #7f0d0d; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="text-transform: uppercase;">(2) No one may be compelled to belong to an association.</span></span></h2>
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<span style="color: #7f0d0d; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-transform: uppercase;">Article 21.</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #7f0d0d; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-transform: uppercase;">(1) Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives.</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #7f0d0d; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="text-transform: uppercase;">(2) Everyone has the right of equal access to public service in his country.</span></span></h2>
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<span style="color: #7f0d0d; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="text-transform: uppercase;">(3) The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures.</span></span></h2>
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<span style="color: #7f0d0d; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-transform: uppercase;">Article 22.</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #7f0d0d; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-transform: uppercase;">Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social security and is entitled to realization, through national effort and international co-operation and in accordance with the organization and resources of each State, of the economic, social and cultural rights indispensable for his dignity and the free development of his personality.</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #7f0d0d; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-transform: uppercase;">Article 23.</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #7f0d0d; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-transform: uppercase;">(1) Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #7f0d0d; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="text-transform: uppercase;">(2) Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work.</span></span></h2>
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<span style="color: #7f0d0d; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="text-transform: uppercase;">(3) Everyone who works has the right to just and favourable remuneration ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity, and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection.</span></span></h2>
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<span style="color: #7f0d0d; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="text-transform: uppercase;">(4) Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests.</span></span></h2>
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<span style="color: #7f0d0d; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-transform: uppercase;">Article 24.</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #7f0d0d; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-transform: uppercase;">Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay.</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #7f0d0d; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-transform: uppercase;">Article 25.</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #7f0d0d; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-transform: uppercase;">(1) Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #7f0d0d; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="text-transform: uppercase;">(2) Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection.</span></span></h2>
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<span style="color: #7f0d0d; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-transform: uppercase;">Article 26.</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #7f0d0d; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-transform: uppercase;">(1) Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit.</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #7f0d0d; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="text-transform: uppercase;">(2) Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.</span></span></h2>
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<span style="color: #7f0d0d; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="text-transform: uppercase;">(3) Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.</span></span></h2>
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<span style="color: #7f0d0d; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-transform: uppercase;">Article 27.</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #7f0d0d; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-transform: uppercase;">(1) Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits.</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #7f0d0d; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="text-transform: uppercase;">(2) Everyone has the right to the protection of the moral and material interests resulting from any scientific, literary or artistic production of which he is the author.</span></span></h2>
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<span style="color: #7f0d0d; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-transform: uppercase;">Article 28.</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #7f0d0d; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-transform: uppercase;">Everyone is entitled to a social and international order in which the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration can be fully realized.</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #7f0d0d; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-transform: uppercase;">Article 29.</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #7f0d0d; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-transform: uppercase;">(1) Everyone has duties to the community in which alone the free and full development of his personality is possible.</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #7f0d0d; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="text-transform: uppercase;">(2) In the exercise of his rights and freedoms, everyone shall be subject only to such limitations as are determined by law solely for the purpose of securing due recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms of others and of meeting the just requirements of morality, public order and the general welfare in a democratic society.</span></span></h2>
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<span style="color: #7f0d0d; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="text-transform: uppercase;">(3) These rights and freedoms may in no case be exercised contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.</span></span></h2>
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<span style="color: #7f0d0d; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-transform: uppercase;">Article 30.</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #7f0d0d; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-transform: uppercase;">Nothing in this Declaration may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or person any right to engage in any activity or to perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms set forth herein.</span></h2>
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ENB.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00449836977074869699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7155393032669029227.post-43001011616202544742013-09-11T16:22:00.000-07:002013-09-11T16:22:40.561-07:00SIXTH AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span class="article_header" style="background-color: white; color: #990000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.8em; font-weight: bold; margin: 30px 0px 0px;">SIXTH AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><span class="date" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Posted on June 27th, 2012</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"></span><br />
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SIXTH AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION</div>
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Act No 06 of 1983</div>
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<tr><td width="10%"></td><td width="80%">AN ACT TO AMEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF SRI LANKA.</td><td width="10%"></td></tr>
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<tr><td valign="top" width="80"></td><td valign="top" width="420">WHEREAS Sri Lanka is a Free, Sovereign, Independent and Unitary State and it is the duty of the State to safeguard, the independence, sovereignty. unity and the territorial integrity of Sri Lanka</td></tr>
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<tr><td valign="top" width="80"></td><td valign="top" width="420">AND WHEREAS the independence. sovereignty, unity and the territorial integrity of Sri Lanka has been threatened by activities of certain persons, political parties and other associations and Organizations :</td></tr>
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<tr><td valign="top" width="80"></td><td valign="top" width="420">AND WHEREAS it has become necessary to prohibit such activities and to provide punishments therefor : Now be it therefore enacted by the Parliament of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka as follows :-</td></tr>
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[<strong>8</strong><strong><sup>th</sup> August , 1983</strong> ]</div>
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<tr><td valign="top" width="100">Short title.</td><td valign="top" width="500"><strong>1</strong>. This Act may be cited as the Sixth Amendment to the Constitution.</td></tr>
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<tr><td valign="top" width="100">Amendment or Article 101 or the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic or Sri Lanka.</td><td valign="top" width="500"><strong>2</strong>. Article 101 of the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (hereinafter. referred t9 as “the Constitution”) is hereby amended in sub-paragraph (h) of paragraph (1) of that Article by the substitution for the words ” by election or otherwise ; and ” , of the words and figures ” by election or otherwise, or where, a recognized political party or independent group has been proscribed under Article 157A.; and.</td></tr>
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<tr><td valign="top" width="100">Insertion of Article 157A in the Constitution.</td><td valign="top" width="500"><strong>3</strong>. The following Article is hereby inserted after Article 157, and shall have effect as Article 157A , of the Constitution :-<br />
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<tr><td valign="top" width="16%">Prohibition against violation of territorial integrity of Sri Lanka.</td><td>157A.<br />
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<tr><td valign="top" width="16%"></td><td>(1) <strong>No person shall, directly or indirectly, in or outside Sri Lanka, support, espouse, promote, finance, encourage or advocate the establishment of a separate State within the territory of Sri Lanka.</strong><br />
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<tr><td valign="top" width="16%"></td><td>(2) <strong>No political party or other association or organization shall have as one of its aims or objects the establishment of a separate State within the territory of Sri Lanka</strong>.<br />
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<tr><td valign="top" width="16%"></td><td>(3) Any<strong> person who acts in contravention</strong> of the provisions of paragraph (1) shall, on conviction by the Court of Appeal, after trial on indictment and according to such procedure as may be prescribed by law, -<br />
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<tr><td valign="top" width="16%"></td><td>(a) <strong>be subject to civic disability for such period not exceeding seven years as may be determined by such Court :</strong><br />
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<tr><td valign="top" width="16%"></td><td>(b) <strong>forfeit his movable and immovable property other than such property</strong> as is determined by an order of such Court as being necessary for the sustenance of such person and his family ;</td></tr>
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(c) <strong>not be entitled to civic rights for such period not exceeding seven years as may be determined by such Court ; and</strong></td></tr>
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(d) if he is a Member of Parliament or 8 person in such service or holding such office as is referred to in paragraph (l) of Article 165, cease to be such Member or to be in such service or to hold such office.</td></tr>
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<tr><td valign="top" width="16%"></td><td>(4) Where any political party Of other association or organization has as one of its aims or objects the establishment of a separate State within the territory of Sri Lanka, any person may make an application to the Supreme Court for a declaration that such political party or other association or organization has as one . , of its aims or objects the establishment of a separate State within the territory of Sri Lanka. The Secretary or other officer of such Political party or other association or organisation shall be made a respondent to such application.</td></tr>
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(5) Where the Supreme Court makes a declaration under paragraph (4) in relation to any political party or other association Of organization, in pursuance of an application made to it under that paragraph-<br />
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<tr><td valign="top" width="16%"></td><td>(a) that political party or other association or organisation shall be deemed, for all purposes to be proscribed and any member of such political party or other association or organization who is a <strong>Member of Parliament shall be deemed to have vacated his seat in Parliament with effect from the date of such declaration and any nomination paper submitted by such political party or other association or organization shall be deemed for all purposes to be invalid ;</strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td valign="top" width="16%"></td><td>(b) any person who holds office or is a member of that political party or other association or organization after the date of such declaration, shall be guilty of an and shall , on conviction, by the Court of Appeal after trial on indictment and according to such procedure as may be prescribed bylaw-<br />
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<tr><td valign="top" width="16%"></td><td>(ii) forfeit his movable and immovable property other than such property as is by an order of such, court as being necessary for the sustenance of such person . and his family;</td></tr>
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<tr><td valign="top" width="16%"></td><td>(iii) not be entitled to civic rights. for such period not exceeding seven years may be determined by such court;</td></tr>
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<tr><td valign="top" width="16%"></td><td>(iv) if he is a Member of Parliament or a person in such service or holds office referred to in paragraph (1) of Article 165, cease to be such Member Of to be in such service or hold such office.</td></tr>
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<tr><td valign="top" width="16%"></td><td>(6) Use execution of any punishment imposed under paragraph (3)or sub-paragraph (b) of paragraph (5) shall be stayed or suspended pending the determination of say appeal against such punishment or the conviction in con-sequence of which such punishment was Imposed.</td></tr>
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<tr><td valign="top" width="16%"></td><td>(7) Every officer or person who was or it required by, Article 32 or Article 53, Article 61 of Article 107 or Article 165 or Article 169 (12), to take and subscribe or to make and subscribe an oath or affirmation, every member of, or person in the service of, a local authority, Development Council, Pradeshiya Mandalaya, Gramodaya Mandalaya or public corporation and, every attorney-at-law shall-<br />
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<tr><td valign="top" width="16%"></td><td>(a) if such officer or person is holding office on the date of coming into force of this Article, make and subscribe, or take and subscribe, an oath or affirmation in the form set out in the Seventh Schedule, before such person or body if any, as is referred to in that Article, within one month of the date on which this Article comes into force ;</td></tr>
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<tr><td valign="top" width="16%"></td><td>(b) if such person or officer is appointed to such office after the coming into force of this Article, make and subscribe or take and subscribe, an oath or affirmation, in the form set out in the Seventh Schedule, before such person or body, if any, as is referred to in that Article, within one month of his appointment to such office.</td></tr>
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<tr><td valign="top" width="16%"></td><td>The provisions of Article 165 and Article 169 (12) shall, mutatis mutandis, apply to, and in relation to, any person or officer who fails to take and subscribe, or make and subscribe, an oath or affirmation as required by this paragraph.</td></tr>
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<tr><td valign="top" width="16%"></td><td>(a) Every person who is a Member of Parliament on the coming into force of this Article shall not be entitled to sit and vote in Parliament unless he takes and subscribes Or makes and subscribes an oath or affirmation in the form set out in the Seventh Schedule.</td></tr>
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<tr><td valign="top" width="16%"></td><td>(b) Every person who is elected or nominated as a Member of Parliament on or after the coming into force of this Article shall not be entitled to sit and vote in Parliament unless he makes and subscribes or makes and subscribes an oath or affirmation in the form set out in the Seventh Schedule.</td></tr>
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<tr><td valign="top" width="16%"></td><td>(9) No person who has taken and subscribed or made and subscribed an oath or affirmation in the form set out in the Seventh Schedule shall, notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in the Constitution, be required to take and subscribe or make and subscribe any other oath or affirmation required to be taken and subscribed or made and subscribed under the Constitution</td></tr>
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<tr><td valign="top" width="16%"></td><td>(10) Parliament may, by resolution, determine such other categories of persons or officers to whom the provisions of paragraph (7) shall apply and thereupon, the provisions of such paragraph shall, mutatis mutandis, apply to, and in relation to, officers or persons of that category.</td></tr>
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<tr><td valign="top" width="16%"></td><td>(11) The jurisdiction of the Court of Appeal in respect of its powers under this Article shall be exercised in the manner provided in sub-paragraph (iv) of the proviso to paragraph (2) of Article 146.</td></tr>
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<tr><td valign="top" width="16%"></td><td>(a) the right to obtain a passport ;</td></tr>
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<tr><td valign="top" width="16%"></td><td>(b) the right to sit for any public examination ;</td></tr>
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<tr><td valign="top" width="16%"></td><td>(c) the right to own any immovable property ;</td></tr>
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<tr><td valign="top" width="16%"></td><td>(d) the right to engage in any trade or profession which requires a licence, registration or other authorization, by or under any written law.’.</td></tr>
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<tr><td valign="top" width="100">Amendment of Article 161 of the Constitution.</td><td valign="top" width="500"><strong>4</strong>. Article 161 of the Constitution is hereby amended in paragraph (d) of that Article as follows :-<br />
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<tr><td valign="top" width="16%"></td><td>(1) in sub-paragraph (iii) of that paragraph, by the substitution, for the words ” to fill such vacancy. Upon receipt of such nomination, the Commissioner “. of the following :-</td></tr>
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<tr><td valign="top" width="16%"></td><td>” to fill such vacancy. A nomination .made by the Secretary of such political party under this sub-paragraph shall be accompanied by an oath or affirmation, as the case may be, in the form set out in the Seventh Schedule, taken and subscribed or made and subscribed, as the case may be, by the person nominated to fill such vacancy. Upon the receipt of such nomination, accompanied by such oath or affirmation, the Commissioner ” ;</td></tr>
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<tr><td valign="top" width="16%"></td><td>(2) in the proviso to sub-paragraph (iii) of that paragraph by the substitution -<br />
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<tr><td valign="top" width="16%"></td><td>(a) for the words “within thirty days of his being required to do so “, of the following :-”within thirty days of his being required to do so and in the aforesaid manner “</td></tr>
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<tr><td valign="top" width="16%"></td><td>(b) for the words ” vacancy, then the Commissioner of Elections”, of the words and figures ” vacancy, or where such political party is deemed to be proscribed under Article 157A, then the Commissioner of Elections” ; and</td></tr>
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<tr><td valign="top" width="16%"></td><td>(3) by the addition, immediately after sub-paragraph (iii) of that paragraph, of the following sub-paragraph ;-<br />
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<tr><td valign="top" width="16%"></td><td>” (iv) where a Member nominated 01 elected to fill any such vacancy as is referred to in sub-paragraph (i) or sub-paragraph (ii), being a Member who has taken and subscribed or made and subscribed, an oath or affirmation in the form set out in the Seventh Schedule, directly or indirectly, in or outside Sri Lanka, supports, espouses, promotes, ‘ finances, encourages or advocates the establishment of a separate State within the territory of Sri Lanka, any person may make an. application to the Court of Appeal for a declaration that such member has directly or indirectly, in or outside Sri Lanka, supported, espoused, promoted, financed, encouraged or advocated the establishment of a separate State within the territory of Sri Lanka.</td></tr>
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<tr><td valign="top" width="16%"></td><td>If the Court of Appeal makes, on such application, a declaration that such Member has directly or indirectly, in or outside Sri Lanka, supported, espoused. promoted, financed, encouraged or advocated the establishment of a separate State within the territory of Sri Lanka, the seat of such Member shall be deemed to be vacant with effect from the date of such declaration and such Member shall be disqualified from sitting and voting in Parliament and from being elected or nominated to Parliament for a period of seven years from the date of such declaration. The vacancy occurring in the membership of Parliament by reason of such ,declaration shall be filled in the manner provided in paragraph (iii).</td></tr>
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<tr><td valign="top" width="16%"></td><td>The jurisdiction of the Court of Appeal in respect of its powers under this sub-paragraph shall be exercised in the manner provided in sub-paragraph (i1) of the proviso to paragraph (2) of Article 146.”.</td></tr>
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<tr><td valign="top" width="100">Addition of Seventh Schedule to the Constitution</td><td valign="top" width="500"><strong>5</strong>. The Constitution is hereby amended by the addition, at the end thereof, of the following Schedule which shall have effect as the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution :-</td></tr>
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” SEVENTH SCHEDULE</div>
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ARTICLE 157 A AND ARTICLE 161 (d) (iii)</div>
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<tr><td>i , …………………………….. do solemnly declare and affirm swear that I will uphold and defend ‘the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and that I will not, directly or indirectly, in or outside Sri Lanka, support, espouse, promote, finance, encourage or advocate the establishment of a separate State within the territory of Sri Lanka.”</td></tr>
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ENB.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00449836977074869699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7155393032669029227.post-40248048148973307442010-09-10T13:32:00.000-07:002010-09-10T15:51:10.578-07:0018th-Amendment-to-Sri-Lanka-ConstitutionL.D. 0 19/2010<br /><strong>AN ACT TO AMEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF SRI LANKA</strong><br />BE it enacted by the Parliament of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka as follows:- Short title.<br />Amendment of Article 31 of the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic Sri Lanka.<br />Amendment of Article 32 of the Constitution.<br />1. This Act may be cited as the Eighteenth Amendment to theConstitution.<br />2. The Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic SriLanka (hereinafter referred to as the "Constitution") is hereby amended in Article 31 thereof, as follows:-<br />(1) by the repeal of paragraph (2) of that Article; and<br />(2) in paragraph (3A) (a)(i) of that Article, -<br />(a) by the substitution for the words "at any time afterthe expiration of four years from thecommencement of his first term of office" of thewords "at any time after the expiration of four yearsfrom the commencement of his current term ofoffice"; and<br />(b) by the substitution for the words "by election, for afurther term." of the following:-<br />"by election, for a further term:<br />Provided that, where the President is elected interms of this Article for a further term of office, theprovisions of this Article shall inutatis ntutandisapply in respect of any subsequent term of office towhich he may be so elected.".<br />3. Article 32 of the Constitution is hereby amended as follows:-<br />(1) by the repeal of paragraph (3) of thereof, and thesubstitution therefor of the following:-<br />"(3) The President shall by virtue of his office attendParliament once in every three months. In the discharge ofthis function the President shall be entitled to all theprivileges, immunities and powers of a member of<br />Page (1)<br />Parliament, other than the entitlement to vote, and shall not be liable for any breach of the privileges of Parliament or of its members."; and Repeal of ChapterVIIA of theConstitution.<br />Insertion of newArticle 41 A in the Constitution.<br />(2) by the addition immediately after paragraph (3) thereof, ofthe following new paragraph:-<br />"(4) The President shall by virtue of his office, alsohave the right to address and send messages to Parliament.".<br />4. Chapter VIIA of the Constitution (Articles 41A to 41H) ishereby repealed.5. The following new Article is hereby inserted immediately after Article 41 of the Constitution and shall have effect as Article 41Athereof:-<br />"President to 41A. (1) The Chairman and members of themake the appointments inrespect of theCommissionsand officesreferred to in the Schedules. Commissions referred to in Schedule I to thisArticle, and the persons referred to in Part I and Part II of Schedule II to this Article, shall be appointed to the Commissions and the Offices referred to in the said Schedules, by the President. In making such appointments, the President shall seek the observations of the following persons -(1) the Prime Minister;<br />(2) the Speaker;<br />(3) the Leader of the Opposition;<br />(4) a nominee of the Prime Minister, whoshall be a Member of Parliament; and<br />(5) a nominee of the Leader of theOpposition, who shall be a Member ofParliament:<br />Provided that, the persons appointed in terms of sub-paragraphs (4) and (5) above shall benominated in such manner as would ensure that the nominees would belong to communities which are communities other than those to which the persons specified in paragraphs (1), (2) and (3)above belong.<br />Page (2)<br /><br />SCHEDULE I<br />I. The Election Commission.2. The Public Service Commission.3. The National Police Commission.4. The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka.5. The Permanent Commission to InvestigateAllegations of Bribery and Corruption.6. The Finance Commission.7. The Delimitation Commission.<br />SCHEDULE II<br />PART I1. The Chief Justice and the Judges of theSupreme Court.2. The President and the Judges of the Court ofAppeal.3. The Members of the Judicial ServiceCommission, other than the Chairman.<br />PART II<br />I. The Attorney - General.2. The Auditor - General.3. The Parliamentary Commissioner forAdministration (Ombudsman). 4. The Secretary - General of Parliament.<br />(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (2) of Article 64 of the Constitution, the Speaker shall for the purposes of this Article, continue as Speaker on the dissolution of Parliament, until a Member of Parliament is elected to be the Speaker under paragraph (1) of the aforesaid Article. The new Speaker shall thereupon be the person whose views will be sought under sub-paragraph (2) of paragraph (1) of this Article.<br />(3) Notwithstanding the dissolution of Parliament, the Leader of the Opposition shall for the purposes of this Article, continue as Leader of the Opposition, until such time after a General Election following such dissolution, a Member of Parliament is recognized as the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament. The new Leader of the Opposition shall thereupon be the person whose<br />Page (3)<br /><br />views will be sought under sub-paragraph (3) of paragraph (1) of this Article..<br />(4) Notwithstanding the dissolution of Parliament, the nominee of the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition respectively who are Members of Parliament shall continue as members until such time after a General Election following such dissolution Members of Parliament are elected to Parliament. The Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition shall thereupon respectively nominate two new Members of Parliament to be their nominees in terms of sub-paragraphs (4) and (5) of paragraph (1) of this Article..<br />(5) When the President seeks the observations of the persons referred to in paragraph (1) for the purpose of making the appointments of the Chairman and members of the Commissions referred to in Schedule I to paragraph (1) of this Article, he shall require them to convey to him their observations on the persons proposed by him for such appointments, within a period of one week from the date of such communication. If such persons fail to communicate their observations to him within the specified period, the President shall forthwith proceed to make the aforesaid appointments. (6) Where the Leader of any recognized political party represented in Parliament desires to propose the name of any person for appointment as Chairman or member of a Commission referred to in Schedule Ito paragraph (1) to this Article, he may within the period of one week specified above, forward to the Speaker the name of any person in relation thereto. The President may take such names into consideration when making such appointments.<br />(7) No person appointed to be the Chairman or member of a Commission referred to in Schedule I of this Article or any of the persons appointed to the posts referred to in Part I and Part<br />Page (4)<br /><br />II of Schedule II to this Article shall be removed, otherwise than in the manner provided for in the Constitution or in any law enacted for such purpose. Where no such provision is made, such person shall be removed by the President.".<br />Amendment ofArticle 54 of theConstitution.<br />Amendment ofArticle 55 of theConstitution.<br />6. Article 54 of the Constitution is hereby amended as follows:-<br />(1) by the repeal of paragraph (1) thereof, and thesubstitution therefor of the following:-<br />"(1) There shall be a Public ServiceCommission (in this Chapter referred to as the"Commission") which shall consist of not more thannine members appointed by the President, of whom,not less than three members shall be persons whohave had over fifteen years experience as publicofficers. The President shall appoint one member as itsChairman.";<br />(2) in paragraph (4) thereof, by the substitution for thewords "removed from office by the President on therecommendation of the Constitutional Council,or" the words "removed from office by the President,or"; and<br />(3) in paragraph (7) thereof, by the substitution for thewords "for the duration of such period on therecommendation of the Constitutional Councilappoint" the words "for the duration of such periodappoint".<br />7. Article 55 of the Constitution is hereby repealed and thefollowing Article substituted therefor:-<br />"Powers and 55. (1) The Cabinet of Ministers shallfunctions of the Cabinet ofMinisters and of the Commission provide for and determine all matters of policyrelating to public officers, including policy relating to appointments, promotions, transfer, disciplinary control and dismissal.(2) The appointment, promotion, transfer, disciplinary control and dismissal of all Heads of Department shall, vest in the Cabinet of Ministers<br />(3). Subject to the provisions of the<br />Page (5)<br /><br />Constitution, the appointment, promotion, transfer, disciplinary control and dismissal of public officers shall be vested in the Public Service Commission. (4) The Commission shall not derogate from the powers and functions of the Provincial Public Service Commissions as are established by law. (5) The Commission shall be responsible and answerable to Parliament in accordance with the provisions of the Standing Orders of Parliament for the exercise and discharge of its powers and functions. The Commission shall also forward to Parliament in /each calendar year, a report of its activities in respect of such year.".<br />Amendment ofArticle 61F of the Constitution.<br /><br />Amendment ofArticle 65 of theConstitution.<br />Amendment ofArticle 91 of the Constitution.Amendment of Article 103 of the Constitution.<br />Amendment of Articlel04B of the Constitution 8. Article 61F of the Constitution is hereby amended by theomission of the words "a police officer appointed by the National Police Commission" from the definition of the expression "public officer".<br />9. Article 65 of the Constitution is hereby amended as follows :-<br />(1) in paragraph (1) thereof, by the substitution for thewords "shall, subject to the provisions of Article 41c,be appointed by the President," of the words "shall beappointed by the President"; and<br />(2) in paragraph (6) thereof, by the substitution for thewords "President may, subject to the provisions ofArticle 41 c, appoint a person" of the words "Presidentmay appoint a person".<br />10. Article 91 of the Constitution is hereby amended in paragraph (1) thereof, by the repeal of sub-paragraph (d)(vb).<br />11. Article 103 of the Constitution is hereby amended inparagraph (1) thereof, by the substitution for the words "consisting of i f ve members" of the words "consisting of three members".<br />12. Article 104B of the Constitution is hereby amended asfollows:-<br />(1) by the insertion immediately after paragraph (4) thereof, ofthe following new paragraph:-<br />Page (6)<br />"(4a) For the avoidance of doubt it is stated that any guideline issued by the Commission during the period commencing with the making of an Order for the holding of an election or the making of a Proclamation requiring the conduct of a Referendum, as the case may be, shall -<br />(a) be limited to matters which are directly connected with the holding of the respective election or the conduct of a respective Referendum as the case may be; and<br />(b) not be connected directly with any matter relating to the public service or any matter within the ambit of administration of the Public Service Commission or the Judicial Service Commission, as the case may be, appointed under the Constitution."; and<br />(2) in paragraph (5), by the repeal of sub-paragraphs (b), (c) and (d) thereof and the substitution therefor of the following paragraph:-<br />"(b) It shall be the duty of any broadcasting or telecasting operator or any proprietor or published of a newspaper as the case may be, to take all necessary steps to ensure compliance with any guidelines as are issued to them under paragraph (a).".<br />Amendment ofArticle 107 of theConstitution<br />Amendment ofArticle 109 of the Constitution<br />13. Article 107 of the Constitution is hereby amended inparagraph (1) thereof, by the substitution for the words "shall, subject to the provisions of Article 41C, be appointed by the President by Warrant under his hand" of the words "shall be appointed by the President by Warrant under his hand".<br />14. Article 109 of the Constitution is hereby amended asf follows:- OIIOWS:<br />(1) in paragraph (1) thereof, by the substitution for the words"the President shall, subject to the provisions of Article 41c,appoint," of the words "the President shall appoint"; and<br />(2) in paragraph (2) thereof, by the substitution for the words"the President may, subject to the provisions of Article 41C,<br />Page (7)<br /><br />appoint" of the words "President may appoint a person".<br />Amendment ofArticle I I ID of the Constitution<br />Amendment of Article 111E of theConstitution<br />Amendment ofArticle 153 of theConstitution<br />Amendment of Article 154 of theConstitution<br />Amendment of Article 1548 ofthe Constitution<br />Amendment of Article 155A of the Constitution<br />15. Article 11 1D of the Constitution is hereby amended inparagraph (1) thereof, by the substitution for the words "appointed by the President subject to the provisions of Article 41c" of the words"appointed by the President".<br />16. Article 111E of the Constitution is hereby amended inparagraphs (5) and (6) thereof, by the omission therefrom the words "on the recommendation of the Constitutional Council".<br />17. Article 153 of the Constitution is hereby amended asfollows:-<br />(1) in paragraph (1) thereof, by the substitution for the words"shall, subject to the provisions of Article 41C, be appointedby the President," of the words "shall be appointed by thePresident"; and<br />(2) in paragraph (4) thereof, by the substitution for the words"the President may, subject to the provisions of Article 41 C,appoint" of the words "President may appoint".<br />18. Article 154 of the Constitution is hereby amended by thesubstitution for the words "the Public Service Commission" of the words, "the Public Service Commission, the Provincial Public Service Commissions".<br />19. Article 154R of the Constitution is hereby amended in sub-paragraph (c) of paragraph (1) thereof, by the substitution for the words "three other members who are appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Constitution Council, to represent" of the words "three other members appointed by the President, to represent".<br />20. Article 155A of the Constitution is hereby amended asfollows:-<br />(1) by the repeal of paragraph (1) thereof, and the substitutiontherefor of the following:-<br />"(1) There shall be a National Police Commission(in this Chapter referred to as "the Commission") consistingof not more than seven members appointed by thePresident. The President shall appoint one member as theChairman."; and<br />Page (8)<br /><br />Insertion of newArticles 155FFand I55FFF in the Constitution".<br />(2) in paragraph (4) thereof, by the substitution for the words"from office by the President on the recommendation of theConstitutional Council, or" of the words "from office bythe President, or";.<br />21. The following new Articles are hereby inserted immediately after Article 155F of the Constitution and shall have effect as Articles 155FF and 155FFF thereof:-<br />"Powers of the 155FF. The Commission shall beCommission. empowered to entertain and investigate complaints from members of the public or any aggrieved person against a police officer or the police force, and shall provide redress in accordance with the provisions of any law enacted by Parliament. For this purpose the Commission may make rules to establish procedures for entertaining andinvestigating complaints from members of the public or any aggrieved person. Amendment ofArticle 155 ofthe Constitution Commission tomake rules.<br />22. Articlefollows:-<br />155FFF. The Commission shall from time totime make rules for such matters which require rules to be made. Every such rule shall be published in the Gazette.".<br />155G of the Constitution is hereby amended as (1) by the repeal of paragraph (1) thereof, and the substitution therefor of the following:-"(1)(a) The appointment, promotion, transfer, disciplinary control and dismissal of police officers shall be vested in the Inspector - General of Police. (b) The Inspector - General of Police shall not, in the exercise of his powers under this Article, derogate from the powers and functions assigned to each Provincial Public Service Commission, as and when such Commission is established under Chapter XVIIA.";<br />(2) by the repeal of paragraph (2) thereof,<br />(3) in paragraph (3) thereof, -<br />Page (9)<br /><br />(a) by the substitution for the words "The Commissionshall provide for" of the words "The Inspector -General of Police shall provide for"; and (b) by the substitution for the words "codes of conduct, and the standards to be followed in making promotions and transfers, as the Commission shall from time to time consider necessary or fit." of the words "Codes of Conduct and the criteria to be followed in making promotions or transfers as the Inspector - General of Police may from time to time consider necessary or fit."; and<br />(4) in paragraph (4), by the substitution for the words "TheCommission shall" of the words "The Inspector - Generalof Police shall"; and<br />(5) by the substitution for the marginal note to that section ofthe following:-<br />"Powers of the Inspector - General of Police".<br />Amendment of 23. Article 155H of the Constitution is hereby repealed.Article 155HOfthe Constitution.Replacement of 24. Article 1551 of the Constitution is hereby repealed and theArticle 1551 of theConstitution following new section substituted therefor :-"Delegation of 1 551 (1) The Inspector.- General of Policefunctions by the Inspector -General ofPolice may, subject to such conditions and procedures asmay be determined, delegate to any police officer, his powers of appointment, promotion, transfer, disciplinary control and dismissal in relation to any category of police officers:Provided that the Inspector - General ofPolice may notwithstanding such delegation, exercise such powers where it appears to him to be so necessary,.(2) The Inspector - General of Police shall cause any such delegation to be published in the Gazette including the conditions and procedures determined by him.".<br />Page (10)<br /><br />Amendment ofArticle 155K of the Constitution<br />2-5. Articlefollows:-<br />155K of the Constitution is hereby amended as<br />Replacement ofArticles 155L,and 155,%t of theConstitution (1) in paragraph (1) thereof, by the substitution for the words"may appeal to the Commission against such order" to theend of that paragraph, of the words "may appeal to thePublic Service Commission in accordance with such rulesas are made by the Public Service Commission in thatbehalf.";<br />(2) in paragraphs (2) and (3) thereof, by the substitution for thewords "The Commission" wherever such words appear intherein, of the word "The Inspector - General of Police.";<br />(3) by the repeal of paragraph (4) thereof.<br />26. Articles 155L and 155M OF the Constitution are herebyrepealed and the following Articles substituted therefor:-<br />"Appeals to 155L. (1) Any Police Officer aggrieved bythe Public<br />Amendment ofArticle 156 of theConstitution ServiceCommissionand theAdministrativeAppealsTribunal.<br />Saving ofexisting rulesandregulations.<br />27. Articlefollows:- any order relating to a promotion, transfer or anyorder on any disciplinary matter or dismissal made by the Inspector - General of Police in respect of himself, may appeal therefrom, to the Public Service Commission.(2) Any Police Officer aggrieved from the decision of the Public Service Commission on an appeal under this Article, may appeal therefrom to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.<br />155M. All rules and regulations and procedures in force on the date of the commencement of this Article shall be deemed to continue to be operative, until rules, regulations and procedures are made hereunder.".<br />156 of the Constitution is hereby amended as (1) in paragraph (1) thereof, by the substitution for the words "shall, subject to the provisions of Article 41C, be appointed by the President," of the words "shall be appointed by the President";<br />Page (II)<br /><br /> (2) in paragraph (5) thereof, by the substitution for the words"the President shall, subject to the provisions of Article 41c,appoint" of the words "the President shall appoint".<br />Avoidance of 28. For the avoidance of doubts it is hereby declared that :-doubts.(1) the members of the Judicial Service Commissionestablished under Article 112 of the Constitution andholding office on the date prior to the commencement of this Act, shall from and after the date of the commencement of this Act, continue to hold office as such members and to exercise and discharge the powers and functions vested in the Commission under the Constitution;<br />(2) the Chief Justice and the other Judges of the Supreme Court and the President and the other Judges of the Court of Appeal and the Judges of the High Court holding office on the date prior to the commencement of this Act, shall from and after the date of the commencement of this Act, continue to hold office and exercise and discharge the powers and functions vested in them under the Constitution:<br />(3) every person holding office as the Secretary of theJudicial Service Commission, the Attorney - General,the Auditor - General, the Inspector - General ofPolice, the Parliamentary Commissioner forAdministration (Ombudsman) and the Secretary -General of Parliament holding office on the date prior to the commencement of this Act, shall from and after the date of the commencement of this Act, continue to hold office and exercise and discharge the powers and functions vested in them under the Constitution;<br />(4) the person holding office as the Commissioner on the date prior to the commencement of this Act, shall from and after the date of the commencement of this Act, continue to hold office and exercise and discharge the powers and functions vested in him under the Constitution as Commissioner of Elections until the Election Commission is Constituted in terms of Article 103 and from and after the date of the constitution of the Election Commission, cease to hold office as the Commissioner of Elections:<br />Page (12)<br /><br />Provided that the President may, if he considers it expedient to do so or if the exigencies of a situation so requires it, at any time prior to the constitution of the Election Commission, appoint to the office of Commissioner of Elections, a person holding office as a Deputy Commissioner of Elections to discharge the functions presently being conferred on the Commission by the Constitution.<br />(5) all matters pertaining to the appointment, promotion, transfer, disciplinary control and dismissal of Police Officers pending before the National Police Commission established under Chapter XVIIA of the Constitution on the date prior to the commencement of this Act, shall from and after the date of the commencement of this Act, be vested with the Inspector - General of Police and any appeal made by a police officer pending before the National Police Commission on the date prior to the commencement of this Act, shall, from and after the date of the commencement of this Act, stand transferred to the Public Service Commission and shall be heard and completed accordingly;<br />(6) all appointments made in respect of the Commissions and posts described in the foregoing paragraphs of this section, from and after the expiration of the term of office of the Constitutional Council appointed in terms of Article 41A of the Constitution, during the period commencing on the day on which the term of the aforesaid Council expired and the date of the coming into operation of this Act, shall be deemed to be valid and effectual;<br />(7) the staff of the Public Service Commission shall be members of the public service and be subject to the rules as are applicable to a public office in relation to the rank of such office; (8) from and after the appointment of the Election Commission in terms of the Constitution, the Department of Elections shall be deemed to be the staff of such Commission for the purposes of Chapter XIVA of the Constitution and shall whenever it is so required for the duration of an election or a referenda perform the functions of a Secretariat.<br />Page (13)<br /><br />Sinhala text toprevail in case of inconsistency. 29. In the event of any inconsistency between the Sinhala andTamil texts of this Act, the Sinhala text shall prevail.<br /><br />ENDORSEMENT UNDER ARTICLE 122 OF THECONSTITUTION It is hereby certified that in the view of the Cabinet of Ministers, the above Bill is urgent in the national interest.<br /><strong>August, 2010. S. AbeysingheSecretary to the Cabinet of Ministers.<br /></strong>Page (14)<br />==================<br />Source:<br /><a href="http://www.thesundayleader.lk/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Proposed-18th-Amendment-to-Sri-Lanka-Constitution.pdf">http://www.thesundayleader.lk/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Proposed-18th-Amendment-to-Sri-Lanka-Constitution.pdf</a><br />==================ENB.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00449836977074869699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7155393032669029227.post-70588976042404965232010-02-02T22:43:00.000-08:002010-02-02T22:47:21.535-08:001976 வட்டுக்கோட்டைத் தீர்மானம்<strong>1976 மே 14 ஆந் தேதியன்று வட்டுக்கோட்டையில் நடைபெற்ற தமிழர் ஐக்கிய விடுதலை முன்னணியின் முதலாவது தேசிய மாநாட்டில் ஏகமனதாகக் கைக்கொள்ளப்பட்ட தீர்மானம்.<br /></strong><br />தவிசாளர் எஸ். ஐே. வி. செல்வநாயகம், கியுசி, பா.உ (காங்கேசன்துறை)<br /><br />1976 மே 14ஆந் தேதியன்று (வட்டுக்கோட்டைத் தொகுதியிலுள்ள) பண்ணாகத்தில் கூடுகின்ற தமிழர் ஐக்கிய விடுதலை முன்னணியின் முதலாவது தேசிய மாநாடு, இலங்கைத் தமிழர்கள் தங்களின் தொன்மைவாய்ந்த மொழியினாலும் மதங்களினாலும் வேறான கலாசாரம், பாரம்பரியம் ஆகியவற்றினாலும் ஐரோப்பிய படையெடுப்பாளர்களின் ஆயுதப்பலத்தினால் அவர்கள் வெற்றி கொள்ளப்படும் வரை பல நூற்றாண்டுகளாக ஒரு குறிப்பிட்ட பிரதேசத்தில் தனிவேறான அரசாகச் சுதந்திரமாக இயங்கிய வரலாற்றின் காரணமாகவும் எல்லாவற்றுக்கும் மேலாக தமது சொந்தப் பிரதேசத்தில் தம்மைத்தாமே ஆண்டுகொண்டு தனித்துவமாகத் தொடர்ந்திருக்கும் விருப்பம் காரணமாகவும் சிங்களவர்களிலிருந்து வேறுபட்ட தனித் தேசிய இனமாகவுள்ளனரென, இத்தால் பிரகடனப்படுத்துகின்றது.<br /><br />மேலும் 1972இன் குடியரசு அரசியலமைப்பு தமிழ் மக்களைப் புதிய காலனித்துவ எசமானர்களான சிங்களவர்களால் ஆளப்படும் ஒர் அடிமைத் தேசிய இனமாக ஆக்கியுள்ளதென்றும் தமிழ்த் தேசிய இனத்தின் ஆட்சிப்பிரதேசம், மொழி, பிரசாவுரிமை, பொருளாதார வாழ்க்கை, தொழில் மற்றும் கல்வி வாய்ப்புக்கள் ஆகியவற்றை இழக்கச்செய்வதற்கு சிங்களவர்கள் தாம் முறைகேடாகப் பறித்துக் கொண்ட அதிகாரத்தைப் பயன்படுத்துகின்றனரென்றும் அதன்மூலம் தமிழ் மக்களின் தேசியத்திற்கான இயற்பண்புகள் யாவும் அழிக்கப்படுகின்றனவென்றும் இம்மாநாடு உலகுக்கு அறிவிக்கின்றது.<br /><br />மேலும் தமிழ் ஈழம் என்ற தனிவேறான அரசொன்றைத் தாபிப்பதற்கான அதன் ஈடுபாட்டுக்கடப்பாடு தொடர்பில், வடக்கு மற்றும் கிழக்குப் பிரதேசங்களுக்கு வெளியே வாழ்கின்றவர்களும் வேலை செய்கின்றவர்களுமான பெரும்பான்மையான பெருந்தோட்டத் தொழிலாளர்களின் ஒரு தொழிற்சங்கமான இலங்கைத் தொழிலாளர்காங்கிரஸ் வெளிப்படுத்திய அதன் ஒவ்வாமைகளைக் கருத்தில் கொள்கின்ற அதேவேளையில்,<br /><br />ஒவ்வொரு தேசிய இனத்தினதும் உள்ளியல்பான சுயநிர்ணய உரிமையின் அடிப்படையில் சுதந்திரமான, இறைமைபொருந்திய, சமயச்சார்பற்ற, சமதர்மத் தமிழீழ அரசை மீட்டளித்தலும் மீள உருவாக்குதலும் இந்நாட்டில் தமிழ்த் தேசிய இனம் உளதாயிருத்தலைப் பாதுகாக்கும் பொருட்டுத் தவிர்க்க முடியாததாகியுள்ளதென இம்மாநாடு தீர்மானிக்கின்றது. இம்மாநாடு மேலும் பிரகடனப்படுத்துவதாவது:<br /><br /><br />(அ) தமிழ் ஈழ அரசு வடக்கு மற்றும் கிழக்கு மாகாணங்களிலுள்ள மக்களைக் கொண்டதாக இருக்கவேண்டுமென்பதுடன் இலங்கையின் எந்தப்பகுதியிலும் வசிக்கின்ற தமிழ் பேசுகின்ற மக்களுக்கும் தமிழ் ஈழத்தின் பிரசாவுரிமையை விரும்பித்தெரிகின்ற உலகின் எப்பகுதியிலும் வசிக்கின்ற ஈழ வம்சாவழித் தமிழர்களுக்கும் முழுமையான, சமமான பிரசாவுரிமைகளை உறுதிப்படுத்தவும் வேண்டும். தமிழ் ஈழத்தின் ஏதேனும் சமயத்தைச் சேர்ந்த அல்லது ஆட்சிப்பிரதேசத்தைச் சேர்ந்த சமூகமொன்று வேறு ஏதேனும் பிரிவினரின் மேலாதிக்கத்திற்குட்படாதிருத்தலை உறுதிப்படுத்தும் பொருட்டு தமிழ் ஈழத்தின் அரசியலமைப்பு சனநாயகப் பன்முகப்படுத்தற்கோட்பாட்டை அடிப்படையாகக் கொண்டிருக்கவேண்டும்.<br />(ஆ) தமிழ் ஈழ அரசில் சாதி ஒழிக்கப்படவேண்டுமென்பதுடன், பிறப்பின் அடிப்படையில் பின்பற்றப்படும் பெருங்கேடான பழக்கமான தீண்டாமை அல்லது ஏற்றத்தாழ்வு முற்றாக ஒழித்துக் கட்டப்படவும் எவ்வகையிலேனும் அதனைக் கடைப்பிடித்தல் சட்டத்தால் தண்டிக்கப்படவும் வேண்டும்.<br />(இ) தமிழ் ஈழம் அவ்வரசிலுள்ள மக்கள் சார்ந்திருக்கக்கூடிய எல்லாச்சமயங்களுக்கும் சமமான பாதுகாப்பும் உதவியும் வழங்குகின்ற சமயச்சார்பற்ற ஓர் அரசாக இருக்க வேண்டும்.<br />(ஈ) தமிழ் அரச மொழியாக இருக்க வேண்டும் எனினும் தமிழ் ஈழத்தில் சிங்களம் பேசுகின்ற சிறுபான்மைகள் அவர்களின் மொழியில் கல்வியையும் அலுவல்களையும் தொடர்வதற்கான உரிமைகள் சிங்கள அரசிலுள்ள தமிழ் பேசும் சிறுபான்மைகள் பாதுகாக்கப்படும் சரி எதிரிடையான அடிப்படையில் பாதுகாக்கப்பட வேண்டும்.<br />(உ) தமிழ் ஈழத்தில் மனிதனால் மனிதன் சுரண்டப்படுதல் தடை செய்யப்படும். உழைப்பின் மகத்துவம் பாதுகாக்கப்படும். சட்டத்தினால் அனுமதிக்கப்படும் எல்லைகளுக்குள் தனியார் துறையின் இருப்புக்கு அனுமதி வழங்கப்படுகின்ற அதே வேளையில், பண்டங்களின் உற்பத்தி மற்றும் விநியோகம் என்பன அரச உரிமையின் கீழ் அல்லது அரச கட்டுப்பாட்டுடன் மேற்கொள்ளப்படும். பொருளாதார அபிவிருத்தி சோசலிசத் திட்டமொன்றின் அடிப்படையில் ஏற்படுத்தப்படும். ஒரு தனிநபரின் அல்லது குடும்பத்தின் செல்வம் தொடர்பில் உச்சவரம்பு விதிக்கப்படும். இவ்வகையில் தமிழ் ஈழம் ஒரு சமதர்ம அரசாக இருக்க வேண்டும்.<br />தமிழ் தேசிய இனத்தின் இறைமையையும் சுதந்திரத்தையும் வென்றெடுப்பதற்கான போராட்டத்திற்கான செயல்திட்டமொன்றை மிதமிஞ்சிய தாமதமின்றி வகுத்தமைத்து அதனைத் தொடங்கவேண்டுமென தமிழர் ஐக்கிய விடுதலை முன்னணியின் செயற்குழுவை இம்மாநாடு பணிக்கின்றது.<br /><br />மேலும் இம்மாநாடு, சுதந்திரத்திற்கான இப்புனிதப்போரில் தம்மை முழுமையாக அர்ப்பணிக்க முன்வரும்படியும் இறைமையுள்ள தமிழ் ஈழ அரசென்ற இலக்கு எட்டப்படும்வரை அஞ்சாது போரிடும் படியும் பொதுவில் தமிழ்த் தேசிய இனத்துக்கும் குறிப்பாக தமிழ் இளைஞர்களுக்கும் அறைகூவல் விடுக்கின்றது.<br /><br />(இது 1976 மே 15ஆந் தேதியன்று திரு. செல்வநாயகம், கியுசி. பா.உ அவர்கள் தலைமையில் (வட்டுக்கோட்டைத் தொகுதியிலுள்ள) பண்ணாகத்தில் நடைபெற்ற தமிழர் ஐக்கிய விடுதலை முன்னணியின் 1ஆவது தேசிய மாநாட்டில் ஏகமனதாகக் கைக்கொள்ளப்பட்ட தீர்மானம். 1977இல் இதனை முன்வைத்துத் தேர்தலுக்குச் சென்ற த.ஐ.வி.மு. தமிழ் வாக்காளர்களிடமிருந்து அமோகமான ஆணையைப் பெற்றது. இதுவே ஈழத்தமிழர் சனநாயக முறையில் நடத்தப்பட்ட ஒரு வாக்கெடுப்பில் சுதந்திரமாகத் தமது விருப்பை வெளிப்படுத்துக் கூடுமாயிருந்த இறுதித் தடவையாயிருந்தது.<br /><br />மூலம்: கலாநிதி ஆ.க. மனோகரன்<br />Copyright © Tamil Election Switzerland 2009ENB.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00449836977074869699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7155393032669029227.post-54344717763440364812010-01-06T19:10:00.001-08:002010-01-06T19:13:17.875-08:00TNA and Sri Lanka Ex-General communique<strong><span style="font-size:130%;">TNA and Sri Lanka Ex-General communique</span></strong><br />January 5, 2010 at 12:54 am · ~ Press Releases<br /><br />Full Text of “Programme of Immediate Relief Measures for War Affected Persons & Areas for Peace”, handed over to Hon. R. Sampanthan, Leader of the TNA by General Sarath Fonseka common Presidential Candidate at his campaign headquarters on Jan 4, 2010:<br />1. Restoration of Civil Administration and Normalcy<br /><br />1. Full restoration of all institutions of Civil Administration from the Office of Grama Sevaka upwards – Free from Military, Police and Political interference.<br /><br />2. Committees for each District headed by the respective District Secretary (GA), and comprising,<br /><br />-Nomine of the President<br /><br />-Divisional Secretaries<br /><br />-Other Officials (Representatives of such Officials)<br /><br />-Members of Parliament / Their Representatives<br /><br />-Representatives of Local Authorities<br /><br />-Judicial Officer/s<br /><br />-Securities Forces /Commanders / Officers North / East<br /><br />-DIG – Police /Officers<br /><br />-Civil Society Representatives<br /><br />To prepare Plan Action for immediate implementation within one month.<br />Monthly Reports on progress to be submitted to the President, Cabinet and Parliament.<br /><br />A dedicated Secretariat to be established under the President to monitor progress and ensure implementation.<br /><br />3. The immediate measures stated herein to be implemented through Presidential Orders, including appointing Presidential task Forces therefor.<br /><br />4. Securities Forces to be stationed at strategic location only, taking into consideration national security. High Security Zones to be dismantled in keeping with the re-location of the Security Forces.<br /><br />5. Free movement of all persons to be guaranteed without being impeded by Security and Police personnel.<br /><br />6. Polce to be manned, as far as practicable by Officers, who are conversant in Tamil.<br /><br />2. Prohibition of ‘para-military cadres’ and armed groups (self styled ‘war loads’)<br /><br />1. All ‘para-military cadres’ and ‘armed groups’ to be disarmed forthwith.<br /><br />2. Areas of civilian activity to be free of weapons.<br /><br />3. Except the Security Forces and Police, only persons with permits under the Firearms Ordinance, would be entitled to possess firearms.<br /><br />3. Re-settlement and rehabilitation of internally displaced persons.<br /><br />1. De-mining of areas to be speedily concluded, through De-mining Units.<br /><br />2. Displaced persons to be returned to their original homes, and where homes have been destroyed alternative accommodation to be provided, with financial support to establish themselves and develop<br /><br />livelihoods.<br /><br />3. Social infrastructure requirements, such as provision of essential Foods, Medical Centers, Hospitals, Schools, Transport, etc., to be provided.<br /><br />4. Land & Agriculture<br /><br />1. Restoration of possession of private land and buildings, now occupied by Security Forces / Police Government Agencies, to those lawfully entitled to such land and buildings.<br /><br />2. Committees referred to in 1.2 above to arrange for such restoration.<br /><br />3. Committee to submit a Scheme to the Government for payment of compensation for damage caused to buildings.<br /><br />4.<br />(a) Eviction of persons legitimately entitled to State Land from such Lands<br /><br />(b) Other instances of deprivation of legitimate title holders of State Lands, and<br /><br />(c) Unlawful occupation of State Lands<br /><br />To be reviewed and the position regularized on lawful and just basis.<br /><br />5. Indiscriminate alienations of State Lands to be terminated. Allocations thus far made to be reviewed and cancelled, where such allocation:<br /><br />-has not been transparent, or<br /><br />-lacked equal opportunity to all concerned, or<br /><br />-lacked proper consultation with the elected Representatives of the areas concerned , or<br /><br />-are unwarranted, or<br /><br />-has been on a corrupt basis<br /><br />6. Relief packages for full cultivation of lands<br /><br />7. A special law enacted to decide on disputes, as to ownership and succession of lands.<br /><br />5. Fisheries<br /><br />1. Full restoration of fishing rights<br /><br />2. Joint Committees to be set-up of Representatives of those engaged in the fishing industry and the Navy to ensure security.<br /><br />6. Trade and Commerce<br /><br />1. All barriers in respect to transport of passengers, goods, agricultural and fisheries produce to be eliminated forthwith.<br /><br />2. No payments (‘Kappang’) to be levied by anyone. Stringent action to be taken against those who do so.<br /><br />7. Transport<br /><br />1. Trains service to be restored., without delay within the Jaffna Peninsula, i.e. Elephant Pass to Point Pedro.<br /><br />2. All implements for shipping and air transport to removed, with effective facilities which would ensure a reduction of costs of shipping and air transport.<br /><br />3. Establishment of a new rail line, with private sector participation, from Point Pedro to Trincomalee.<br /><br />8. Special Relief Packages<br /><br />1. For dependents of all persons, who have lost their lives during the war, including military and polce personnel, and civilians.<br /><br />2. For persons disabled, as result of the war.<br /><br />9. Persons in Detention<br /><br />1. Release of all persons in detention, within a period of one month against whom, there is no evidence, and on the basis that such detention would not be a stigma or a set back for their future.<br /><br />2. Rehabilitation of those persons, who had been engaged in war activities, on the basis of a general amnesty.<br /><br />10. An overall measure affecting all Sri Lankans:<br /><br />The State of Emergency presently in force and the Regulation made thereunder to be terminated, since it affects the liberties and fundamental rights of all People,<br /><br />in accordance with my Pledges<br /><br />General Sarath Fonseka<br />Jan 4, 2010ENB.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00449836977074869699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7155393032669029227.post-7350829714462287932009-06-29T10:00:00.000-07:002017-12-02T03:08:02.924-08:00TNA's 2004 Election Manifesto<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<strong><span style="font-size: 130%;">TNA's 2004 Election Manifesto</span></strong><br />
TAMIL NATIONAL ALLIANCE<br />
<br />
<strong>Election Manifesto, 2004</strong><br />
<br />
Within two years of Parliamentary elections of December 5, 2001 the Tamil nation was forced to the position of having to face another election as a result of a power struggle between the two largest Sinhala chauvinist parties.<br />
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However, with the current political environment and in the backdrop of the changes shaping the attitudes of the international community towards our freedom struggle, the TNA has decided to make use of the opportunity presented by this election to bring forcefully to the attention of the world, and Sri Lanka in particular, our resolve for self-determination.<br />
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The Tamil Nation which from historical times had its own traditional homeland, sovereignty and rule over it lost them first to the European aggressors. When in 1833 the British brought the whole island of Ilankai under one administrative control the Tamil Nation, without its consent, was annexed to the Sinhala areas.<br />
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Later in 1948 at the time of their departure, the British rejected every constitutional proposal submitted on behalf of the Tamil Nation and the way was paved for the fate of the Tamil Nation to be at the mercy of the Sinhala nation. Subsequently, as a result of the measures taken by the chauvinist Sinhala majority such as the appropriation of Tamils’ land, disenfranchisement, abrogation of voting rights and language rights, discrimination based on race in education, employment, culture all of which threatened the distinctiveness and survival of the Tamil Nation, the non-violent struggle adopted by the Ilankai Thamil Arasu Katchi on behalf of the Tamil Nation based on the conviction that the affairs in our traditional homeland should be administered only by us and on the principle of self-determination, was put down by force of arms by the government. Since 1957 the agreements entered into from time to time, by the leaders of Tamil people with the chauvinist Sinhala political leaders have been torn up and discarded.<br />
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Continuing this behavior, in the years 1956 and 1957 planned violence was directed at the helpless Tamil people. Because the provisions of the unitary-state republican constitution of 1972, which was approved in the midst of the opposition by Tamil people’s representatives by the chauvinist Sinhala majority, which denied totally and comprehensively the rights of the Tamil people, there arose the historical inevitability of the start of an armed rebellion on behalf of the Tamil people.<br />
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In this political environment the Tamil organizations got together and resolved on May 14, 1976 to establish a sovereign independent Tamil Eelam based on our inalienable right to self-determination. Independent Thamil Eelam received its mandate as a result of the overwhelming support given to the TULF by the Tamil speaking people of NorthEast in the general elections of July 1977.<br />
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In addition to the unleashing of genocidal attacks on the Tamil people as an immediate response to the mandate for an independent Tamil Eelam, in the following year, a second republican constitution, further strengthening the unitary-state government was promulgated despite opposition from the Tamil people and their representatives.<br />
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Subsequently in 1979 and 1981 and later on a enormous scale in 1983, genocidal attacks on Tamils was planned and agitated by the Sinhala chauvinist politicians.<br />
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In this circumstance, in order to safeguard the life and liberty of the Tamil race and to establish its birthright for self-determination, the Tamil Nation having been pushed to the unavoidable state of armed conflict as the only way, the war not only broadened but advanced under the generalship of the Tigers’ leader Hon. Pirapaharan.<br />
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The state of affairs being that all the efforts taken by the successive Sinhala chauvinist governments to defeat the armed campaign for Tamil Nation’s freedom and thereby crush the political aspirations of the Tamil people having ended in failure, and in the context of the reality being accepted and emphasized by the international community that the solution to the Tamil National problem cannot be settled by force of arms but only politically, the basis was laid for political negotiations with the help of the international community.<br />
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We are obligated to remind ourselves at this stage that the only reason we have established the power of Tamil nationalism thus is because our people have demonstrated such determination and sacrifice for the ideals in the face of numerous hardships and the loss of nearly one lakh of lives and because of the legendary bravery, sacrifices and exploits of our heroes and fighters.<br />
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The unilateral cease-fire, declared by the LTTE midnight on December 24, 2001 and the subsequent cease-fire agreement signed (between the LTTE and the Sri Lankan government) as a result of the efforts of the Norwegian government with the approval of the LTTE and the Sri Lankan government, paved the way for a series of talks.<br />
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On account of the failure to institute, in terms of the agreement reached in the talks, the administrative organs including 'SIHRN' to carry out the necessary and urgent functions based on humanitarian considerations required to restore normalcy in the daily lives of the Tamil people and the failure to organize the bureaucratic framework to put to use the huge amount of aid promised by the international community and bearing in mind the escalating daily hardships and misery to the people and the resulting perceptions, the LTTE put forward the proposal that an interim self-governing authority be set up for the regions of the Tamil nation.<br />
<br />
Their draft proposals for the interim self-governing authority (ISGA) was submitted to the facilitators on October 31, 2003.<br />
<br />
The LTTE requested the Sri Lankan government to appoint a date for the commencement of talks on these proposals. The political crisis that was precipitated by the president at this juncture by taking over the Defense, Interior and Information ministries within three days of the ISGA proposals culminated in the dissolution of the parliament and the announcement of general elections to take place on April 4, 2004. This state of affairs not only disrupted the efforts to set up an ISGA sorely needed for our people but also set back and put in peril the efforts to a political solution to the Tamil national problem. Despite this the LTTE has reaffirmed their determination to pursue the course of peace. The international community has praised and approved this.<br />
<br />
In the forthcoming elections the Tamil national problem has been made to take the center stage in South Sri Lanka. This has been used as the basis for Sinhala chauvinist propaganda in various forms to present to the Sinhala electorate. Thus, the responsibility resides with the Sinhala people to arrive at a mature position in the matter of resolving the Tamil national problem.<br />
<br />
The LTTE announced the unilateral cessation of hostilities in December 2001. We wish to point out that following this on February 22, 2002 even though they signed the cease-fire agreement and continued to take part in the political negotiation regarding the Tamil national problem the LTTE not only has fully 70 regions in the Tamil people’s traditional homeland under its complete control and is managing an administrative set up with characteristic features of a state government but also has a functioning government.<br />
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For these reason the TNA expects the Sinhala nation also to play its part in the productive and healthy resumption of the disrupted political settlement efforts. Based on this the TNA puts forward the following resolutions:<br />
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1.Find a political solution to the Tamil national problem based on the acceptance of the fundamental proposals regarding (Tamil Nation’s) Tamil homeland, Tamil Nation, Tamils’ right to self-government (autonomy).<br />
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2.The TNA has clear and definitive position on the political solution of the Tamil national problem in regard to the Muslims. Because of the fact the Muslims have Tamil as their Mother tongue like the Tamils and on the recognition that they have lived in amity amongst the Tamil in the Tamil homeland, the TNA has decided that any solution to the Tamil national problem must incorporate matters and features that reassure the distinctiveness, security, culture and economy of the Muslims. In this manner, in the ISGA proposals and features relating to the Muslims have been made manifest. That the Muslim community has the right to be a party in determining the part to be played by them in ISGA committee has been made clear by the LTTE. Moreover, LTTE has made known that the members appointed by the NorthEast Muslim community will take their place in the ISGA committee. The TNA is confident that the Muslim brothers will join with the Tamils in this front to erect a common future.<br />
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3.The Sinhala nation should accept in toto the ideas developed in the ISGA document put forward by the LTTE which contains excellent proposals in regard to rebuilding the Tamil country devastated and Tamil lives ravaged in the twenty-year long war, to solve the day to day problems encountered by the Tamil people and to establish normalcy in the lives of the Tamil people, centered on their welfare, respecting human rights and conforming to the rule of law, and proceed to hold talks with the LTTE and set up the ISGA committee.<br />
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4.The high security zones and armed forces camps which are located in areas populated by Tamils disregarding their welfare, priority given to strategic interest of warfare, should be removed and arrangements made for the Tamil people to return and settle in their places of residence.<br />
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5.The armed forces’ interdiction and oppression imposed must be lifted comprehensively to enable the Tamil people to carry on the activities needed for their livelihood and to move freely in their homeland.<br />
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6.The international community, instead of waiting until the Tamil nation’s ethnic problem is permanently solved, should step forward and directly assist in the pressing humanitarian needs and economic development schemes and improve the economic life of the Tamil nation.<br />
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7.The political prisoners unreasonably held in jail for years should all be released forthwith.<br />
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8.An international judicial inquiry should be conducted to deliver justice to our people and to the relatives who are burdened with the unbearable sorrow of not knowing the fate of those innocents who disappeared after having been arrested by the armed forces and police in our homeland.<br />
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9.All the provisions of the cease-fire agreements must be completely fulfilled and peace and normalcy should prevail in our homeland.<br />
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10.The LTTE has for the past two years put up with the violent, surly behavior of the armed forces without impairing the conditions for peace and observing the cease-fire and acting steadfastly and firmly towards the path of peace. Hence, the international community should create the environment by removing the restrictions put in place by certain countries on the LTTE, the authentic sole representatives of the Tamil people, so that they could, with authority, dignity and with equal status conduct talks with the government of Sri Lanka.<br />
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◦Accepting LTTE’s leadership as the national leadership of the Tamil Eelam Tamils and the Liberation Tigers as the sole and authentic representatives of the Tamil people, let us devote our full cooperation for the ideals of the Liberation Tigers’ struggle with honesty and steadfastness.<br />
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◦Let us endeavor determinedly, collectively as one group, one nation, one country, transcending race and religious differences, under the leadership of the LTTE for a life of liberty, honor and justice for the Tamil people.<br />
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◦Let us work side by side with the LTTE, who are fighting for the protection and autonomous life of the Tamil speaking people, for the political initiatives under their leadership.<br />
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◦We emphasize that if the Tamil nation’s requests are continued to be rejected, rightful political solution denied and armed aggression and oppressive rule return, based on the doctrine of self-determination, it is an inevitable reality that Tamil sovereignty and independence will be established in the Tamil homeland.<br />
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◦We implore our people to identify the selfish, opportunistic packs and gangs that operate in our midst as the enemies and as the tools of the majoritarian chauvinist Sinhala forces against the Tamil nation which seeks an honorable and peaceful life and reject them totally and completely in the upcoming elections.<br />
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◦We are sending a clarion call to the Tamil speaking people to unite under one flag and give overwhelming support to the TNA which is contesting (the elections) under the ILANKAI TAMIL ARASU KATCHI’S symbol of house, so as to emphasize the aims of the people of the Tamil Nation, to proclaim again the political resolve of our people, to strengthen further the Tamil nation and to win the political rights of the Tamil speaking people.</div>
ENB.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00449836977074869699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7155393032669029227.post-88771753292380753522008-07-22T07:14:00.000-07:002015-09-06T22:53:46.283-07:00UN's- Right Of Self Determination<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfjjU3VErMqlyHgXq7p7GfNhTVnfn6e8WeHfkdFlMx81WZ7th4FJVI0m6ju5rGd1dA6So-bWsdZ0EkSuOyFMPUIdfCqUhwLVNzo3kVnt8bqPl5ipAwEDJCx7wReZMxULhuBjd9iu6gV5U/s1600-h/UN-Right+Of+Self+Determination.bmp"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225842202111200498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfjjU3VErMqlyHgXq7p7GfNhTVnfn6e8WeHfkdFlMx81WZ7th4FJVI0m6ju5rGd1dA6So-bWsdZ0EkSuOyFMPUIdfCqUhwLVNzo3kVnt8bqPl5ipAwEDJCx7wReZMxULhuBjd9iu6gV5U/s400/UN-Right+Of+Self+Determination.bmp" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><span style="font-size: 180%;"> UN-The right to self-determination of peoples</span> <br />
General Comment No. 12: The right to self-determination of peoples (Art. 1) : . 13/03/84. CCPR General Comment No. 12. (General Comments)<br />
Convention Abbreviation: CCPR GENERAL COMMENT 12<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: 130%;">The right to self-determination of <span style="color: red;">peoples</span></span></strong><br />
(Article 1)<br />
(Twenty-first session, 1984)<br />
1. In accordance with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, article 1 of the International Covenant on Civil and<br />
Political Rights recognizes that all peoples have the right of self-determination. The right of self-determination is of particular importance<br />
because its realization is an essential condition for the effective guarantee and observance of individual human rights and for the promotion and<br />
strengthening of those rights. It is for that reason that States set forth the right of self-determination in a provision of positive law in both<br />
Covenants and placed this provision as article 1 apart from and before all of the other rights in the two Covenants.<br />
2. Article 1 enshrines an inalienable right of all peoples as described in its paragraphs 1 and 2. By virtue of that right they freely "determine<br />
their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development". The article imposes on all States parties corresponding<br />
obligations. This right and the corresponding obligations concerning its implementation are interrelated with other provisions of the Covenant<br />
and rules of international law.<br />
3. Although the reporting obligations of all States parties include article 1, only some reports give detailed explanations regarding each of its<br />
paragraphs. The Committee has noted that many of them completely ignore article 1, provide inadequate information in regard to it or confine<br />
themselves to a reference to election laws. The Committee considers it highly desirable that States parties' reports should contain information<br />
on each paragraph of article 1.<br />
4. With regard to paragraph 1 of article 1, States parties should describe the constitutional and political processes which in practice allow the<br />
exercise of this right.<br />
5. Paragraph 2 affirms a particular aspect of the economic content of the right of self-determination, namely the right of peoples, for their own<br />
ends, freely to "dispose of their natural wealth and resources without prejudice to any obligations arising out of international economic<br />
cooperation, based upon the principle of mutual benefit, and international law. In no case may a people be deprived of its own means of<br />
subsistence". This right entails corresponding duties for all States and the international community. States should indicate any factors or<br />
difficulties which prevent the free disposal of their natural wealth and resources contrary to the provisions of this paragraph and to what extent<br />
that affects the enjoyment of other rights set forth in the Covenant.<br />
6. Paragraph 3, in the Committee's opinion, is particularly important in that it imposes specific obligations on States parties, not only in relation<br />
to their own peoples but vis-à-vis all peoples which have not been able to exercise or have been deprived of the possibility of exercising their<br />
right to self-determination. The general nature of this paragraph is confirmed by its drafting history. It stipulates that "The States Parties to the<br />
present Covenant, including those having responsibility for the administration of Non-Self-Governing and Trust Territories, shall promote the<br />
realization of the right of self-determination, and shall respect that right, in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations".<br />
The obligations exist irrespective of whether a people entitled to self-determination depends on a State party to the Covenant or not. It follows<br />
that all States parties to the Covenant should take positive action to facilitate realization of and respect for the right of peoples to self-<br />
determination. Such positive action must be consistent with the States' obligations under the Charter of the United Nations and under<br />
international law: in particular, States must refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of other States and thereby adversely affecting the<br />
exercise of the right to self-determination. The reports should contain information on the performance of these obligations and the measures<br />
taken to that end.<br />
7. In connection with article 1 of the Covenant, the Committee refers to other international instruments concerning the right of all peoples to<br />
self-determination, in particular the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Co-operation among<br />
States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, adopted by the General Assembly on 24 October 1970 (General Assembly<br />
resolution 2625 (XXV)).<br />
8. The Committee considers that history has proved that the realization of and respect for the right of self-determination of peoples contributes<br />
to the establishment of friendly relations and cooperation between States and to strengthening international peace and understanding. ©1996-2001Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human RightsGeneva, Switzerland<br />
<div>
</div>
</div>
ENB.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00449836977074869699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7155393032669029227.post-71433370686733140732008-04-18T07:06:00.000-07:002014-09-16T21:52:44.583-07:00THE INDO-SRI LANKA ACCORD<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD5P0u9lXeFj3yc9l2FBdKEKZqtkOC-T0WEeiwmE0c2XiE3XxqElqMJ_xUONWkOzREV2u9HikdiH-eytuofTrsBm6ESeTCB5XybnMeG5gtqiWu4PZWlY6QBWbkWP789LSzi5IXr0w0aP8/s1600-h/jrrajive1987.jpe"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD5P0u9lXeFj3yc9l2FBdKEKZqtkOC-T0WEeiwmE0c2XiE3XxqElqMJ_xUONWkOzREV2u9HikdiH-eytuofTrsBm6ESeTCB5XybnMeG5gtqiWu4PZWlY6QBWbkWP789LSzi5IXr0w0aP8/s400/jrrajive1987.jpe" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190588467322829618" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a> <span style="font-size: 78%;">July 29-1987</span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: 78%;">Text:</span> </strong><strong><span style="font-size: 180%;">THE INDO-SRI LANKA ACCORD</span></strong><br />
To establish peace and normalcy in Sri Lanka the president of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, his excellency Mr. J.R. Jayawardene, and the Prime Minister of The Republic of India, His Excellency Mr. Rajiv Gandhi, having met at Colombo on July 29, 1987,<br />Attaching utmost importance to nurturing, intensifying and strengthening the traditional friendship of Sri Lanka and India, and acknowledging the imperative need of<br />resolving the ethnic problem of Sri Lanka, and the consequent violence, and for the safety, wellbeing and prosperity of people belonging to all communities of Sri Lanka,<br />Have this day entered into the following agreement to fulfil this Objective.<br />In this context,<br />1.1 desiring to preserve the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka,<br />1.2 acknowledging that Sri Lanka is a "multi-ethnic and multi-lingual plural society" consisting, inter-alia, of Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims (Moors) and Burgers,<br />1.3 recognising that each ethnic group has a distinct cultural and linguistic identity, which has to be carefully nurtured,<br />1.4 Also recognising that the northern and the eastern provinces have been areas of historical habitation of Sri Lankan Tamil speaking peoples, who have at all times<br />hitherto lived together in this territory with other ethnic groups,<br />1.5 conscious of the necessity of strengthening the forces contributing to the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka, and preserving its character as a<br />multi-ethnic, multi-lingual and multi- religious plural society in which all citizens can live in equality, safety and harmony, and prosper and fulfil their aspirations,<br />2.RESOLVE THAT:<br />2.1 Since the Government of Sri Lanka proposes to permit adjoining provinces to join to form one administrative unit and also by a referendum to separate as may be<br />permitted to the northern and eastern provinces as outlined below:<br />2.2 During the period, which shall be considered an interim period (i.e. from the date of the elections to the provincial council, as specified in para 2.8 to the date of<br />the referendum as specified in para 2.3), the northern and eastern provinces as now constituted, will form one administrative unit, having one elected provincial<br />council. Such a unit will have one governor, one chief minister and one board of ministers.<br />2.3 There will be a referendum on or before 31st December 1988 to enable the people of the eastern province to decide whether:<br />a) The eastern province should remain linked with the northern province as one administrative unit, and continue to be governed together with the northern province<br />as specified in para 2.2 or:<br />b) The eastern province should constitute a separate administrative unit having its own distinct provincial council with a separate governor, chief minister and board of<br />ministers. The president may, at his discretion, decide to postpone such a referendum.<br />2.4 All persons, who have been displaced due to ethnic violence or other reasons, will have the right to vote in such a referendum. Necessary conditions to enable<br />them to return to areas from where they were displaced will be created.<br />2.5 The referendum, when held, will be monitored by a committee headed by the chief Justice, a member appointed by the President, nominated by the government<br />of Sri Lanka, and a member appointed by the president, nominated by the representatives of the Tamil speaking people of the eastern province.<br />2.6 A simple majority will be sufficient to determine the result of the referendum.<br />2.7 Meetings and other forms of propaganda, permissible within the laws of the country, will be allowed before the referendum.<br />2.8 Elections to provincial councils will be held within the next three months, in any event before 31st December 1987. Indian observers will be invited for elections to<br />the provincial council of the north and east.<br />2.9 The emergency will be lifted in the eastern and northern provinces by Aug. 15, 1987. A cessation of hostilities will come into effect all over the island within 48<br />hours of signing of this agreement. All arms presently held by militant groups will be surrendered in accordance with an agreed procedure to authorities to be<br />designated by the government of Sri Lanka.<br />Consequent to the cessation of hostilities and the surrender of arms by militant groups, the army and other security personnel will be confined to barracks in camps as<br />on 25 May 1987. The process of surrendering arms and the confining of security personnel moving back to barracks shall be completed within 72 hours of the<br />cessation of hostilities coming into effect.<br />2.10 The government of Sri Lanka will utilise for the purpose of law enforcement and maintenance of security in the northern and eastern provinces same<br />organisations and mechanisms of government as are used in the rest of the country.<br />2.11 The President of Sri Lanka will grant a general amnesty to political and other prisoners now held in custody under The Prevention of Terrorism Act and other<br />emergency laws, and to combatants, as well as to those persons accused, charged and/or convicted under these laws. The Government of Sri Lanka will make<br />special efforts to rehabilitate militant youth with a view to bringing them back into the mainstream of national life. India will co-operate in the process.<br />2.12 The government of Sri Lanka will accept and abide by the above provisions and expect all others to do likewise.<br />2.13 If the framework for the resolutions is accepted, the Government of Sri Lanka will implement the relevant proposals forthwith.<br />2.14 The government of India will underwrite and guarantee the resolutions, and co-operate in the implementation of these proposals.<br />2.15 These proposals are conditional to an acceptance of the proposals negotiated from 4.5.1986 to 19.12.1986. Residual matters not finalised during the above<br />negotiations shall be resolved between India and Sri Lanka within a period of six weeks of signing this agreement. These proposals are also conditional to the<br />Government of India co-operating directly with the Government of Sri Lanka in their implementation.<br />2.16 These proposals are also conditional to the Government of India taking the following actions if any militant groups operating in Sri Lanka do not accept this<br />framework of proposals for a settlement, namely,<br />a) India will take all necessary steps to ensure that Indian Territory is not used for activities prejudicial to the unity, integrity and security of Sri Lanka<br />b) The Indian navy/coast guard will cooperate with the Sri Lankan navy in preventing Tamil militant activities from affecting Sri Lanka.<br />c) In the event that the Government of Sri Lanka requests the Government of India to afford military assistance to implement these proposals the Government of India<br />will co-operate by giving to the Government of Sri Lanka such military assistance as and when requested.<br />d) The Government of India will expedite repatriation from Sri Lanka of Indian citizens to India who are resident here, concurrently with the repatriation of Sri Lankan<br />refugees from Tamil Nadu.<br />e) The Governments of Sri Lanka and India will co-operate in ensuring the physical security and safety of all communities inhabiting the northern and eastern<br />provinces.<br />2.17 The government of Sri Lanka shall ensure free, full and fair participation of voters from all communities in the northern and eastern provinces in electoral<br />processes envisaged in this agreement. The government of India will extend full co-operation to the government of Sri Lanka in this regard.<br />2.18 The official language of Sri Lanka shall be Sinhala. Tamil and English will also be official languages.<br />3. This agreement and the Annexure thereto shall come into force upon signature.<br />In witness whereof, we have set our hands and seals hereunto.<br />Done in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on this the twenty-ninth day of July of the year one thousand nine hundred and eighty seven, in duplicate, both texts being equally<br />authentic.<br />Junius Richard Jayawardene President of the Democratic of the Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka<br />Rajiv Gandhi Prime Minister Republic of India<br />ANNEXURE TO THE AGREEMENT<br />1. His Excellency the President of Sri Lanka and the Prime Minister of India agree that the referendum mentioned in paragraph 2 and its sub- paragraphs of the<br />agreement will be observed by a representative of the election Commission of India to be invited by His Excellency the President of Sri Lanka.<br />2. Similarly, both heads of Government agree that the elections to the provincial council mentioned in paragraph 2.8 of the agreement will be observed and all para-<br />military personnel will be withdrawn from the eastern and northern provinces with a view to creating conditions conducive to fair elections to the council.<br />3. The President, in his discretion shall absorb such para-military forces, which came into being due to ethnic violence, into the regular security forces of Sri Lanka.<br />4. The President of Sri Lanka and the Prime Minister of India agree that the Tamil militants shall surrender their arms to authorities agreed upon to be designated by<br />the President of Sri Lanka. The surrender shall take place in the presence of one senior representative each of the Sri Lanka Red Cross and the Indian Red Cross.<br />5. The President of Sri Lanka and the Prime Minister of India agree that a joint Indo-Sri Lankan observer group consisting of qualified representatives of the<br />Government of Sri Lanka and the Government of India would monitor the cessation of hostilities from 31 July 1987.<br />6. The President of Sri Lanka and the Prime Minister of India also agree that in the terms of paragraph 2.14 and paragraph 2.16(c) of the agreement, an Indian peace<br />keeping contingent may be invited by the President of Sri Lanka to guarantee and enforce the cessation of hostilities, if so required.<br />EXCHANGE OF LETTERS BETWEEN THE PRIME MINISTER OF INDIA AND THE PRESIDENT OF SRI LANKA.<br />Excellency,<br />1. Conscious of the friendhsip between our two countries stretching over two millenia and more, and recognizing the importance of nurturing this traditional friendship,<br />it is imperative that both Sri Lanka and India reaffirm the decision not to allow our respective territories to be used for activities prejudicial to each other's unity,<br />territorial integrity and security.<br />2. In this spirit, you had, in the course of our discussions agreed to meet some of India's concerns as follows:<br />Your Excellency and myself will reach an early understanding about the relevance and employment of foreign military and intelligence personnel with a view to<br />ensuring that such presences will not prejudice Indo-Sri Lankan relations. Trincomalee or any other ports in Sri Lanka will not be made available for military use by any country in a manner prejudicial to India's interests. The work of resotoring and operating the Trincomalee Oil Tank Farm will be undertaken as a joint venture between India and Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka's agreements with foreign broadcasting organizations will be reviewed to ensure that any facilities set up by them in Sri Lanka 3. In the same spirit India will:<br />deport all Sri Lankan citizens who are found to be engaging in terrorist activities or advocating separatism or secessionism. provide training facilities and military supplies for Sri Lankan forces. 4. India and Sri Lanka have agreed to set up a joint consultative mechanism to continuously review matters of common concern in the light of the objectives stated in<br />paragraph 1 and specifically to monitor the implementation of other matters contained in this letter.<br />5. Kindly confirm, Excellency, that the above correctly sets out the agreement reached between us.<br />Please accept,Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.<br />Yours sincerely,<br />Rajiv Gandhi </div>
ENB.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00449836977074869699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7155393032669029227.post-42646401950660998612007-10-05T11:51:00.000-07:002007-10-05T19:13:09.394-07:00THIMPU DECLARATION<span style="font-size:180%;">The Thimpu Declaration<br /></span><span style="font-size:78%;">The Thimpu Talks - July/August 1985 </span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><br /></span>Joint statement made by the Tamil Delegation on the concluding day of Phase I of the Thimpu talks on the 13th of July 1985 It is our considered view that any meaningful solution to the Tamil national question must be based on the following four cardinal principles:<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#3333ff;"><strong>The Thimbu Declaration<br /></strong></span><span style="color:#ffcc33;"><strong>1) Recognition of the Tamils of Ceylon as a nation<br />2) Recognition of the existence of an identified homeland for the Tamils in Ceylon 3) Recognition of the right of self determination of the Tamil nation<br />4) Recognition of the right to citizenship and the fundamental rights of all Tamils in Ceylon </strong></span><br /><br />Different countries have fashioned different systems of governments to ensure these principles. We have demanded and struggled for an independent Tamil state as the answer to this problem arising out of the denial of these basic rights of our people. The proposals put forward by the Sri Lankan government delegation as their solution to this problem is totally unacceptable. Therefore we have rejected them as stated by us in our statement of the 12th of July 1985. However, in view of our earnest desire for peace, we are prepared to give consideration to any set of proposals, in keeping with the above mentioned principles, that the Sri Lankan Government may place before us.ENB.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00449836977074869699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7155393032669029227.post-85440148591646589952007-10-05T10:56:00.000-07:002007-10-05T11:34:24.388-07:00Oslo Declaration<span style="font-size:130%;">Norwegian Peace Initiative</span> <span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;">Conclusion of Third session of Peace Talks in Oslo, NorwayStatement by Norway & Press Conference</span><br />--------------------------<br /><strong><span style="color:#3366ff;">OSLO DECLARATION</span></strong><br /><span style="color:#ffcc33;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>"..the parties have agreed </strong></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>to explore a political solution founded on the principle of internal self-determination in areas of historical habitation of the Tamil-speaking peoples, based on a federal structure within a united Sri Lanka..." </strong></span><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ffff00;"><strong>-----------------------------------------------------------<br /></strong></span>5 December 2002<br /><br />The statement issued by the Royal Norwegian Government at the conclusion of the third session of peace talks between the Government and the LTTE in Oslo -<br />VIDAR HELGESEN:The third session of peace talks between the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) was held in Oslo, Norway 2nd to 5th December 2002. In a frank, open and constructive manner, the parties focused on three major areas:<br />First, Consolidation of the Ceasefire AgreementSecondly, humanitarian and rehabilitation action andThirdly, Political matters.On the political matters, the parties agreed on a working outline defining the objective as well as a number of substantive political issues for negotiation. Responding to a proposal by the leadership of the LTTE, the parties have agreed to explore a political solution founded on the principle of internal self-determination in areas of historical habitation of the Tamil-speaking peoples, based on a federal structure within a united Sri Lanka. The parties acknowledged that the solution has to be acceptable to all communities. Guided by this objective, the parties agreed to initiate discussions on substantive political issues such as, but not limited to:- Power-sharing between the centre and the region, as well as within the centre, - Geographical region, - Human Rights protection, - Political and administrative mechanism, - Public finance and - Law and order The parties recognised that progress on political issues must be supported by the continued consolidation of the Ceasefire Agreement. New concrete measures will be taken to facilitate further de-escalation and to improve normalcy:- The GOSL will shortly return one of the hotels in Jaffna to its original use - The LTTE will ensure that all future transportation of area commanders will take place under the supervision of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) - The LTTE will accept the right of political groups to carry out political work, including in the Jaffna peninsula and the islands, provided that they are unarmed, as stipulated by the Ceasefire Agreement - The GOSL will, in consultation with all relevant parties and groups, evolve a solution to the problems arising from recent developments in the Delft Island - The parties will facilitate restoration and rehabilitation of places of worship in the north and the east belonging to all religious communities. On the basis of their firm conviction that the maintenance of law and order in the North and East is of paramount importance, the parties agreed to request the Sub-Committee on De-escalation and Normalization to propose a common approach to settling cases involving the disputed use of private property, where such use has been impeded by the conflict.Furthermore, the LTTE will ensure that the activities of their law and order mechanisms will not be extended beyond the areas dominated by the LTTE.<br />The parties strongly underlined the need to move rapidly on humanitarian and rehabilitation efforts in the North and East. For this purpose, the early establishment of the North-East Reconstruction Fund will be critical. The parties agreed that the custodian of the fund should be selected and modalities for its operation agreed at the next meeting of the Sub-Committee on Immediate Humanitarian and Rehabilitation Needs. The parties expressed their appreciation of the strong support extended to the peace process by several governments at the Sri Lanka Support Meeting held in Oslo on 25 November, and urged these governments to rapidly release funds needed for humanitarian and rehabilitation efforts. The parties agreed that a committee of women will be instituted to explore the affects and conclusions of gender issues in the peace process. This committee will also on a regular basis, submit proposals relating to women’s interests to the sessions of negotiations and to the sub-committees of the peace process. The committee will consist of four representatives of each party. As a priority area identified by the parties for humanitarian action, the parties stressed the need to improve the situation for children affected by armed conflict. Inspired by the international norms protecting the rights of the child, the parties underlined that children belong with their families or other custodians and not in the workplace, whether civilian or military. The LTTE will engage in a partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to draw up an action plan for restoring normalcy to the lives of children, and the parties called on the international community to provide financial support for such an action plan. The GOSL will, in order to arrive at the broadest possible consensus, establish an appropriate mechanism for consultation with all segments of opinion as part of the ongoing peace process. And finally, the parties agreed to accept the kind invitation of the Royal Thai Government to host the two next sessions of talks at the Rose Garden in Thailand in January and February 2003.Thank You.<br />ERIK SOLHIEMThank you Vidar. I now give the floor to Dr. Anton Balasingham chief negotiator of the LTTE to make some initial remarks on behalf of the LTTE and this important document.ANTON BALASINGHAMMy dear friends, you would have observed in the statement read by Mr. Helgesen that both the parties have made an unprecedented historic decision to work out a political formula for the solution of the protracted ethnic conflict. The decision as far as the LTTE is concerned is in line with the policy that we have been advocating for the last two decades or more. That is, a regional autonomous model based on the right to internal self-determination of our people in the historical areas where the Tamil and the Muslim people live. So, with this autonomous model or model of self-government that we were referring to, has to be couched or properly conceptualised within an appropriate concrete constitutional form. That is what we decided, that we will opt for a federal model. This federal model will be within united Sri Lanka which will be appreciated by the Sinhalese people I suppose. And I wish to reiterate that our struggle was based on the concept of self-determination as articulated in the UN Charter and other resolutions and instruments of the United Nations. I am surprised because … what has happened is… I had a meeting in London where I clearly exemplified the concept of internal self-determination and also the external self-determination and argued that our leadership is prepared to workout a formula within the principle – internal self-determination. This speech has been totally distorted by the Sunday Island. I am surprised that they claim that Balasingham has said that the LTTE favours two independent states… or something like that. I haven’t read the report fully but I can assure you that it is a total distortion of what I have announced at the London Martyrs’ Day Conference. I have to read out for your clarification what Mr. Prabhakaran said in his Martyrs’ Day message. He has said, “We are prepared to consider favourably a political framework that offers substantial regional autonomy and self-government in our homeland on the basis of our right to internal self-determination”. It is on this basis… it is on the basis of the proposals made by the LTTE leadership both the parties have formulated a framework that a federal structure would be the suitable model to realise the principle of internal self-determination. So I think this is, as Prof. Peiris always have said (sic), a paradigm shift. Its not only a paradigm shift on our part, it is also a paradigm shift on the part of the Sri Lankan Government to accommodate the Tamil and the Muslim people within a federal framework in a united country. So, I don’t want to give you a lecture here but I wanted to make these three comments before letting you raise questions. I will now leave it to Prof. Peiris to make his comments.G L PEIRISWell, I think Dr. Balasingham is exactly correct when he speaks of paradigm shift because that is neither more nor less than has occurred in Oslo during these last three days of intensive discussions. It is necessary to understand the sequence, how this has progressed and reached its present very positive position. There was the explicit statement by Mr. Velupillai Prabhakaran on the 27th of November in his Heroes’ Day speech in which he said that the LTTE is no longer insisting on a separate state but the LTTE is looking at a different concept in earnest and that is internal self-determination. And he went on to explain what he meant. This was power sharing, extensive power sharing within the framework of one country. No question of cessation, no question of separation but power sharing within the framework of one country. It is fair to say that this statement was foreshadowed in many respects by comments which were made at the conclusion of the Sattahip session in Thailand from the 16th to the 18th of September and also in the second session in Nakhon Pathom Thailand by Dr. Anton Balasingham. He foreshadowed much of what was said in his speech and it received the final authoritative articulation by the leader of the LTTE on the 27th of November.So that was the point of departure. They are now talking about power sharing within one country. Now immediately that provided us with a coherent framework within which to evolve a negotiated political solution because the position of the Government of Sri Lanka is also that it stands for substantial power sharing within one country. Now the break through yesterday the importance of which cannot be over-estimated, Erik Solhiem’s so called “something unprecedented and historic”, indeed it was. And the development was this - the explicit identification of a federal structure as the basis on which this political solution is going to be evolved. So we now have a very clear indication of the nature of the political solution that the parties are working towards in order to bring peace back to our troubled country, to put the war behind us and to put Sri Lanka the on path to peace and prosperity. So, we are talking of a federal solution. It is not separatism, it is not confederation… it is a federal model. Now, if we believe in a political solution, if we are renouncing war… if we believe in a political solution… there could not be any other rural tribal except power sharing – except the basis, the character of a federal solution. Now this means that we will be able to make substantial progress in the next two rounds of discussions in Thailand. We have identified on this occasion some of the specific matters which will need to be focused upon such as the power sharing between the centre and the region and also power sharing within the centre. Matters relating to law and order, matters relating to territory… we have enumerated the specific matters which will receive attention I the next two sessions all within the framework of the federal structure that we have referred to. So that is one part of it. Then very briefly the other achievement was the solid consolidation of the Ceasefire Agreement. Because that is the source from which all these benefits flow. The parties discussed the problems which have arisen with regard to the Ceasefire Agreement. We identified the potential source of these tensions and we figured out ways and means of addressing these problems in order to prevent these tensions from escalating. Then, we also talked about the money part of it – the need to engage in development oriented and humanitarian activity (that is going to be finalised in the next session). Then a women’s committee that is to focus on problems which are particularly acute in the case of women and children in the war affected areas. And also a decision on the part of the…. of both parties to work towards the restoration of the religious heritage of all religions in those parts of the country.So all in all it was a very substantial achievement which straddled all the different areas that we are talking about. Three major areas – one is the political matter, the second is the Ceasefire consolidation and the third is the humanitarian and rehabilitation matters. So it was indeed a very satisfying occasion.<br /><br />Thank You.ENB.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00449836977074869699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7155393032669029227.post-40832045550611114872007-10-05T10:37:00.000-07:002007-10-05T10:40:22.523-07:001977 Manifesto<span style="font-size:78%;"><strong>TAMIL EELAM: RIGHT TO SELF DETERMINATION</strong></span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.tamilnation.org/selfdetermination/tamileelam/7900chandrahasan.htm" target="_self"></a><a href="http://www.tamilnation.org/selfdetermination/tamileelam/7900chandrahasan.htm" target="_self"></a><strong>Tamil United Liberation Front General Election Manifesto, July 1977</strong><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Translation from the Tamil</span><br /><br />"The Tamil Nation must take the decision to establish its sovereignty in its homeland on the basis of its right to self-determination. The only way to announce this decision to the Sinhalese government and to the world is to vote for the Tamil United Liberation Front. The Tamil speaking representative who get elected through these votes, while being members of the National State Assembly of Ceylon, will also form themselves into the "NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF TAMIL EELAM" which will draft a constitution for the State of Tamil Eelam and to establish the independence of the Tamil Eelam by bringing that constitution into operation either by peaceful means or by direct action or struggle."<br /><a href="http://www.tamilnation.org/selfdetermination/tamileelam/#Introduction" target="_self">Introduction</a> <a href="http://www.tamilnation.org/selfdetermination/tamileelam/#One" target="_self">One Question: Freedom or Servitude?</a> <a href="http://www.tamilnation.org/selfdetermination/tamileelam/#History" target="_self">History</a> <a href="http://www.tamilnation.org/selfdetermination/tamileelam/#Sovereignty" target="_self">Sovereignty of the Tamil Nation</a> <a href="http://www.tamilnation.org/selfdetermination/tamileelam/#The" target="_self">The Tamil Nation under Sinhala Domination</a> 1. <a href="http://www.tamilnation.org/selfdetermination/tamileelam/#1." target="_self">Citizenship Laws</a> 2. <a href="http://www.tamilnation.org/selfdetermination/tamileelam/#2." target="_self">Colonisation</a> 3.<a href="http://www.tamilnation.org/selfdetermination/tamileelam/#3.Language" target="_self">Language</a> 4.<a href="http://www.tamilnation.org/selfdetermination/tamileelam/#4.Religion" target="_self">Religion</a> 5.<a href="http://www.tamilnation.org/selfdetermination/tamileelam/#5.Culture" target="_self">Culture</a> 6.<a href="http://www.tamilnation.org/selfdetermination/tamileelam/#6.Education" target="_self">Education</a> 7. <a href="http://www.tamilnation.org/selfdetermination/tamileelam/#7." target="_self">Employment Opportunities</a> 8. <a href="http://www.tamilnation.org/selfdetermination/tamileelam/#8." target="_self">Economic Development of Tamil Eelam</a> 9. <a href="http://www.tamilnation.org/selfdetermination/tamileelam/#9." target="_self">Racial Terrorism </a> 10. <a href="http://www.tamilnation.org/selfdetermination/tamileelam/#10." target="_self">Imposition of a New Constitution on the Tamil Nation</a> <a href="http://www.tamilnation.org/selfdetermination/tamileelam/#Does" target="contents">Does the Tamil Nation have an alternative?</a> <a href="http://www.tamilnation.org/selfdetermination/tamileelam/#A" target="_self">Tamil Eelam - A Secular Socialist State</a> <a href="http://www.tamilnation.org/selfdetermination/tamileelam/#Liberation" target="_self">Liberation - how will it be achieved?</a> <a href="http://www.tamilnation.org/selfdetermination/tamileelam/#Other" target="_self">Other programmes of work</a> <a href="http://www.tamilnation.org/selfdetermination/tamileelam/#Conclusion" target="_self">Conclusion</a><br /><a href="http://www.tamilnation.org/selfdetermination/tamileelam/#top" target="_self"></a><br />Introduction<br />The Sinhalese people who gained political power from the British, drafted for themselves, <a href="http://www.tamilnation.org/srilankalaws/72constitution.htm" target="_self">in fulfilment of their sovereignty a constitution</a> which they put into operation and the first general election, after Ceylon was declared a republic, is being held now.<br />The issue as to who would be put into seats of power will not be the only one that would be decided by the votes that people would cast at this election.<br />Do the Tamils and the Muslims who have lost their freedom accept a Constitution that has paved the way for the majority community, the Sinhalese, to usurp, in full, under a facade of sovereignty of the people, the totality of political power in this country ? That is the issue to be resolved by the votes that our people would cast at this general election.<br />At the time the Republican Constitution was accepted by the Constituent Assembly and thereafter, very important changes took place among the political movements of the Tamils and in the midst of the Muslim people. The Tamil Parties that were at one another's throat with conflicting goals, came together, at last, to form the Tamil United Front. This became possible at a conference of the Tamil political Parties held in 1971 at Valvettiturai. Organisational consolidation followed at Trincomalee and in 1976 the Front came to be called the Tamil United Liberation Front.<br />A number of incidents that took place in the country along with certain actions of the Government following the proclamation of the republic led to a rethinking in the minds of Muslim people also. Particularly the Muslims in the Eastern and North-Western regions of Ceylon realised that their religion and language, lands and opportunities ties of employment were all being taken away from them and that in their own native land their lives and property too were insecure. They also realised that movements that accepted the leadership of the Sinhalese political parties would not defend even these basic rights of theirs. This realisation led to the formation of the Muslim United Front.<br />Bound together by the bonds of a common language and intertwining lives in a common territory and brought together by the common danger of total destruction, the Tamils and the Muslims realised the indispensability of joint action. Subject to the safeguards of preserving the identity of the Muslims and ensuring their sovereignty, the Muslim United Front joined the Tamil United Liberation Front as a constituent unit. The rights of the Muslim people in the Tamil State of Eelam will be amplified further in this manifesto. When we speak of the Tamil Nation, we refer to the entirety of the people in this country to whom the mother tongue is Tamil.<br /><a href="http://www.tamilnation.org/selfdetermination/tamileelam/#Tamil" target="_self"></a><br />One Question: Freedom or Servitude?<br />The General election of 1977 is a crucial one to the Tamil Nation. So far as the Tamil territory is concerned, this general election is a clash between the only political movement of the Tamil Nation and the representatives of the various political parties of Sinhalese imperialism that keeps the Tamil nation under its heels. The election in the Sinhala territory decides the question as to which of their parties should come to power. And in the Tamil territory, the question to be resolved is whether the Tamils want their freedom or continued servitude. The Tamil United Liberation Front will use this election to resolve the issue<br /><a href="http://www.tamilnation.org/selfdetermination/tamileelam/#Tamil" target="_self"></a><br />History<br />Though Ceylon is a single state now, yet by <a href="http://www.tamilnation.org/selfdetermination/tamileelam/9202reversion.htm" target="_self">facts of history</a>, by the languages spoken by its inhabitants, by culture, tradition and by psychology, it is the common home of two nations and consists of two countries.<br />The present republic of Sri Lanka is in reality a union of "Sinhala Land" and "Tamil Eelam".<br />The fact that the Tamil nation has been living in this country from pre-historic times enjoying its sovereign rights under a state of its own is recorded in no less an authority than the great work of Sinhalese history - Mahawamsa.<br />Even before the Christian era, the entire Island of Ceylon was ruled by Tamil Kings, Senan, Kuddikan and Elara (Ellalan) and thereafter for over thousand years, as a result of struggle for supremacy between the Tamil Kings and the Sinhalese Kings the capital of the Sinhalese Kings was gradually shifted southwards away from Tamil Centres. These are facts of recorded history.<br />It is also a fact that the entire Island was under the sway of Tamil Kings at times and the Sinhalese Kings at other times. From this background of alternating fortunes, emerged, at the beginning of the 13th century a clear and stable political fact.<br />At this time, the territory stretching in the western sea-hoard from Chilaw through Puttalam to Mannar and thence to the Northern Regions and in the East, Trincomalee and also the Batticaloa Regions that extended southwards up to Kumana or to the northern banks of the river Kumbukkan Oya were firmly established as the exclusive homeland of the Tamils. This is the territory of Tamil Eelam.<br />For several centuries before the advent of Europeans to Ceylon in the 16th century, the Tamils have been living in this territory under their own Kingdom. Tamils reigned supreme in this country with their own national colours and their own military forces.<br />The Portuguese who for over a century were at times entering into treaty relationships with these Tamil Kings and at other times meeting them in losing battle - fronts finally, in the war of 1619, captured the Tamil King, Sankili Kumaran, and took him to Goa where he was hanged.<br />It was the assistance that King Sankili gave to the Kandyan King in transiting reinforcements from neighbouring South India for the latter's war against the Portuguese that made the European power battle in full vigour for an indispensable capture of the Jaffna Kingdom.<br />The Tamil King was captured by the military might of the Portuguese aided by local Quislings. However, for three years thereafter, the Tamils continued to fight against foreign domination under the leadership of a coastal petty king Varnakulathihan. And they lost.<br />Neither the Sinhalese king nor the Sinhalese people did offer any assistance to the Tamils who were fighting to defend their state. It was their view that they and their country had nothing in common with the state of Tamil Eelam. This is exactly what we want the Sinhalese people to reiterate now.<br />The Portuguese who subdued the State of Tamil Eelam continued to govern it as a separate state. So did the Dutch who captured it, in turn from the Portuguese. The Cleghorn Minute clearly establishes that even under the Dutch, the judicial district of Jaffna patnam that covered the northern and eastern parts of the Island extended, in the west coast of the Island, from Puttalam to Mannar and in the east, southwards up to the limits of Kumana or the river Kumbukkan Oya that separated Batticaloa from the southern Sinhalese district of Matara.<br />This Tamil State was captured from the Dutch by the British who too continued to retain its separate status till 1833 when, for convenience of administration, it was brought under one all island authority, the Government of Ceylon. Totally disregarding the history, traditions and aspirations of peoples of these various states, the British brought together under one authority the state of Eelam which they captured from the Dutch, and Kandyan Kingdom which they overran in 1815 along with the Sinhalese Kingdom of Kotte.<br /><a href="http://www.tamilnation.org/selfdetermination/tamileelam/#Tamil" target="_self"></a><br />Sovereignty of the Tamil Nation<br />The sovereignty of the people of Tamil Eelam changed hands from the Portuguese who defeated them in battle into those of the Dutch and later into those of the British. Ceylon was granted independence on the fourth of February 1948.<br />Though political power was transferred to the people of this country, yet the British Queen continued to be the repository of their sovereignty.<br /><a href="http://www.tamilnation.org/srilankalaws/72constitution.htm" target="_self">The republican constitution</a> that came into operation with its acceptance by the Constituent Assembly on the 22nd of May 1972 severed this legal continuity and guaranteed the sovereignty of the people of Ceylon proclaiming that the people of Ceylon themselves were the repository of this sovereignty.<br />But the representatives of the Tamil Nation withheld their consent to this constitution and rejected it. 15 out of the 19 Members of Parliament elected by the Tamil people rejected it and boycotted the meeting of 22nd of May 1972 that was called to accept that constitution. It is clear that there is neither legal continuity nor the consent of the Tamil Nation to this constitution.<br />The sovereignty of the Tamil Nation and the statehood that was taken away from them, in the battle field in 1619 by the Portuguese changed hands to the Dutch and later to the British by right of conquest. But it is clear that the Sinhalese Nation has not taken over the sovereignty of the Tamil Nation through legal continuity or by consent or by right of conquest. <a href="http://www.tamilnation.org/selfdetermination/tamileelam/9202reversion.htm" target="_self">There is no doubt that the Tamil Nation, by standards of international law</a>, does possess the right, on the basis of the right to self-determination, to re-establish its sovereignty and statehood and to draft for itself a constitution and thus to administer its own affairs, all by itself.<br />The Sinhala Nation imposing its reign over the Tamil Nation and the conversion of Tamil Eelam into a colony of the Sinhala State is undoubtedly nothing else but imperialistic rule. The present constitution is one that was drafted on the basis of the right of self-determination of the Sinhala Nation, on a mandate given by that nation for that purpose.<br />In the same manner, the Tamil United Liberation Front views the forthcoming general election as an opportunity to obtain the mandate of the Tamil Nation and on the basis of <a href="http://www.tamilnation.org/selfdetermination/tamileelam/index.htm" target="_self">its right to self-determination</a>, <a href="http://www.tamilnation.org/selfdetermination/tamileelam/9202reversion.htm" target="_self">re-establish the independence of the State of Tamil Eelam</a>, the expression of the sovereignty of the Tamil Nation.<br />With a view to dispelling the doubts of those who still wonder whether there is no alternative to the re-establishment of our sovereignty in our exclusive soil, we wish to record here briefly to what position of desperation the Sinhala imperialistic reign of the last 30 years has driven the State of Tamil Eelam and the Tamil Nation.<br /><a href="http://www.tamilnation.org/selfdetermination/tamileelam/#Tamil" target="_self"></a><br />The Tamil Nation under Sinhala Domination<br />1. Citizenship Laws<br />The <a href="http://www.tamilnation.org/srilankalaws/48citizenship.htm" target="_self">citizenship laws</a> of this country were made within six months of the transfer of political power to the Sinhalese in 1948. As a result of this legislation, the Tamil labourers of the tea and rubber plantations in the central hills of Ceylon whose blood and sweat alone have built up and sustained the prosperity of this country <a href="http://www.tamilnation.org/indictment/indict001.htm" target="_self">were rendered stateless</a>.<br />Out of the eight representatives elected to Parliament with their votes in 1947, not a single one could be returned in the general election of 1952 or ever thereafter.<br />Constituencies, for the demarcation of which their voteless numerical strength was taken into computation, returned Sinhalese representatives whose numbers were thus inequitably swelled in Parliament. The Sinhalese people who form about 70% of the population secured for themselves 80% of the seats in Parliament. The concept of 'Safeguard to Minorities' was distorted into 'Safeguard to the Majority Community' that ensured a position of excessive representation to the majority community.<br />One could see this very same position continued in the present Constitution as well. Thus, this disfranchisement of the plantation (Tamil) labour was the first step that paved the way for a series of denial of the political rights of the minorities with a view to enthroning Sinhalese imperialism.<br />Tamils and Muslims of Ceylon were made doubtful citizens by these Citizenship laws. In consequence they had to face a lot of miseries in their day to day life. And to inquire into these irritations and to provide relief to these people, the very government, in 1964, appointed a committee of government officers. The recommendations of this committee even after 13 years, today, are still in cold storage awaiting implementation.<br />To register a document of purchase of land made with his own savings, a Tamil or a Muslim outside the Northern and Eastern Provinces finds himself in the plight of having to pay a discriminatory tax of 100%. Tamils and Muslims who are unable to establish that for two generations before 1948 they were born here are teeing shut out from business, travel, trade, employment opportunities etc. The first fruits of freedom to the Tamil Nation was disfranchisement, statelessness, status of illicit immigrant and a position of doubted citizens.<br /><a href="http://www.tamilnation.org/selfdetermination/tamileelam/#Tamil" target="_self"></a><br />2. Colonisation<br />The aggression against Tamil Eelam by <a href="http://www.tamilnation.org/indictment/indict003.htm" target="_self">planned colonisation</a> by the Sinhalese governments has been drastic and grave. Beginning with the government of the United National Parry and those of the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna andthe Sri Lanka Freedom Party that followed, in turn, put into operation planned and state aided colonisation schemes by which lakhs and lakhs of Sinhalese people were planted in the homeland of the Tamil Nation that was once ruled by the Tamil kings from whom foreign imperialism wrested this Tamil homeland through force of arms.<br />Sinhalese people were "put in occupation", at state expense, of extensive tracts of the Eastern Province at Pattipalai Aru, Alla;, Kantalai, Padavikulam, etc. Illegal occupation of state owned lands by Sinhalese people with covert government support was legalised and their ownership regularised by the government. Lands and coconut estates taken over from the Tamils and Muslims in the Amparai district by the state, under the Ceiling on Lands Act are now being distributed to the Sinhalese people.<br />Lands owned by the Tamil and Muslim peasants and also lands which these people themselves developed and cultivated at places like Kondaivettuwan and Akkilaveli have been forcibly taken over and handed over, with government help, to the Sinhalese people.<br />Puttalam is yet another District where state conspired Sinhalese colonisation has deprived the local people of their territory.<br />While this government has been providing these facilities to the Sinhalese aggressors of Tamil Eelam, it let loose the army, under Special Emergency Regulations, against the hill country Tamil labourers who sought to make a living by opening and developing forest lands that lay unexplored and uncared for, at Punanai, in 'the Eastern Province. A cadju plantation scheme started at Kondaichi, in the Mannar District, is now a Sinhalese colony of two thousand families.<br />In the very Tamil heartland of Jaffna, at Colombuthurai, a Sinhalese colony, like Amarasekera Pura, has been opened up. The Eastern Province where, when the British left in 1948, there were hardly 10,000 Sinhalese, is now flooded with some 180,000 Sinhalese people.<br />The extent of this damage to the political power and influence of the Tamils is reflected in the newly created Parliamentary constituencies of Amparai and Seruwila which have engulfed some 1,500 square miles of Tamil territory. And this constitutes a 2/5th of the land area of the Eastern Province whose further development lies within these fertile lands, thus usurped. The Tamil Nation is confronted with the danger of being rendered a minority and being thus destroyed in its own homelands all over Tamil Eelam. The Nation realises the need to liberate its land to save itself from annihilation.<br /><a href="http://www.tamilnation.org/selfdetermination/tamileelam/#Tamil" target="_self"></a><br />3.Language<br />Before the attainment of independence, a resolution was passed in the State Council, the legislature, in 1944 that Sinhalese and Tamil shall be the official languages. Every Sinhalese political party at that time accepted this policy.<br />But Mr Bandaranaiyake's government, in 1956, passed the <a href="http://www.tamilnation.org/indictment/indict004.htm" target="_self">Sinhala Only Act</a>. The United National Party too supported it. At present, all the Sinhalese political parties have accepted the policy of 'Sinhala Only'. This Act, which, in 1956, was an ordinary law has in the Republican Constitution of 1972 been <a href="http://www.tamilnation.org/srilankalaws/72constitution.htm#CHAPTER" target="_self">elevated to a constitutional status.</a><br />Regulations on the use of Tamil Language which the the Tamils secured for themselves as a result of several struggles with the government have been deliberately dethroned in the constitution. <a href="http://www.tamilnation.org/srilankalaws/72constitution.htm#CHAPTER" target="_self">Section 8 (2) </a>of the constitution unequivocally stipulates that these regulations will not be treated as being a part of the constitution.<br />In consequence has developed a situation where the Tamil speaking public servants have to groan under the loss of equal opportunities with the Sinhalese officers in matters of employment, promotions, extension of service, increments etc. The real intention of the Sinhala Only Act is to create a situation that would keep out the Tamil officers and ensure the appointment of Sinhalese officers only, in government service.<br />The rulers are greatly successful in the endeavour. This is not an emotional issue as some are inclined to believe. In a country that is being overwhelmed with nationalisation, this is a life and death issue that affects the economic life of the Tamil Nation.<br /><a href="http://www.tamilnation.org/selfdetermination/tamileelam/#Tamil" target="_self"></a><br />4.Religion<br /><a href="http://www.tamilnation.org/srilankalaws/72constitution.htm#CHAPTER" target="_self">Buddhism has been given pre eminence in the constituion </a>and declared to tee the only religion that would enjoy state protection. Other faiths have no right to any protection except the right of being practised, in private. Tamil Nation comprises Hindus, Christians and Muslims. And the consititution has thus placed on them the stamp of of second class citizens.<br /><a href="http://www.tamilnation.org/selfdetermination/tamileelam/#Tamil" target="_self"></a><br />5.Culture<br />Though the Tamils and Sinhalese have lived in this country for over two thousand years, yet the <a href="http://www.tamilnation.org/culture/index.htm" target="_self">Tamils have continued to preserve their individual culture</a> based on their language. This culture and the traditions were nurtured even under Portuguese, Dutch and British imperialistic rule.<br />The vital reason behind this survival was that though the Tamils in Eelam were not strong in numbers, yet they never lost the opportunites of maintaining close bonds with the powerful fountain of Tamil culture across the Palk Strait, in <a href="http://www.tamilnation.org/diaspora/tamilnadu.htm" target="_self">Tamil Nadu</a>, South India.<br />No doubt there were pre-eminant sons of Eelam like Arumuga Navalar, Swami Vipulananthar, Father Gnanapiragasar and others who rendered tremendous service to the growth of international Tamil culture. Yet, if the bonds of art and <a href="http://www.tamilnation.org/literature/index.htm" target="_self">literature</a> etc. with South India are snapped, it is certain that the culture of Tamil Eelam would weaken and turn into one that is Sinhalese based.<br />In recent times, the government of: this country not only imposed several restrictions on the import of cultural works, literature, quality films etc. from Tamil Nadu but also put obstacles to the visits of Tamil scholars and artists from Tamil Nadu. By the government policy of imposition of the Sinhala language several Sinhala words like poya, pola, laksala, salusala are creeping into the Tamil language in Eelam. With the curtailment of links with Tamil Nadu, on the one hand and the increasing tempo of Sinhala imposition on the other, Tamil language will undergo strange transformation and the identity of the Tamil culture will be destroyed and finally the Tamil Nation itself would disappear from this land. That is the goal that the government has set for itself.<br /><a href="http://www.tamilnation.org/selfdetermination/tamileelam/#Tamil" target="_self"></a><br />6.Education<br />Through the help of Christian religious institutions under foreign colonial rule and later through great educational institutions the Tamil people established by themselves, for themselves the Tamil students of this country were in the forefront of education.<br />Sinhalese students in districts like Colombo, Kandy and Galle also enjoyed similar opportunities. It is imperative that the Sinhalese, Tamil and Muslim students of the backward areas, deficient in such facilities, should be provided with those facilities and enabled to go forward. This is an obligation of the State. But several obstacles are put in the way of Tamil students outside the Northern and Eastern provinces in obtaining even elementary education. Several Tamil elementary schools are being closed down to provide accommodation for Sinhalese schools. Tamil sections in several Sinhalese schools are being destroyed. Some are not functioning because of non appointment of sufficient number of teachers.<br />As a result Tamil students in several areas are compelled to study through the Sinhala medium. In the heartland of Tamil Eelam, in the Northern Province itself, a few people have been enticed with teaching jobs and Sinhala Buddhist schools have been opened and approved and Sinhala has been made the medium of instruction there. If the government could display so much of audacity here, then one could easily fathom the depth and fanaticism of Sinhala imperialism in the annihilation of the Tamil Nation.<br />In the sphere of education, <a href="http://www.tamilnation.org/indictment/indict010.htm" target="_self">it was in the university admissions of 1970</a> that the gravest injustice was perpetrated against the Tamil speaking students.<br />Large number of Tamil students qualified to gain university admission to the medical, engineering and science faculties that year were shut out through an inequitable device, designated ted standardisation.<br />While Sinhalese students who obtained 229 marks were admitted to the medical faculty, Tamil students who were admitted were required to obtain 250 marks. In the same manner, for admission to the Engineering Faculty of the Peradeniya Campus, a Sinhalese student had to obtain 227 marks whereas a Tamil student had to score 250 marks. It is intolerable that while a Tamil student with even 249 marks cannot gain admission, a Sinhalese student with 227 marks could do so, with ease.<br />For the last 7 years this standardisation has been in operation in various guises and in every faculty of the university, the number of admissions of Tamil students has been going down.<br />Here is an illustration: Of the total number of students admitted to the university in 1969, the percentage of Tamil students was 40.8. This figure has been steadily going down and it was 16.3 in 1974, it dropped still further in 1975 and 1976. One could see that the sections that were most affected by this injustice were the most backward ones in the Tamil community. Thus, parents who lacked the means to employ private tutors to get their children pushed through this drastic ordeal had to forget about higher education to their children. As a result, the student community was driven to the brink of frustration and engulfed by anxiety about their future Could anyone deny that the Sinhalese reign that has been responsible for the grave injury should be ended if this generation of youth is to live as human beings brimming with self-confidence.<br /><a href="http://www.tamilnation.org/selfdetermination/tamileelam/#Tamil" target="_self"></a><br />7. Employment Opportunities<br />The very same discriminatory policies pursued in the sphere of education are being pursued in a worse manner in the field of employment. out of a 22% population of Tamil speaking people, not even a 2 (two) percent are selected for jobs in the armed forces. In the police force, at the level of the lowest rung, the constable, five percent of the places and in higher rungs an even smaller percentage of the places only, are offered. In the clerical and technical grades also, the percentage is the same.<br />Because equal opportunities in education were available in earlier times, Tamil students were able to gain enough places in the medical and engineering professions. Now, even in these spheres as a result of the impact of standardisation, a percentage far less than the one warranted by the percentage of the Tamil population is taken in. Vacancies in the minor grades in the Tamil areas are filled with people selected in divisional offices like Anuradhapura and Badulla in the Sinhalese areas.<br />As an example could be cited the recent selections of the Ceylon Electricity Board for vacancies in the Tamil district of Jaffna. Out of the people selected at the Anuradhapura office, 66 were Sinhalese and 2 (two) were Tamils. In a country where, as a result of the policy of nationalisation, the private sector is shrinking, should we not ponder what tragedy would overtake the economic life of the Tamil Nation if tile government should adopt such a form of discriminatory policies. If our country is to prosper, the reins of our destiny must not be left in the hands of others. We must become our own masters of our own Destiny. That is the irrevocable goal that the Tamil Nation has set for itself, now.<br /><a href="http://www.tamilnation.org/selfdetermination/tamileelam/#Tamil" target="_self"></a><br />8. Economic Development of Tamil Eelam<br />The state owned factories in Tamil Eelam today were set up 20 years ago. Every single factory that was set up in this country, with foreign aid, was set up only in the Sinhalese Districts. Schemes like the Kachchai Salterns, the Kankesanturai harbour development, Fishery Harbour at Myliddy, all of which were started between 1965-1970 by a government in which the Tamil representatives too were members, have all been abandoned for the last seven years.<br />No major irrigation scheme of the government will help develop our Eelam. Save for the schemes like Gal Oya, Allai, Kantalai etc. whose deliberate motive was the planting of the Sinhalese population in the territory of Tamil Eelam, no irrigation scheme of any consequence that had as its objective, the welfare of either the Tamil or Muslim population in Eelam has ever been implemented during the last twenty years.<br />There were of course some minor schemes of white-washing. When oil prospecting with Soviet aid was started in Mannar, the local Tamil and Muslim populations were ignored and 90% of the labourers were imported from the Sinhalese areas. In the private sector, obtaining licences to start industrial ventures in the Tamil areas is a herculean task. Even in some minor factories started in the Tamil areas, the majority of the employees are Sinhalese. Not only are the Tamil people ignored in the matter of employment opportunities in the state sector but also are The tamil areas ignored in the economic development. They have been allowed to deteriorate into backward areas.<br /><a href="http://www.tamilnation.org/selfdetermination/tamileelam/#Tamil" target="_self"></a><br />9. Racial Terrorism<br />For the last twenty years, racial terrorism has been let loose in this country, against the Tamil and Muslim population in a manner that reminded them that they were slaves who were not entitled to any rights or protection. Tamils and Muslims have been quite often the objects of violence of the Sinhalese hooligans instigated by government supported Sinhalese communal organisations and of the Police and the armed forces in whose hands they suffered untold misery by way of looting and arson in homes, shops and places of business, by grievous injuries, loss of life and property and violation against women.<br />In <a href="http://www.tamilnation.org/indictment/indict005.htm" target="_self">1956, Tamils were attacked in Colombo</a> and in a part of the Tamil territory of Eelam that had been turned into Sinhalese land, Amparai. Age old Tamil villages like Thuraineelavanai had to resort to fire arms in defence of their hearths and homes from attacks by Sinhalese hoodlums.<br />The <a href="http://www.tamilnation.org/indictment/indict006.htm" target="_self">communal fury against the Tamils in 1958</a> in the entire Sinhalese land is a chapter of dreadful blot in the history of this country. Thousands of Tamils were taken to Northern and Eastern provinces in commandeered ships and army protected convoys. Property worth several millions were lost, several hundreds lost their lives and thousands, their homes.<br />Tamil women were raped; pregnant women were slaughtered to pieces on public highways. The Murugan Temple priest at Panadura was burnt alive. Several dead bodies were retrieved from one well alone at Maha Oya. While Sinhalese terrorism raged against the Tamils all over the country, the Sinhalese government arrested the Tamil leaders and put them behind bars. It was insult added to injury.<br /><a href="http://www.tamilnation.org/indictment/indict007.htm" target="_self">Military terror was let loose</a> in the Tamil provinces against the Tamils who were engaged in a non-violent campaign of Civil Disobedience in 1961 to demand their language rights.<br />No civilised country could have witnessed a police attack as barbarous as the one that the Sinhalese police made against the Tamil people in in their lakhs were listening in a state of rapture to a treat of a Tamil literary talk by Professor Nainar Mohamed on the last day of the IVth international Tamil Research Conference where Tamil scholars from the world over had assembled, on January 10th 1974 in Jaffna. The rulers of this country refused either to hold an enquiry or even to express sympathy at the atrocity that resulted in 9 Tamil deaths. This tells its own tale of the manner the Sinhalese governments treat the Tamils in this land.<br />Pararasa, a bank clerk was shot dead by the police while he was returning from a temple festival, in Jaffna. Tamil leaders who went to the office of the police superintendent were set upon by the Sinhalese police in civil clothes. Ledchumanan, the Tamil youth, who refused to be driven out into the street from his home in the tea plantations was killed by the police. Homes of Tamil labourers at Gampola were looted and set ablaze. Unjustified Sinhalese police attacks and the fury of Sinhalese hooligans have, for the last few years been let loose against the Muslims also. In 1976 alone, in no less than 40 places like Mahiyangana, Gampola, Panadura, Nikawartiya etc. unprotected Muslims were the targets of Sinhalese rowdies. Their losses ran into lakhs and lakhs of rupees.<br />On the 2nd of February 1976, seven of the Muslims at prayer inside a Mosque at Puttalam were ruthlessly massacred by the Sinhalese police, inside that holy spot. 271 houses, 44 shops 2 fibre factories belonging to the Muslims of Puttalam were set on fire, 2 Mosques were burnt down, 2 Muslim youths were burnt alive by the Sinhalese hooligans. The government was not willing to hold a public enquiry into the horrible murders. These incidents only reiterate the fact that the lives and property of Tamils and Muslims who are living as slaves in this country do not enjoy any protection from the Sinhalese governments.<br /><a href="http://www.tamilnation.org/selfdetermination/tamileelam/#Tamil" target="_self"></a><br />10. Imposition of a New Constitution on the Tamil Nation<br /><a href="http://www.tamilnation.org/srilankalaws/72constitution.htm" target="_self">Drafting a new constitution</a> and its imposition on the Tamil Nation is the climax of the dictatorial actions, samples of which were shown here.<br />The Ceylon Parliament which became a symbol of perverted democracy when its citizenship laws helped grab 80% of Parliamentary representation by the 70% Sinhalese population, after the general election of 1970, was formed into a Constituent Assembly.<br />The deliberations of this Assembly were conducted under a state of emergency, proclaimed in 1971, where the freedom of speech and freedom of writing were all taken away from the people and while a strict press censorship was in force.<br />The two-thirds majority of the Government and the Sinhala communal majority were fully exploited.<br />All the Amendments to the Basic Resolutions introduced on behalf of the Tamil speaking people were rejected, in toto, by the Sinhalese majority in the Assembly.<br />A federal scheme with an Autonomous Tamil states and an Autonomous Muslim state with three Sinhalese States put forward by the Federal Party, a constituent of the present Tamil United Liberation Front, as a solution to the racial problems of this country, was turn down by the Assembly even before being examined.<br />Neither any Sinhalese Party nor any member from the majority community came forward to discuss or offer any alternative scheme that could meet with the aspirations of the Tamil Nation.<br />Attempts made by the Tamil members to secure a place in the Constitution at least for the Regulations for use of the Tamil Language proved abortive. The only outcome of these efforts was the introduction, in the Constitution, of section 8 (2) that categorically stated that these Regulations on the use of Tamil Language shall not form a part of the Constitution. Realising the futility of any continued participation, the Tamil representatives in the Constituent Assembly walked out.<br />The Assembly meeting of 22nd May I 972 which was summoned to pass the Constitution was boycotted by 15 out of the 19 elected Tamil representatives.<br />Out of the four that voted in favour of the constitution, two lost their representative character after having been expelled from their party, the All Ceylon Tamil Congress; one was elected as a candidate of the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (Federal Party) and was expelled from that party and thus lost his right of representation. The fourth was a member who contested on an anti-government platform and won as an independent.<br />Hence it is obvious that this constitution was rejected 100% by the Tamil people. The manner in which the unanimous opposition of the Tamil Nation was ignored and how the new constitution was imposed on them has only confirmed the psychology of the Sinhalese imperialistic masters that they are ruling over a slave Nation according to their own whims and fancies.<br />They have done away with the meagre safe guards provided for the minorities in the constitution left behind by the British, placed their own language and religion at such high a pedestal that no one could ever tamper with them and through this imposedconstitution, made the Tamils their slaves without any share in the political: power of this State.<br /><a href="http://www.tamilnation.org/selfdetermination/tamileelam/#Tamil" target="_self"></a><br />Does the Tamil Nation have an alternative?<br />The leader of the All Ceylon Tamil Congress, Mr.G.G. Ponnambalam before the withdrawal of British power, demanded balanced representation for the protection of minorities. Though the Soulbury Constitution rejected the demand, yet it incorporated a safeguard in <a href="http://www.tamilnation.org/srilankalaws/46constitution.htm#LEGISLATIVE" target="_self">Section 29 of that constitution.</a> But the new Republican Constitution of 1972 has deleted that safeguard.<br />Mr. <a href="http://www.tamilnation.org/hundredtamils/chelva.htm" target="_self">S. J. V. Chevanayakam</a> through his Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (Federal Party), toiled for 25 years to safeguard the rights of the Tamil Nation through the device of federalism. He entered into agreements with <a href="http://www.tamilnation.org/conflictresolution/tamileelam/57bandachelvapact.htm" target="_self">Premier Bandaranalke and his Sri Lanka Freedom Party</a> and also <a href="http://www.tamilnation.org/conflictresolution/tamileelam/65dudleychelvaagreement.htm" target="_self">with Premier Dudley Senanayake</a> to obtain at least regional autonomy for the Tamil Nation. These agreements were latter abrogated because of opposition from the Sinhalese people.<br />The demand for a federal solution was rejected by the Constituent Assembly even without a debate. Neither the six-point demand of the Tamil United Front nor the twenty-point demand of some Tamil elders ever had any reception.<br />What is the alternative now left to the Nation that has lost its <a href="http://www.tamilnation.org/indictment/indict004.htm" target="_self">rights to its language</a>, <a href="http://www.tamilnation.org/indictment/indict001.htm" target="_self">rights to its citizenship</a>, rights to its religions and <a href="http://www.tamilnation.org/indictment/indict003.htm" target="_self">continues day by day to lose its traditional homeland to Sinhalese colonisation</a> ? What is the alternative now left to a Nation that has <a href="http://www.tamilnation.org/indictment/indict010.htm" target="_self">lost its opportunities to higher education</a> through standardisation and its equality in opportunities in the sphere of employment ? What is the alternative to a Nation that lies helpless as it is being <a href="http://www.tamilnation.org/indictment/indict006.htm" target="_self">assaulted, looted and killed</a> by hooligans instigated by the ruling race and by the security forces of the State? Where else is an alternative to the Tamil Nation that gropes in the dark for its identity and finds itself driven to the brink of devastation?<br />There is only one alternative and that is to proclaim with the stamp of finality and fortitude that "we alone shall rule over our land that our fore fathers ruled. Sinhalese imperialism shall quit our Homeland". The Tamil United Liberation Front regards the general election of 1977 as a means of proclaiming to the Sinhalese Government this resolve of the Tamil Nation. And every vote that you cast for the Front would go to show that the Tamil Nation is determined to liberate itself from Sinhalese domination.<br /><a href="http://www.tamilnation.org/selfdetermination/tamileelam/#Tamil" target="_self"></a><br />Tamil Eelam - A Secular Socialist State<br />Hence the Tamil United Liberation Front seeks in the General Election the mandate of the Tamil Nation to establish an independent sovereign, secular, socialist State of Tamil Eelam that includes all the geographically contiguous areas that have been the traditional homeland of the Tamil speaking people in the country.<br />At the same time The Tamil United Liberation Front proclaims the following guarantees on the political, social and economic structure of the State of Tamil Eelam. The Front declares that the Tamil State of Eelam will be established on the basis of these guarantees.<br />l. FOLLOWING SHALL BE THE CITIZENS OF TAMIL EELAM:<br />(a) All those people now living in the territory of Tamil Eelam.<br />(b) Tamil speaking persons from any part of Ceylon seeking citizenship in the State of Tamil Eelam.<br />(c) Tamil speaking people of Ceylonese descent living in any part of the world and seeking citizenship in the State of Tamil Eelam.<br />2. Political power shall be decentralised so that no one region or no one religion is allowed to dominate over any other region or religion thus ensuring regional autonomy for the people in the various regions in the pattern of federalism obtaining in Switzerland. The Tamil United Liberation Front guarantees that particularly Muslims who form a part of the State of Tamil Eelam will be established in the Regions where they are in a majority as an autonomous province with the right to secede on the basis of the right to self-determination.<br />3. The Tamil United Liberation Front guarantees that neither a Tamil majority region nor a Muslim majority region will be allowed to be colonised by the other group thus ensuring that no group of people is reduced to a minority in its own Region.<br />4. Caste system along with the atrocity of untouchability and the grave injustice of attributing social superiority or inferiority by birth will be totally eradicated and any such practice subjected to rigorous punishment by law.<br />5. The State of Tamil Eelam shall be a secular one where all the religions practised by the people in the State will receive equal protection and aid.<br />6. Tamil shall be the official language of the State of Tamil Eelam while the Sinhalese living in the State will be provided the right to be educated in their own tongue and to transact their business with the state in their own language. Similarly guarantees will be sought from the Sinhala State about the language rights of the Tamil speaking people living in that state.<br />7. In Tamil Eelam which shall be a scientific socialist State<br />(a) Exploitation of man by man will be prevented by law;<br />(b) Dignity of labour will be- protected.<br />(c) While the private sector will be permitted within limits imposed by law, means of production and distribution will be state owned or subject to state control.<br />(d) Full protection will be afforded to tenant cultivators and residents on privately owned lands.<br />(e) Economic development of the Tamil State of Eelam will be on the basis of Socialist planning.<br />(f) A ceiling will be fixed on the wealth an individual or a family could accumulate.<br />8. WhiIe the Socialist State of Tamil Eelam would follow a policy of non-alignment, it would, in the international field, lend its support to the anti-imperialist forces and democratic liberation movements.<br />9. The State of Tamil Eelam will develop friendship with the progressive forces in the Sinhalese State and would on the basis of fraternity, work out a peaceful solution for the mutual problems facing the two nations.<br /><a href="http://www.tamilnation.org/selfdetermination/tamileelam/#Tamil" target="_self"></a><br />Liberation - how will it be achieved?<br />The Tamil Nation must take the decision to establish its sovereignty in its homeland on the basis of its <a href="http://www.tamilnation.org/selfdetermination/tamileelam/index.htm" target="_self">right to self-determination</a>. The only way to announce this decision to the Sinhalese government and to the world is to vote for the Tamil United Liberation Front. The Tamil speaking representative who get elected through these votes, while being members of the National State Assembly of Ceylon, will also form themselves into the "NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF TAMIL EELAM" which will draft a constitution for the State of Tamil Eelam and to establish the independence of the Tamil Eelam by bringing that constitution into operation either by peaceful means or by direct action or struggle.<br />The National Assembly of Tamil Eelam will draw up and implement plans relating to the economic development social progress, protection of territory, educational development etc.<br />Action will be taken to enlist international support to achieve the freedom of Tamil Eelam.<br /><a href="http://www.tamilnation.org/selfdetermination/tamileelam/#Tamil" target="_self"></a><br />Other programmes of work<br />The problems of the Tamil speaking people outside Tamil Eelam are getting complicated today. Particularly the up country Tamil workers are being forcibly driven out of their places of work and places of residence by the Sinhalese government and government abetted Sinhalese hooligans. It is quite clear that the terrible act of arson on the homes of Tamil labourers and the police firing that caused the death of the Tamil youth, Ledchumanan, in the Devon estate, have been pre planned and deliberate.<br />The Tamil United Liberation Front will fight for the rights of these workers who have toiled for the prosperity of this country, to live in their own homes with security of employment fully guaranteed. The Tamil United Liberation Front will work for the basic human rights and political, social and economic rights of the Tamil speaking people living in any part of Ceylon.<br />At the same time, the Tamil United Liberation Front will set up a special organisation to prepare plans for the well-being of and to give all assistance to the Tamil Speaking people who wish to migrate to Tamil eelam to set up their lives in their new homes.<br />It is indispensable that every person who is a member of the Tamil Nation that aspires to be free must be able to live in enjoyment of human rights, in full. Hence, as an important aspect of the liberation movement, intensive steps will be taken for the abolition of the caste system and social disabilities imposed on any section the Tamil people.<br />Tamil United Liberation Front will take steps to develop friendship with the progressive forces, in South Ceylon, that recognise and are sympathetic towards, the aspirations of the Tamil Nation and with countries that are sympathetic towards the freedom movements particularly with the anti imperialist forces abroad.<br /><a href="http://www.tamilnation.org/selfdetermination/tamileelam/#Tamil" target="_self"></a><br />Conclusion<br />The Tamil Nation is at a turning point in its history. The unity we have achieved has made the Sinhalese imperialists take a fresh look at the situation. In this background, as a first step towards the realisation of the freedom of the Nation, the unanimous verdict of the Tamil speaking people is indispensable. Hence we appeal to you to set aside your passions for, or prejudices against, individual candidates, to forget differences of region, caste or religion and, with the one and the only determination of making the Tamil Nation master of its Destiny to<br />VOTE<br />· for the Tamil United Liberation Front,<br />· for the emancipation of the Tamil Nation,<br />· for the Freedom of Tamil Eelam<br />Printed at Modern Printers of 192, Sea Street, Colombo 11, and published by <a href="http://www.tamilnation.org/saty/9907amirthalingam.htm" target="_self">Mr A. Amirthalingam</a>, Secretary General of the Tamil United Liberation Front of 238, Main Street, Jaffna (Sri Lanka)ENB.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00449836977074869699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7155393032669029227.post-82808986163286769962007-10-05T10:28:00.000-07:002007-10-05T10:30:30.427-07:00Vaddukoddai Resolution<span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff0000;"><strong>Vaddukoddai Resolution </strong></span><br /><br />Unanimously adopted at the First National Convention of theTAMIL UNITED LIBERATION FRONTheld atVADDUKODDAI on14-5-1976<br /><br />ChairmanS.J.V. Chelvanayakam Q.C., M.P. (K.K.S)<br />[A Translation]<br />Political Resolution Unanimously Adopted at the 1st National Convention of the Tamil United Liberation Front Held at Pannakam (Vaddukoddai Constituency) on 14-5-76, Presided over by Mr. Chelvanayakam, Q.C, M.P.<br />Whereas throughout the centuries from the dawn of history the Sinhalese and Tamil nations have divided between them the possession of Ceylon, the Sinhalese inhabiting the interior of the country in its Southern and Western parts from the river Walawe to that of Chilaw and the Tamils possessing the Northern and Eastern districts;<br />And whereas the Tamil Kingdom was overthrown in war and conquered by the Portuguese in 1619 and from them by the Dutch and the British in turn independent of the Sinhalese Kingdoms;<br />And whereas the British Colonists who ruled the territories of the Sinhalese and Tamil Kingdoms separately joined under compulsion the territories of the Sinhalese Kingdoms for purposes of administrative convenience on the recommendation of the Colebrooke Commission in 1833;<br />And whereas the Tamil Leaders were in the forefront of the Freedom movement to rid Ceylon of colonial bondage which ultimately led to the grant of independence to Ceylon in 1948;<br />And whereas the foregoing facts of history were completely overlooked and power was transferred to the Sinhalese nation over the entire country on the basis of a numerical majority thereby reducing the Tamil nation to the position of subject people;<br />And whereas successive Sinhalese governments since independence have always encouraged and fostered the aggressive nationalism of the Sinhalese people and have used their political power to the detriment of the Tamils by-<br />(a) Depriving one half of the Tamil people of their citizenship and franchise rights thereby reducing Tamil representation in Parliament,<br />(b) Making serious inroads into the territories of the former Tamil Kingdom by a system of planned and state-aided Sinhalese colonization and large scale regularization of recently encouraged Sinhalese encroachments calculated to make the Tamils a minority in their own homeland,<br />(c) Making Sinhala the only official language throughout Ceylon thereby placing the stamp of inferiority on the Tamils and the Tamil Language,<br />(d) Giving the foremost place to Buddhism under the Republican constitution thereby reducing the Hindus, Christians, and Muslims to second class status in this Country,<br />(e) Denying to the Tamils equality of opportunity in the spheres of employment, education, land alienation and economic life in general and starving Tamil areas of large scale industries and development schemes thereby seriously endangering their very existence in Ceylon,<br />(f) Systematically cutting them off from the main-stream of Tamil cultures in South-India while denying them opportunities of developing their language and culture in Ceylon thereby working inexorably towards the cultural genocide of the Tamils,<br />(g) Permitting and unleashing communal violence and intimidation against the Tamil speaking people as happened in Amparai and Colombo in 1956; all over the country in 1958; army reign of terror in the Northern and Eastern Provinces in 1961; Police violence at the International Tamil Research Conference in 1974 resulting in the death of nine persons in Jaffna; Police and communal violence against Tamil speaking Muslims at Puttalam and various other parts of Ceylon in 1976 - all these calculated to instill terror in the minds of the Tamil speaking people thereby breaking their spirit and the will to resist injustices heaped on them,<br />(h) By terrorizing, torturing, and imprisoning Tamil youths without trial for long periods on the flimsiest grounds,<br />(i) Capping it all by imposing on the Tamil Nation constitution drafted under conditions of emergency without opportunities for free discussion by a constituent assembly elected on the basis of the Soulbury Constitution distorted by the Citizenship laws resulting in weightage in representation to the Sinhalese majority thereby depriving the Tamils of even the remnants of safeguards they had under the earlier constitution,<br />And whereas all attempts by the various Tamil political parties to win their rights by co-operating with the governments, by parliamentary and extra-parliamentary agitations, by entering into pacts and understandings with successive Prime Ministers in order to achieve the bare minimum of political rights consistent with the self-respect of the Tamil people have proved to be futile;<br />And whereas the efforts of the All Ceylon Tamil Congress to ensure non-domination of the minorities by the majority by the adoption of a scheme of balanced representation in a Unitary Constitution have failed and even the meagre safeguards provided in article 29 of the Soulbury Constitution against discriminatory legislation have been removed by the Republican Constitution;<br />And whereas the proposals submitted to the Constituent Assembly by the Ilankai Thamil Arasu Kadchi for maintaining the unity of the country while preserving the integrity of the Tamil people by the establishment of an autonomous Tamil State within the framework of a Federal Republic of Ceylon were summarily and totally rejected without even the courtesy of a consideration of its merits;<br />And whereas the amendments to the basic resolutions intended to ensure the minimum of safeguards to the Tamil people moved on the basis of the nine point demands formulated at the conference of all Tamil Political parties at Valvettithurai on 7th February 1971 and by individual parties and Tamil members of Parliament including those now in the government party were rejected in total by the government and Constituent Assembly;<br />And whereas even amendments to the draft proposals relating to language, religion, and fundamental-rights including one calculated to ensure that at least the provisions of the Tamil Language (Special Provisions) Regulations of 1956 be included in the Constitution were defeated resulting in the boycott of the Constituent Assembly by a large majority of the Tamil members of Parliament;<br />And whereas the Tamil United Liberation Front, after rejecting the Republican Constitution adopted on the 22nd of May, 1972 presented a six point demand to the Prime Minister and the Government o 25th June, 1972 and gave three months time within which the Government was called upon to take meaningful steps to amend the Constitution so as to meet the aspirations of the Tamil Nation on the basis of the six points and informed the Government that if it failed to do so the Tamil United Liberation Front would launch a non-violent direct action against the Government in order to win the freedom and the rights of the Tamil Nation on the basis of the right of self- determination;<br />And whereas this last attempt by the Tamil United Liberation Front to win Constitutional recognition of the rights of the Tamil Nation without jeopardizing the unity of the country was callously ignored by the Prime Minister and the Government;<br />And whereas the opportunity provided by the Tamil United Liberation leader to vindicate the Government's contention that their constitution had the backing of the Tamil people, by resigning from his membership of the National State Assembly and creating a by-election was deliberately put off for over two years in utter disregard of the democratic right of the Tamil voters of Kankesanthurai, and<br />Whereas in the by-election held on the 6th February 1975 the voters of Kankesanthurai by a preponderant majority not only rejected the Republican Constitution imposed on them by the Sinhalese Government but also gave a mandate to Mr.S.J.V. Chelvanayakam, Q.C. and through him to the Tamil United Liberation Front for the restoration and reconstitution of the Free Sovereign, Secular, Socialist State of TAMIL EELAM.<br />The first National Convention of the Tamil United Liberation Front meeting at Pannakam (Vaddukoddai Constituency) on the 14th day of May, 1976 hereby declares that the Tamils of Ceylon by virtue of their great language, their religions, their separate culture and heritage, their history of independent existence as a separate state over a distinct territory for several centuries till they were conquered by the armed might of the European invaders and above all by their will to exist as a separate entity ruling themselves in their own territory, are a nation distinct and apart from Sinhalese and this Convention announces to the world that the Republican Constitution of 1972 has made the Tamils a slave nation ruled by the new colonial masters the Sinhalese who are using the power they have wrongly usurped to deprive the Tamil Nation of its territory, language citizenship, economic life, opportunities of employment and education thereby destroying all the attributes of nationhood of the Tamil people.<br />And therefore, while taking note of the reservations in relation to its commitment to the setting up of a separated state of TAMIL EELAM expressed by the Ceylon Workers Congress as a Trade Union of the Plantation Workers, the majority of whom live and work outside the Northern and Eastern areas,<br />This convention resolves that restoration and reconstitution of the Free, Sovereign, Secular Socialist State of TAMIL EELAM based on the right of self determination inherent to every nation has become inevitable in order to safeguard the very existence of the Tamil Nation in this Country.<br />This Convention further declares -<br />(a) that the State of TAMIL EELAM shall consist of the people of the Northern and Eastern provinces and shall also ensure full and equal rights of citizenship of the State of TAMIL EELAM to all Tamil speaking people living in any part of Ceylon and to Tamils of EELAM origin living in any part of the world who may opt for citizenship of TAMIL EELAM.<br />(b) that the constitution of TAMIL EELAM shall be based on the principle of democratic decentralization so as to ensure the non-domination of any religious or territorial community of TAMIL EELAM by any other section.<br />(c) that in the state of Tamil Eelam caste shall be abolished and the observance of the pernicious practice of untouchability or inequality of any type based on birth shall be totally eradicated and its observance in any form punished by law.<br />(d) that TAMIL EELAM shall be secular state giving equal protection and assistance to all religions to which the people of the state may belong.<br />(e) that Tamil shall be the language of the State but the rights of of Sinhalese speaking minorities in Tamil Eelam to education and transaction of business in their language shall be protected on a reciprocal basis with the Tamil speaking minorities in the Sinhala State.<br />(f) that Tamil Eelam shall be a Socialist State wherein the exploitation of man by man shall be forbidden, the dignity of labor shall be recognized, the means of production and distribution shall be subject to public ownership and control while permitting private enterprise in these branches within limit prescribed by law, economic development shall be on the basis of socialist planning and there shall be a ceiling on the total wealth that any individual of family may acquire.<br />This Convention directs the Action Committee of the TAMIL UNITED LIBERATION FRONT to formulate a plan of action and launch without undue delay the struggle for winning the sovereignty and freedom of the Tamil Nation;<br />And this Convention calls upon the Tamil Nation in general and the Tamil youth in particular to come forward to throw themselves fully in the sacred fight for freedom and to flinch not till the goal of a sovereign state of TAMIL EELAM is reached.ENB.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00449836977074869699noreply@blogger.com0