05/13/2011
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The Island
BY SHANIE The thrust of Palihakkara’s lecture was that Sri Lanka, which has in the past enjoyed a diplomatic profile disproportionate to its geographic or demographic attributes and military or economic clout, should be able to show the world that our country, after emerging from an injurious and costly conflict, still retains the strength of character and the political will towards introspection; to look at our own track record and see if we had gone wrong somewhere and if we had, what remedial measures we can, as a civilised society, undertake and what course corrections should be made. We should encourage the building up of a society where peaceful dissent is seen as an enriching experience and an exciting democratic challenge and not an act of treachery or treason.
02/28/2011
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Groundviews
What we have seen for a long time within Tamil politics is two dichotomously opposed discourses – a discourse that supported the LTTE, come what may and its reflection, die hard criticism of the LTTE, come what may. Both sides have been exhausted now. We were told repeatedly that cross-ethnic, progressive, mass based movements is the alternative and we need to know how we are doing on this front. We need to hear more nuanced criticism of the powers that haunt the Tamil community and broadly minorities in this country today, for the power that was born in response to the ‘initial source of power’ and oppression is no more. The initial source of power remains, and has become even more oppressive, in a nuanced and sophisticated way. As much as we need the pro-LTTE discourses and groups to rethink their options we also need the anti-LTTE discourses and groups to rethink their ways. We need UTHR (J) reporting more than before now. More SLDF activism on the ground now.
10/11/2010
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AFP
Thousands of protesters marched through the streets of Sri Lanka's capital on Monday, demanding the release of ex-army chief and opposition leader Sarath Fonseka who is serving a 30-month jail term.
04/29/2010
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Groundviews
This short essay will try to make some reflections on the future of the JVP on the basis of their political history and the current political moment.
02/27/2010
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BBC Tamil
When Mahinda Rajapaksa was re-elected president of Sri Lanka in January, media organisations and human rights groups said they hoped the suppression of dissenting voices would end.
02/03/2010
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Himal Southasian
All in all, the title Pathways of Dissent is both politically hegemonic and academically wanting, as the volume does not in any way touch upon the critical tools afforded by dissent. Another work is clearly needed in order to bring that critical thrust into the analysis of Tamil nationalism.