SRI LANKA’S INEPTITUDE IN HANDLING FOREIGN RELATIONS MARCH LAID BARE 05 - 07, 2021 VOL: 4- ISSUE 237 MYANMAR POLICE BREAK UP . THE SOCIAL 30 PROTESTS AGAIN TRUTH-TELLER HOT TOPICS PAGE 05 COMMENTARY PAGE 08 LITERARY LIVES PAGE 11

Registered in the Department of Posts of Sri Lanka under No: QD/130/News/2021 Italy blocks export of AstraZeneca doses to Australia ROME/BRUSSELS - Italy said Thursday (4) it has blocked a shipment to Australia of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine in the first such export ban under an EU vaccine monitoring scheme. Rome's order blocking the dispatch of more than 250,000 doses was accepted by the European Commission, which has fiercely criticized the Anglo-Swedish company this year for supplying just a fraction of the vaccine doses it had promised to deliver to the bloc. The shipment was stopped because of the "continuing short- age of vaccines in the EU and in Italy and delays in supplies from AstraZeneca to the EU and Italy," the Italian foreign min- istry said in a statement. It was also blocked because Australia is not considered a "vulnerable" country in the context of the pandemic, and be- cause of the "high number of doses" requested. The ministry said AstraZeneca requested an export permit on February 24, and Rome forwarded the request to the Euro- pean Commission two days later, proposing its rejection. The EU executive body agreed, and the Italian government - whose new Prime Minister Mario Draghi has pledged to ramp up national vaccination efforts - notified AstraZeneca of its de- cision on March 2. The ministry said Italy had previously authorized the export of AstraZeneca vaccine samples, but only in "modest quanti- ties ... for scientific research purposes." The doses came from a plant in Italy operated by AstraZen- eca to produce some of its vaccine, one of three authorized for use in the EU alongside the BioNTech/Pfizer and Moderna versions. Under the commission's "transparency and authorization mechanism" EU member states vet planned exports out of the bloc of authorized COVID-19 vaccines. The scheme started on January 30 and is to run until at least the end of March. -AFP

-Ishara S. KODIKARA / AFP After Senate setback Colombo’s Galle Face green teems celebrations of the Sri Lankan Air inspiring displays by the Sarang air show that got under way on with life as Indian Air Force's Force, in Colombo on Thursday Helicopter Air Display Team, Surya Wednesday (3) will conclude with Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) (4). A contingent of the Indian Kiran Aerobatics Demonstration the final aerobatic display at 5:00 Pakistan PM to seek vote of aerobatic team 'Sarang' performs Air Force is participating in the Team and Tejas Multirole Light p.m. on Friday (5). See also Page confidence on Saturday during the 70th anniversary celebratory events with awe Fighter Aircraft. The celebratory 03 ISLAMABAD/KARACHI - Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Im- ran Khan, said he will seek a vote of confidence from Parlia- ment on Saturday (6) after the finance minister lost his bid for a Senate seat. Khan and his government had been expected to win the in- UN expert urges ‘global arms embargo’, direct election on the seat, given their coalition’s numerical superiority in the lower house of Parliament, the Electoral Col- lege for the vote. “I’m going to seek a confidence motion a day after tomor- row,” Khan said in a televised address to the nation on Thurs- sanctions on Myanmar day (4). died, as online images streamed out of My- The Senate is the upper house of Pakistan’s bicameral Par- GENEVA - The United Nations Security "to investigate and possibly prosecute atroc- liament. Council should impose a "global arms em- ity crimes that have occurred, including anmar showing security forces firing into He said the vote of confidence would be an open ballot in bargo" and targeted sanctions against My- genocide, war crimes, and crimes against crowds and blood-covered bodies with bul- which members of his party and his allies were welcome to anmar's military, a top UN rights expert humanity," the report said. let wounds in their heads. vote against him if they no longer had confidence in him. said Thursday (4), voicing alarm at the bru- The UN and the international community The UN Security Council is due to discuss “This is your democratic right ... just raise your hands that tal repression of anti-coup protests. must meanwhile deny the military junta the crisis on Friday (5), as international you don’t have confidence and I will go into the opposition In a fresh report, Thomas Andrews, the recognitions as the country's legitimate gov- pressure mounts. (benches),” he said. UN Special Rapporteur on the rights situ- ernment, the expert said. Western powers have repeatedly hit the The Senate election a day earlier was a secret ballot and ation in Myanmar, called for the interna- "I urge the members of the (Security) generals with sanctions, and 41 states have members of the ruling coalition are widely believed to have tional community to "act urgently and deci- Council to consider the unrelenting brutal- imposed arms embargos on Myanmar. voted against his candidate, Finance Minister Abdul Hafiz sively" to support those demanding a return ity that we are witnessing in Myanmar," he Andrews' report covered the period up to Sheikh. to democracy in the country. said in a statement. March 1, so did not include the escalating He alleged the opposition parties had gained those votes "The stakes could not be higher," he said. Myanmar has been in uproar since the violence in recent days. through unfair means. The opposition denies the charge. The UN Security Council, he said, should military seized power on February 1, end- But he had already said on February 17 Khan’s party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI), became urgently "impose a global arms embargo" ing a decade-long experiment with democ- that he was "terrified" at developments in the largest party in the Senate in Wednesday’s poll. But al- and "impose targeted economic sanctions racy and triggering a mass uprising that the the country, warning "we could be on the though it gained ground, interim results on Thursday showed against the Myanmar military and its sourc- junta has increasingly sought to quash with precipice of the military committing even his ruling coalition was still a few seats short of a clear major- es of revenue." lethal force. greater crimes against the people of Myan- ity. It should also refer the situation in the Wednesday (3) marked the bloodiest day mar." -Agencies country to the International Criminal Court so far, with the UN saying at least 38 people -AFP

Quote for Today Trending News Don’t grieve. Anything you lose comes round in another form. -Rumi USA: Security is boosted off the east of the country’s the city of Larissa, the same region Prince Harry, in an escalat- around the Capitol after officials North Island, prompting a where an even stronger tremor left ing transatlantic war of words Word for Today warn of an attack plot by QAnon tsunami warning that is later 11 people injured the day before. before a tell-all interview with Confabulate [kuhn-fab-yuh-leyt] -verb (used without conspiracists, two months after withdrawn. Senegal: Authorities suspend the Oprah Winfrey. object) - to converse informally; chat backers of ex-president Don- India: The country’s top judge signal of two private television sta- Kuwait: Authorities an- ald Trump stormed the Capitol faces calls to resign after telling tions for 72 hours, accusing them nounce a minimum one- Today in History building. an accused rapist to marry his of broadcasting “in loop” images month curfew aimed at curb- 1940 - Six high-ranking members of Soviet politburo, in- Vatican: Pope Francis begins schoolgirl victim to avoid jail. of unrest triggered by the arrest of ing a sharp rise in coronavirus cluding Joseph Stalin, sign an order for the execution of a historic visit to Iraq on Fri- Libya: Interim Prime Minis- an opposition leader. cases, after it recorded its high- 25,700 Polish intelligentsia, including 14,700 POWs, in day (5), the first by a pontiff to est daily infection count. ter Abdul Hamid Dbeibah sub- UK: Street artist Banksy claims what will become known as the Katyn massacre the birthplace of the Eastern mits his proposed government responsibility for a painting on the Israel: Authorities begin giv- Churches from where more for approval by Parliament, a wall of a former British prison that ing coronavirus vaccinations Today is... than a million Christians have key step towards unifying the once held playwright Oscar Wilde. to Palestinians in the West fled over the past 20 years. Day of Unplugging war-ravaged nation. - Meghan Markle accuses the Brit- Bank with permits to work in New Zealand: A strong 7.2 Greece: A new 5.9 magnitude ish royal family of peddling lies Jewish settlements in the oc- A day to step back from our digital devices and actually magnitude earthquake strikes quake hits central Greece near against herself and her husband cupied territory. perform the ancient art of speaking with people around us 2 MARCH 05 - 07, 2021 WEEKEND EXPRESS BUSINESS Hong Kong removed from economic freedom ranking Get smart to get RICH World Bank says smarter it once dominated food policy could boost HONG KONG - Hong Kong has been ment brochures. But the 2021 ranking Hong Kong’s financial secretary showed the city’s “economic resil- health and economic removed from an annual index of the released on Thursday (4), did not fea- Paul Chan criticized the decision on ience, high-quality legal framework, world’s freest economies because the ture Hong Kong because the report’s Thursday. low tolerance for corruption, high recovery of Asian cities think-tank that compiles the league authors believe the city is no longer “When they arrived at that decision, degree of government transparency, table said the city was now directly independent enough of Beijing to jus- they must have been clouded by their efficient regulatory framework and WASHINGTON — Across the world, controlled by Beijing. tify separate inclusion. ideological inclination and political openness to global commerce”. the COVID-19 pandemic has high- The announcement is a reputational “The loss of political freedom and bias,” Chan said during an online con- Last year the city fell from the top lighted the critical importance of reli- blow for Hong Kong and comes as Be- autonomy suffered by Hong Kong ference, according to Radio Television spot for the first time, replaced by ri- able food systems that provide healthy ijing ramps up its bid to quash dissent over the past two years has made that Hong Kong. val Singapore, after Beijing imposed and affordable diets to all. That is true after huge and sometimes violent pro- city almost indistinguishable in many The Heritage Foundation is one of a sweeping national security law on also in Asia where cities, large and democracy demonstrations in 2019. respects from other major Chinese the major policy think-tanks that in- Hong Kong. The city’s commerce small, contend with a wide range of The Heritage Foundation, a con- commercial centres like Shanghai and fluences fiscal conservatives in the chief at the time brushed off concern food-related issues on a daily basis but servative US think-tank, publishes an Beijing,” Edwin J. Feulner, the found- United States. and predicted Hong Kong would soon often lack a dedicated or coherent set annual Index of Economic Freedom er of the Heritage Foundation, wrote Feulner is also a vocal critic of Bei- return to the top of the table. of food policies. ranking countries and territories for in the Wall Street Journal on Wednes- jing and chairman of the Victims of Instead it - and neighbouring Ma- Arguing that food systems are cen- how business-friendly their regula- day (3). Communism Memorial Foundation. cau – are now counted as part of tral to the topmost priorities of Asian tions and laws are. “[Hong Kong’s] ties to Beijing are Hong Kong’s pro-Beijing govern- China which currently languishes in cities, from nurturing jobs and busi- Over the last 26 years, Hong Kong increasingly forged in steel,” Feulner ment embraced the think-tank’s 107th place in the ranking, between nesses that are core to a city’s identity topped the table for all but one year added, while its pre-handover “tradi- league table each year it came out. Uganda and Uzbekistan, in a section to managing waste and congestion, a - a source of pride to the city’s govern- tions of English common law, free- Back in 2019 - when Hong Kong where economies are rated as “mostly new World Bank book calls for cities ment which often used the accolade in dom of speech, and democracy have topped the table for the 25th consecu- unfree.” to ‘get smart to get RICH’—that is, to its official press releases and invest- weakened significantly”. tive year - finance chief Chan said it pursue policies that foster reliable, -AFP inclusive, competitive, and healthy (RICH) food systems that are bet- ter aligned with cities’ contemporary Sri Lanka stocks down for fourth day, Central Bank chief talks down gilt yields challenges and aspirations. COLOMBO – Sri Lanka’s Cen- ening. “Although we do not expect a further “RICH Food, Smart City seeks to losing Rs 207bn tral Bank does not expect gov- market decline we do not expect it to in- put food on the menu of urban deci- COLOMBO – Sri Lanka stocks fell close. The S&P SL20 index of more liq- ernment securities yields to crease either in the near future,” Lakshman sion-makers in Asia to generate posi- for the fourth straight day Thursday uid stocks fell 2.39% or 67.87 points to rise and would follow a policy told reporters Thursday (5), after the rate tive feedback loops between healthy (4) with Rs 207 billion in stock values close at 2,768.88. Foreigners bought of ‘guided yields’ Central Bank setting Monetary Board kept the policy cor- people, a healthy planet, and healthy being wiped out so far this week amid Rs 421 million of stocks and sold Rs Governor W. D. Lakshman said ridor unchanged at 5.50 and 4.50% . economies,” said Martien van Nieu- continued selling pressure, brokers 441 million on Thursday. after keeping rates unchanged in The Central Bank would continue to fol- wkoop, Global Director of Agriculture said. LOLC, John Keells and Carson So far in 2021 foreign investors has March amid debt unprecedented low a policy of ‘guided yield’ by issuing di- and Food, World Bank. Cumberbatch led the index down. sold Rs 14.29 billion of stocks. LOLC monetization. rections prior to auctions, he said. Based on the first systematic survey Turnover was Rs 3 billion with 22 Holdings fell Rs 29.50 or 8.94% to In February longer gilt tenors “We will continue with that and hope that of urban food policies in 170 Asian stocks gaining and 154 falling. close at Rs 300.50 contributing most had begun to edge up despite things will continue,” Governor Lakshman cities in 21 countries, undertaken in The Colombo benchmark All Share for the ASPI fall. LOLC Finance, fell excess liquidity in money mar- said. partnership with the UN Food and Price Index fell 191.05 points to close 30 cents to close at Rs 5.90, Browns kets amid market concerns over “We will work as things demand.” Agriculture Organization, the study at 7,002.04. The market reached an and Company fell Rs 10.75 to close forex reserves losses and distor- The Central Bank was setting price con- finds that only 8% of surveyed cities intra-day high of 7,253.72 during the at Rs 144.25 and Browns Investment tions appearing in forex markets trols on 3, 6 and 12-month bills and then are ‘food-smart’—intervening in the first hour into trading but fell through- closed 30 cents down at Rs 5.20. such as dollar yields outpacing limited it to the 12-month yield. Last week it food system in ways that are forward- out the day before rising slightly at the -economynext.com rupees, despite currency weak- was raised by one basis point to 5.10%. looking, holistic, and inclusive. Nearly Over February Sri Lanka’s gilt yields had three-fourths are either at an early moved up around 50 basis points. stage of effective engagement or fully The Central Bank had said market rates in reactive mode, responding to prob- were at a ‘historic low’ and would keep then lems as they emerge. A reactive ap- there. proach could prove very costly, both In 2020 Sri Lanka ran a balance of pay- in terms of realized risks and missed ments deficit of US$ 2.3 billion as the shock opportunities. The COVID-19 pan- of low interest rates and liquidity injections demic has served to highlight the es- were absorbed by foreign reserve run down, sential functions of urban food supply though in the second quarter private credit chains and businesses and the vulner- collapse also reduced demand. ability of urban populations to food Central government borrowings from the insecurity. Even before lockdowns banking system in 2020 was Rs 1.8 trillion and other responses to the pandemic with foreign financing negative. impacted people’s purchasing power Of that around Rs 650 billion through and disrupted supply chains, many Central Bank credit (printed money) a part residents of cities, especially low-in- of which remained as excess liquidity de- come ones, faced challenges accessing posited in the agency at the end of the year, safe, affordable, and nutritious food. and the rest went out as forex reserve losses. In 2016, some 23% of urban residents For 2021 domestic borrowings of Rs 1.6 in emerging Asia surveyed by the FAO trillion and Rs 99 billion foreign financing reported being food insecure. was planned in a budget. Sri Lanka has been Many cities in emerging Asia are finding it difficult to access commercial debt national if not international ‘hotspots’ credit with credit downgraded to ‘CCC’ for biosecurity and food safety risks, This year government revenues are ex- food waste, and the accumulation of pected to improve, with the Central Bank plastic packaging waste. The rapid en- expecting private credit to recover to Rs 850 croachment of cities into natural eco- billion, up sharply from Rs 372 million dol- systems and peri-urban cropland also lars in 2020. raises risks to cities’ fresh food supply. -economynext.com Well-informed urban leadership is much needed to turn these urban, na- tional, and even broader food system challenges around. RICH Food, Smart City argues that city leaders and plan- ners have a key role to play in mould- UK says US to remove ing the future trajectory of food sys- tems and offers many examples of how some Boeing-Airbus they might do so. The study addresses cities of different sizes and resource levels, presents a menu of potential retaliatory tariffs solutions, and provides concrete il- LONDON - Britain said Thursday (4) the lustrations of the many policies and United States had agreed to remove retalia- programs that Asia’s cities can learn tory tariffs on various UK goods and jointly from and implement to improve food de-escalate the longstanding fight over sub- system outcomes. For example, sidies for Boeing and Airbus. • Measures to protect peri-urban International Trade Secretary Liz Truss cropland and develop short supply see the deal would see the removal of a 25 chain marketing channels can sustain percent surcharge on Scotch whisky as well a critical source of fresh produce to cit- as tariffs on cashmere, machinery and other ies, contributing to urban productiv- products. ity, resilience, and circular economies. "I've agreed with the US to remove retali- • Investments in upgrading commu- atory tariffs on a range of UK goods," Truss nity markets that provide fresh food said on Twitter, adding the agreement in- can help ensure more equitable access cluded "a joint de-escalation of the Boeing- to nutrition and reduce the incidence Airbus dispute". of foodborne and chronic illness. The 16-year-old trans-Atlantic conflict • Neighbourhood food loss and over government aid to the competing air- waste partnerships and initiatives can craft manufacturers has seen Brussels and support waste prevention, secondary Washington each impose punitive tariffs. food use, composting, and the bioec- They included US duties on a record onomy. $7.5 billion (6.2 billion euros) in European With their power to influence the goods authorized by the World Trade Or- uses of space and the built environ- ganization in 2019. ment, to regulate and stimulate private The tariffs on Scotch whisky and a host of enterprise, and to shape public service other items since October 2019 have hit the delivery, cities’ embrace of food policy once lucrative market hard. can be game-changing, according to Britain's exit from the European Union's the book. single market and customs union at the “Municipal leaders are uniquely start of the year have compounded the in- placed to develop and pursue inte- dustry's problems. grated food policies that respond to Before the levy, the US market for Scotch citizens’ needs and boost cities’ overall was valued at £1.06 billion. By 2020 it had resilience” said Gayatri Acharya, study fallen 32 percent to £729 million. co-author and Lead Economist, World British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Bank. “We hope this study will inspire Thursday welcomed the new agreement, them to seek ambitious solutions for saying it would "strengthen the UK-US sustainable and healthy food systems trading relationship and work to build back that improve the welfare of urban pop- better from the pandemic". ulations.” -AFP -World Bank WEEKEND EXPRESS MARCH 05 - 07, 2021 3 GLOCAL

Express Newspapers (Cey) Pvt. Ltd., By Diane Taylor 185, Grandpass Road, Colombo 14, Sri Lanka Telephone: 0117 322 705 (Editorial) 0117 322 731 (Advertising) 0117 322 789 (Circulation) UK Home Office delays Email – [email protected]/[email protected] Epaper - http://epaper.newsexpress.lk leave Sri Lankan man in Facebook –News Express Sri Lanka immigration limbo LONDON- A man who came to the UK to train as an accountant almost 40 years ago has been Sri Lanka approves emergency use of left homeless after a catalogue of Home Of- fice delays. Ponnampalam Jothibala, 69, a Sri Lankan Tamil, came to the UK in 1983 to take up a place on a course at the London School of Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine Accountancy with hopes of forging a profes- sional career. He was granted periods of tem- COLOMBO – Sri Lanka’s drug reg- it would get. Sri Lanka already is ad- $ 52.5 million from the Serum In- with the second jab required to be porary leave to remain by the Home Office in ulatory body, the National Medicine ministering the Oxford-AstraZeneca stitute, and has decided to enter into taken after 21 days from receiving the 1980s but halted his studies after experi- Regulatory Authority (NMRA) has vaccine manufactured by the Serum an agreement with the AstraZeneca the first jab. Reports note, the sec- encing trauma as a victim of an arson attack in approved the Russian Sputnik V vac- Institute in India. Institute in Britain to buy 3.5 million ond dose of the Sputnik V carries a which three people died. He survived the fire cine as the second available for use It received one million doses, half more. different formula than the first dose, by jumping out of a first-floor window. in the country. donated and half purchased from Sri Lanka has counted 84,430 cas- though both formulas target the cor- He was convicted of fraud and theft in 2003, The state minister overseeing the institute. es of COVID-19 with 489 fatalities. onavirus’ distinctive ‘spike’. and the Home Office planned to deport him, pharmaceutical products, Channa Starting in January with frontline Sputnik V, which is said to be 95% The vaccine has been approved by but he lodged an appeal and an immigration Jayasumana, said Sri Lanka has health workers, Sri Lanka has given effective against the novel coronavi- 39 countries for emergency use, al- judge ruled in his favour in May 2006. The requested doses from Russia’s Ga- the vaccine to more than 550,000 rus, has to be stored at temperatures though the World Health Organiza- judge found that Jothibala had been pressured maleya Research Institute and was people. It plans to purchase 10 mil- between 2 and 8C degrees (a stand- tion is yet to give its approval. and intimidated by criminals into committing awaiting confirmation of the amount lion Oxford-AstraZeneca doses for ard fridge is roughly 3-5C degrees), -PTI/ENCL the crime, from which he had derived no bene- fit himself. The Home Office wrongly recorded on Jothibala’s file that he had lost rather than MP Patali indicted in hit and run case Women MPs want Select Committee won his appeal, although officials took no steps COLOMBO - The Colombo High grounds that the court has no juris- to remove him from the UK, nor did they ap- Court on Thursday (4) indicted diction to hear the allegations. peal against the judge’s ruling. to look into Gender Discrimination When Jothibala obtained a copy of his inter- former minister, Patali Champika Meanwhile, Deputy Solicitor Gen- COLOMBO - The Women Parlia- referred to the minister in charge of Ranawaka, over a hit and run acci- eral Dileepa Peiris, who represented nal Home Office file, he saw an entry made in mentarians Caucus of the Parlia- the relevant subject to submit his/ February 2014 – eight years after the judge had dent in Rajagiriya in 2016. the complainant, said that the ob- ment of Sri Lanka has called on her observations and steps taken The indictment was served on jection could be filed at the outset ruled that he had the right to remain in the UK Speaker of the House, Mahinda governing the particulars, within a – saying that he would not qualify for a grant charges of reckless driving and fail- of the case. Complainant Sandeep Yapa Abeywarden, to appoint a spe- period of eight weeks of it being ta- ure to prevent an accident. Sampath, who was severely injured of leave and that “referral for removal should cial Select Committee to address is- bled. now be considered”. Another note in July 2014 Colombo High Court Judge Na- in the accident, attended court pro- sues faced by women in the country. Secretary General of Parliament, mal Walalle read out the indictment ceedings for the first time on Thurs- stated that Home Office officials, having spo- In a written motion, the women Dhammika Dasanayake has said the ken to the courts and tribunal service, now in open court and handed it over to day, since the court commenced Members of Parliament have urged notice of motion has been included the accused when the case was taken hearings on the case. knew that the appeal had been upheld rather the Select Committee look into and in to the addendum to the Order than dismissed. The note stated that “in light up for hearing Thursday morning. The Colombo High Court thereaf- report to Parliament its recommen- Book No. 03 of Parliament. The lawyer representing the for- ter postponed the hearing to April of the mishandling of the case following the de- dations to ensure gender equity The notice of motion had been termination of 2006”, the case would now be mer minister informed Court that 27, and ordered the former minis- and equality with special emphasis signed by the Chair of Women his senior counsel intends to file ter’s legal team to file the prelimi- reconsidered. But nothing was done. In 2015 on gender-based discriminations Parliamentarians’ Caucus, Dr. Su- Jothibala’s then MP, Mike Gapes, wrote to the a preliminary objection, challeng- nary objections on the said date. and violations of women’s rights in darshini Fernandopulle, Minister ing the court’s indictment on the -newswire Home Office about the case and was advised Sri Lanka. They have requested the Pavithra Devi Wanniarachchi, State that Jothibala had no basis of stay in the UK Committee and its chair be appoint- Minister (Dr.) Seetha Arambepola, and should make arrangements to leave as Easter Sunday blasts ed by the Speaker and the compo- and Members of Parliament, Harini soon as possible. The letter to Gapes provided sition be limited to 25 members or Amarasuriya, Rohini Kumari Wijer- information about voluntary return to Sri Lan- less. athna, Thalatha Atukorale, Geetha ka. Jothibala’s immigration limbo continued. Weerawansa not satisfied with They have also specified the final Kumarasinghe, Kokila Gunawarde- In 2019 a note on his file said a complaint had report of the Committee be pre- na, Muditha Prashanthi, Rajika been received, to which officials needed to re- PCoI report sented to Parliament within one Wickramasinghe, Manjula Dissan- spond. “If we do not meet the deadline there year from its first meeting and once ayake and Diana Gamage. is a risk that the complainant may escalate the COLOMBO - Cabinet Minister chaired by Speaker Mahinda Ya- -ENCL Wimal Weerawansa has joined the paAbeywardena, which met on tabled in Parliament, the report be matter to the parliamentary and health service ranks of Sri Lankans who are not Thursday (4), decided Parliament ombudsman for a formal investigation,” the satisfied with the findings of the will take up the PCol report for de- note said. Still nothing was done. Presidential Commission of Inquiry bate Wednesday (10). Secretary Last week Jothibala’s solicitor, Naga Kandi- (PCol) into the 2019 Easter Sunday General of Parliament Dhammika- Standard operational procedure on ah of MTC Solicitors, sent a letter before action attacks, noting “although some in- Dasanayake said, the government to the Home Office informing officials that he formation was revealed, as a whole will move the Adjournment Debate burials released would be lodging judicial review proceedings we cannot be satisfied with it.” on the PCoI Report and that Parlia- if the Home Office did not speedily resolve the Weerawansa, who is Minister of ment sittings will be held on Tues- COLOMBO - Two circulars were cal Officer in Colombo and the We- matter. He said the Home Office’s failure to Industries said on Wednesday (3) day (9) and Wednesday, as decided issued by the Health Ministry with likanda Base Hospital. implement the 2006 immigration tribunal de- people expected the commission to at the Committee meeting. regard to COVID-19 remains late According to the circular, the ve- cision was unlawful and unreasonable. reveal correct information, such as Earlier on Tuesday (2), the coordi- Wednesday (3) night, with one cir- hicle transporting the body to Nach- Kandiah said: “This case is a sobering re- who was behind the attack and who nating officer for the Attorney Gen- cular on autopsy practice and dis- chikuda Pier will leave at 5:30 a.m. minder of how a historic injustice can devas- the foreign forces involved are, if eral, Nishara Jayaratne, said the AG posal of a corpse infected with COV- daily and two relatives will be per- tate a person’s life. My client has lost out on so there was such involvement. had received 65 volumes of proceed- ID-19 and the other on the standard mitted at the burial. many opportunities to progress in life because “It is important to reveal that in- ings of the PCoI on the Easter Sun- operational procedure (SOP) in The circular details other regula- the Home Office failed to implement the 2006 formation, either through an inves- day Attacks from the Secretary to transportation and burial of deaths tions with regard to transportation judgment.” A Home Office spokesperson said: tigation carried out by CID and it the President, and that 22 volumes infected with COVID-19. of the body, while instructions on “The Home Office will be defending its ap- is important to bring everyone who were held back due to the sensitive The circular on burials states the the method of disposal are outlined proach in this case. It would be inappropriate was involved in the Easter Sunday nature of evidence pertaining to na- Director or the head of the health- in the circular on autopsy practice to comment further on potential legal proceed- attack before the law,” he said. tional security. care institution must make arrange- and disposal of a corpse infected ings.” When Jothibala came to the UK in 1983 Weerawansa also said that the Last week General Secretary of Sri ments to include Iranaitivu as the with COVID-19. he had hopes of a professional career. Educa- request made by Malcolm Cardinal Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Daya- place of burial in the death declara- Director General Health Services, tion was highly valued in his family – both his Ranjith to raise black flags is fair in siri Jayasekara said the party has tion form by coordinating with the Dr. Asela Gunawardena said the parents were teachers, and close relatives are order to demand that the perpetra- decided to reject the report as some nominee of the Director General of State will bear the cost for the trans- lawyers, doctors and accountants. tors are brought before the law, not- parts of it has targeted its leader and Health Services (DGHS). portation of bodies. Instead he has spent decades homeless and ing the government does not have former President Maithripala Siri- The Director or head of the “We mention in the circular that sofa surfing, sometimes sleeping on a mat at the right to delay bringing those re- sena. healthcare institution must also in- approval was given for a committee London Sree Ayyappan Temple in Harrow sponsible before the law. The report has recommended form relatives of the date and time of consisting of public sector officials to where he helped out as a volunteer cook before The PCol report into the Easter criminal charges against the for- dispatch and advise them to provide select burial land in relevant regions the pandemic struck. Suntharampillai Kiruba- Sunday attack was submitted to mer President while no action was a coffin as soon as possible. and send them to me. It is through har, a founder and trustee at the temple, said: President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in recommended against the former The bodies will be transported to this that we chose Iranaitivu as the “He’s a fantastic person, a very nice chap and January, and was tabled in Parlia- Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesin- Iranaitivu from two points in the most suitable land,” he said, adding very entertaining, but he has been hiding so ment last week. Meanwhile, the ghe. country, the Colombo Institute of that the island was chosen for a tem- much sorrow.” Jothibala said he hoped his case Parliament Business Committee, -economynext.com/ENCL Forensic Medicine and Toxicology porary period of time. would finally be resolved. “I have been wait- or the office of the Judicial Medi- -CG ing, waiting, waiting for my case to be sorted out. I’ve been sleeping here and there for a long A grand 70th anniversary show time, sometimes sleeping on a mat at the tem- Deputy Director-General of Public Health ple and cooking vegetarian food like biriyanis for people who come to the temple. Services says “The one thing I am longing for is a holiday. I would love to be somewhere by the sea in the sunshine.” No PCR testing in areas where -The Guardian vaccinations are taking place COLOMBO – The government “But in other areas, the testing is has said extensive control of clus- continuing and there is no shortage ters and tracing of close contacts of of technicians or medical staff to COVID-19 patients had led to a drop carry out those activities, he said. in the number of new cases being Herath said the health sector was detected, while acknowledging there aware of the possible increase in is also a reduction in the number of new cases, and said there were no PCR tests being carried out. plans to stop PCR test though the Deputy Director-General of Public numbers were relatively low at the – J. Sujeewakumar/ENCL Health Services, Doctor Hemantha moment. Herath said the number of Covid- “No one is taking a break, even President Gotabaya positive cases had showed a decline though the numbers have gone Rajapaksa and his in the latter part of February, bring- down. If we stop the testing it can go wife Ioma Rajapaksa ing the number of daily counts down up again because we don’t know who (R) watch as Indian to slightly over 500 from the 950 has the virus or not” Herath said. Air Force's Advanced daily averages recorded in the early He also said hospital staff have Light Helicopter (ALH) part of the month. been advised to pay close attention aerobatic team 'Sarang' Herath said testing was continu- to symptoms indicating influenza performs during the 70th ing island-wide, while vaccination virus and people with Severe Acute anniversary celebrations was being carried out in the West- Respiratory Symptoms (SARS). of the Sri Lankan Air ern Province, acknowledging PCR However, he said no such case has Force, in Colombo on test were not being administered in been reported so far. Wednesday (3) Colombo and other areas where the -economynext.com/ENCL vaccination program was ongoing. 4 MARCH 05 - 07, 2021 WEEKEND EXPRESS TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE

- globalr2p.org By Rohana Jayaratne How can Sri Lanka successfully overcome the challenge of the UNHRC Resolution? The United Nations was founded in 1945 after • Human Rights Council, an intergovern- non-state groups who are alleged to have com- Sri Lanka as a member of the UN, the following the Second World War by 51 countries for the ex- mental body of 47 member states elected the UN mitted human rights violations. strategy maybe worthy of consideration: press purpose of maintaining international peace General Assembly The second Resolution 30/1 of October 2015 1. Fast track a safe and neutral means of non- and security in order to save succeeding genera- • Ten human rights treaty bodies, which was envisaged as a kind of blueprint for action confrontational engagement with the HRC in tions from the repetition of the scourge of war by are committees of independent experts who by the government of Sri Lanka. It contained a implementing transitional justice in the current facilitating conflict resolution through negotiat- monitor the implementation of the 10 core hu- range of specific commitments designed to help context of high riskgeopolitical and economic ed settlement. Additionally, the UN helps nations man rights treaties by the countries who’ve rati- improve the human rights situation and to ad- realities and super power competition in the re- work together to eliminate poverty and illiteracy, fied them dress the legacy of Sri Lanka’s war. Unfortu- gion. and to encourage respect for each other’s rights • Independent thematic and country ex- nately, the pace of implementation has been ex- 2. Display genuine commitment and credibil- and freedoms and forthe protection of nature es- perts, known as the special procedures, who are tremely slow. ity to reconciliation by rapidly implementing the sential for sustainable life on the planet. appointed by the Human Rights Council to re- Key pledges included under the umbrella of recommendations of the LLRC and other related In essence, it acts as the moral compass of the port and advise on human rights transitional justice remain outstanding like re- local commissions on transitional justice. world in upholding universal values, ethics and • Judicial organs in the UN family, such as turning all military held lands to civilian owners, 3. Counter the call for an international war principles which are respected by all nations and the International Criminal Court, and specialized setting up a mechanism to trace disappeared per- crimes tribunal by setting up a credible local tri- critical for the progress and survival of humanity. criminal tribunals established by the Security sons and, crucially, establishing a justice mecha- bunal & invite internationally recognized legal In the above context, can Sri Lanka question Council, work to ensure justice in cases of gross nism with support of international involvement experts as observers to counter allegations of the the integrity of the UNHRC, an important arm of human rights violations. to investigate alleged war crimes. lack of judicial independence. the UN, and thereby condemn the very founda- Here again, it is evident that the HRC oper- The resolution was extended by Resolution 4. Avoid confrontation with international tion that it was built on? ates within strict guidelines and procedures with 34/1 in March 2017 in order to grant more time media and countries supporting the resolution Permanent membership in the Security Coun- critical checks and balances to ensureimpartial- to the government to fulfil its pledges followed by which can further harm Sri Lanka’s image as they cil was granted to five states based on their im- ity and independence making it virtually uncon- a second extension via Resolution 40/1 of Febru- are too powerful force to reckon with. portance in the aftermath of World War II namely testableby individual nations. ary 2019 to renew the commitments contained in 5. Avoid using LTTE atrocities as a defence the USA, China, France, Russia and the UK also Consequently, the allegation that the HRC is Resolution 30/1, and to ensure that international mechanism as it diminishes Sri Lanka’s status referred to as the five superpowers. The Council’s operating on a hidden agenda to discredit and scrutiny of Sri Lanka’s efforts to deal with the & legitimacy by continuously pointing out the ten elected members, who serve two-year, non- censure Sri Lanka appearsvery unlikely. past continues. obvious since the world has for long recognized consecutive terms, are not afforded veto power In this regard, it has been recently highlighted As highlighted in the January 2021report by the LTTE as a Terrorist organization by banning but wield moral authority to guide decision mak- that the UK as a major contributor with super Commissioner Michelle Bachelet, in the absence them ing on enforcement of UN resolutions. power status is about to pass legislation to exon- of “concrete results,” over the past five years, the 6. Strategically engage, as a matter of critical The five super powers have earned their status erate the British army from war crime charges growing “mistrust among victims”, as well as the importance, with the powerful Tamil Diaspora through economic, military, technological, po- and other war related violations of human rights. “risk of new violations” posed by the failure to with facilitation by minority Tamilpartiesthereby litical and cultural strength as well as diplomatic The proposed bill was reviewed and totally con- deal with past ones warrant urgent action. co-opting all into the process of reconciliation. and soft power influence. demned by JUSTICE, the UK section of the Inter- 7. Enhance the government’s credibility by im- It is evident that the geopolitics of the world is national Commission of Jurists on the grounds OISL Investigation mediately engaging with both Tamil and Muslim a function of super power competition, which is that it would dilute the UK’s commitment and During the period covered by the investigation parties in seeking a genuine resolution to the root the overarching reality within which weaker na- adherence to international human rights laws by OISL, the application of international human- cause of the ethnic conflict which will help fast tions like Sri Lanka have to progress and protect and norms. They strongly urge parliamentarians itarian law, in particular provisions of the Geneva track the critical problem oflagging socio-eco- their individual interests. to vote against the Bill, in its entirety. Convention relevant to non-international armed nomic development. In keeping with the world’s status quo, it would It is heartening to note that the display of inde- conflicts, to measure the conduct in the conflict 8. Negotiate with Indiaon the implementation be in Sri Lanka’s best interest to act in a man- pendent review and condemnation of the Bill by of both the government and non-State armed of the 13th amendment on granting devolution as ner that is non-confrontational and co-operative UK legal experts is commendable and indicative groups were applied. non-co-operation may endangerrelations which with the UN and its ancillary bodies. of its fate. The same was applied by the Lessons Learnt are of critical importance to the socio-economic The Human Rights Council (HRC) is an inter- Many such issues which display the self-inter- and Reconciliation Commission. Its mandate progress of Sri Lanka. governmental body within the United Nations est of powerful member states taking precedence also required the OISL to apply international 9. Formulate a comprehensive action plan to system limited to 47 States responsible for the over international norms of conduct are rife. criminal law to the incidents and events under display the governments’ sincerity in pursuing a promotion and protection of all human rights However, checks and balances provided through investigation in determining whether crimes good governance strategy which assures all com- around the globe. It has the ability to discuss all their processes of democratic governance most have been perpetrated. munities of equitable allocation of resources, up- thematic human rights issues and situations that often ensure that such actions do not come to In order to establish the facts and circum- holding of the rule of law and the independence require its attention throughout the year. fruition. stances of alleged violations, abuses and crimes of the judiciary and most importantly by recti- The HRC was established by the UN General The administrative mechanism of all UN bod- by both parties, the OISL conducted a desk re- fying past mistakes which is asine qua nonfor a Assembly in 2006 to replace the UN Commission ies, particularly the UNHRC which addresses is- view of all existing documents and information, successful ‘way forward’ strategy. on Human Rights (UNCHR) which was criticized sues of a very sensitive nature, are often subject including government and civil society reports, 10. Inform and educate the citizens of the dan- for its ineffectiveness in addressing human rights to intimidation by powerful nationsornoncom- collect and document victims’ testimonies and gers of non cooperation both on the international abuses and for allowing countries with poor hu- pliance by authoritarian regimes. the accounts of survivors, witnesses and alleged and regional front in order to counteropposition man rights records to be members. It reports di- Consequently, it is important to understand perpetrators, as well as seeking information from due to ignorance of geopolitical and other reali- rectly to the UN General Assembly where every that such issueshave to be managed by them with other relevant sources such as satellite images, ties. nation has an equal say in decision making. great tact and firmness to avoid a potential col- authenticated video and photographic material 11. Build awareness among citizens that… lapse of itsgoverning principles, objectives, pro- and official documents. Universal Human Rights • International laws and Covenants reflect uni- cessesand its very existence as the institution of In analyzing the information collected, it cor- versal ethical principles of shared human values Promoting and protecting human rights is last resort available and acceptable to the world roborated facts and accounts to meet the agreed which reaffirm the commitment to help build a one of the United Nation’s fundamental goals. in the face of injustice and wrong doing relating standard of proof. better world where peace, freedom, responsibil- It works actively to define, help implement, and to rights and freedoms. It is the responsibility of HRC to judge the au- ity, justice, humanity, and morality prevail. Com- monitor international human rights standards. thenticity and impartiality of the OISL in keeping UNHRC Resolutions on Sri Lanka pliance with these laws will only serve to enhance The General Assembly, for example, has adopted with the highest standards of integrity espoused Sri Lanka’s international image. some 80 human rights conventions and declara- In its first Resolution 25/1 adopted in March by the UN. • The outdated concept of State sovereignty is tions since 1948. 2014 on “Promoting reconciliation, accountabil- Sri Lanka’s Response of little or no relevance any more in a globalized Universal human rights are expressed and ity and human rights in Sri Lanka”, the council and interdependent world with porous State bor- guaranteed by law, in the forms of treaties, cus- mandated the UN Commissioner for Human Sri Lanka has urged the UNHRC to reject the ders due to rapidly expanding and instant com- tomary international law, general principles and Rights to “undertake a comprehensive investiga- forthcoming draft resolution to be presented this munication via ICT. other sources of international law which are tion into alleged serious violations and abuses month voicing “serious concern” over the “dete- • The concept of Unitary Statusin a geographi- formulated on the basis of universal principles of human rights and related crimes by both par- riorating” rights situation in the country. cally definedmulti ethnic polity, by nature of its of justice. International human rights law lays ties in Sri Lanka during the period covered by In her January 2021 report, Bachelet called for centralized control,is flawed because ittends to down obligations of governments to take positive the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commis- an International Criminal Court investigation be detached from the interests of minorities in action in certain ways or to refrain from particu- sion (LLRC), and to establish the facts and cir- into Sri Lanka’s Tamil separatist conflict and deference to the majority leading to inequitable lar acts in order to promote and protect human cumstances of such alleged violations and of the sanctions against top generals and others accused socio-economic development. rights and fundamental freedoms of individuals crimes perpetrated with a view to avoiding impu- of war crimes as Sri Lanka has not implemented, • Devolution of Power for regional autonomy or groups. nity and ensuring accountability, with assistance over the past five years, any of the agreed mecha- can better serve the interests and aspirations of from relevant experts and special procedures nisms in pursuit of transitional justice. minorities thereby eliminating discontent and The United Nations Office of the mandate holders”. Consequently,The United Kingdom, Canada, Commissioner for Human frustration leading to renewed confrontation and It is important to note that the mandate of the Germany, Malawi, Montenegro and North Mace- conflict. Adequate evidenceexists of the benefits Rights (UNOCHR) Office of Commissioner’s Investigation on Sri donia submitted a draft resolution for considera- of power devolution in the world today. The UNOCHR has the lead responsibility for Lanka (OISL) required it to undertake investiga- tion by the 47-member Human Rights Council. • The pursuit of a credible and genuine policy the promotion and protection of human rights, tions into alleged serious violations and abuses of The draft resolution “expresses serious concern of reconciliation and resolution of the ethnic and for mainstreaming human rights within the human rights and related crimes by both parties over emerging trends over the past year, which conflict will ultimately yield the expected socio- UN. It has been given a unique mandate to do to the conflict. represents clear early warning signs of a deterio- economic benefits to all citizens through equity, so by the international community, through the The legal framework comprises all obligations rating human rights situation in Sri Lanka”. peace and harmony. General Assembly. assumed by Sri Lanka under international hu- They include the “accelerating militarization of In realizing itsvision of ‘vistas of prosperity and Hence, it is important to keep in mind that the man rights treaties and those applicable under civilian government functions, erosion of the in- splendour ’ for Sri Lanka, there remains fervent clearly enunciated mandate is the guiding force customary international law. With regard to dependence of the judiciary … ongoing impunity hope that the government will make a change of all HR Resolutions. LTTE accountability, although a non-state actor and political obstruction of accountability for of course, even at this late stage, to co-operate cannot formally become party to human rights crimes … surveillance and intimidation of civil with the UNHRC in order to come to a mutually Human Rights Mechanisms treaties, it is accepted that non-state groups ex- society and shrinking democratic space, arbitrary acceptable compromise in addressing issues of The UN has established a number of human ercising de facto control over a part of the State’s detentions, allegations of torture”. transitional justice in the best interest of the na- rights mechanisms to monitor the implementa- territory are liable for human rights violations. In view of the above very serious allegations tion. tion of human rights standards worldwide as fol- However, no action has yet been taken by the and in consideration of the aforementioned con- -ENCL lows: government to indict living representatives of ditions, constraints and accountability placed on WEEKEND EXPRESS MARCH 05 - 07, 2021 5 HOT TOPICS

By Elise Blanchard Taliban aid crackdown spreads fear over treatment of women KABUL - Afghan women are being cut off from crucial aid because of a growing Taliban crackdown in areas controlled by the insurgents, more than a dozen relief workers have told AFP. The militants have demanded an end to projects helping women to be more in- dependent and have barred female staff from entering their territory in some ar- eas. "So far the hypothesis is that the Tali- ban have changed, but this is really a con- crete example that they haven't," said one aid worker who did not want to be named. Washington recently lambasted the insurgents for failing to abide by a land- mark deal last year that committed them to honouring a number of security guar- antees. The agreement also called for the with- drawal of foreign troops by May and paved the way for peace talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government. The deal initially raised hopes the in- surgents were open to moderating some of their hardline positions. But people working in pockets of terri- - STR / AFP tory under Taliban control, primarily in northern Afghanistan, say conditions in Protesters wearing protective gear stand behind a barricade as they face off with police during a demonstration against the military some areas deteriorated after the US ac- coup in Naypyidaw on Thursday (4) cord was signed. Fears are growing that the Taliban are waiting for the Americans to leave before After bloodiest day since coup attempting to retake the country by force and reintroduce their draconian vision for Afghan society. The group ruthlessly oppressed women during their brief rule over the country in Myanmar police break up the 1990s, banning them from working outside the home and subjecting them to violent punishments for perceived infrac- tions. The jihadists have since made vague protests again pledges to protect women's rights in Af- ghanistan. YANGON - Myanmar police broke up demon- gener, said in New York that Wednesday was lence and was evaluating how to respond. The In an open letter published last month, strations in several places with tear gas and gun- the bloodiest day since the Feb. 1 coup with 38 United States has told China it expects it to play Taliban co-founder Mullah Abdul Ghani fire on Thursday (4) but there was no immediate deaths, bringing the total toll to more than 50 as a constructive role, he said. China has declined Baradar said the group was "committed word on casualties a day after the United Nations the military tries to impose its authority. to condemn the coup, with Chinese state media to upholding and guaranteeing all rights said 38 people had been killed in the bloodiest “Myanmar’s security forces now seem intent calling it a “major cabinet reshuffle”. of women afforded to them by Islamic day since last month’s coup. on breaking the back of the anti-coup movement The European Union said the shootings of law". Undeterred by the crackdown, activists said through wanton violence and sheer brutality,” unarmed civilians and medical workers were But on the ground, aid groups say the they refused to accept the Feb. 1 military coup said Richard Weir, a researcher at Human Rights clear breaches of international law. It also said group are as uncompromising as ever. and were determined to press for the release of Watch. the military was stepping up repression of the Some say their work is unravelling after elected government leader Aung San Suu Kyi In one particularly brutal incident, a man in media, with a growing number of journalists ar- years of building up delicate relationships and recognition of her victory in a November custody appeared to have been shot in the back, rested. with the insurgents to reach impover- election. the group said. Save the Children said four children were ished Afghan women and girls. “We know that we can always get shot and A spokesman for the ruling military council killed on Wednesday including a 14-year-old boy In a letter addressed to aid groups, the killed with live bullets but there is no meaning did not answer telephone calls seeking comment. who Radio Free Asia reported was shot dead by Taliban warned it was unacceptable for to staying alive under the junta,” said activist Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy par- a soldier on a passing convoy of military trucks. them to "take women out of their homes Maung Saungkha. ty said in a statement that flags would fly at half The soldiers loaded his body onto a truck and in the name of women's economic em- Police later opened fire and used tear gas to mast at its offices to commemorate the dead. left, according to the report. powerment, education and sports pro- break up protests in Yangon and the central town Schraner Burgener said she warned Myanmar Images of a 19-year-old woman, one of two grams". of Monywa, witnesses said. Police also fired in deputy military chief Soe Win that the military shot dead in Mandalay, showed her wearing a T- Pressure against these kinds of pro- the town of Pathein, to the west of Yangon, me- was likely to face strong measures from some shirt that read ‘Everything will be OK’. grams are not new, but are becoming "a dia reported. countries and isolation in retaliation for the Police in Yangon ordered three medics out lot more official and widespread", a sen- Protesters gathered elsewhere including in the coup. of an ambulance and beat them with gun butts ior humanitarian aid manager said. historic temple town of Bagan where hundreds “The answer was: ‘We are used to sanctions, and batons, video broadcast by US-funded Radio "When you receive a letter from the marched carrying pictures of Suu Kyi and a ban- and we survived’,” she told reporters. “When I Free Asia showed. Reuters was unable to verify Taliban, they're not joking at all, you have ner saying: “Free our leader”, a witness said. also warned they will go (into) isolation, the an- the video independently. to apply it," said another official working In some parts of Yangon, protesters hung swer was: ‘We have to learn to walk with only few The military justified the coup by saying its with an international aid group. sheets and sarongs on lines across the street to friends’.” complaints of voter fraud in the Nov. 8 vote were After nearly 40 years of conflict, Af- obscure the view of police aiming their guns. The UN Security Council is due to discuss the ignored. Suu Kyi’s party won by a landslide, ghanistan is almost entirely reliant on They also uncoiled barbed wire to reinforce bar- situation on Friday (5) in a closed meeting, dip- earning a second term. international aid and the Taliban appear ricades. lomats said. The election commission said the vote was fair. set on bringing humanitarian workers to Five fighter jets made several low passes in for- UN Special Rapporteur Tom Andrews said the Junta leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing heel. mation over the second city of Mandalay early on “systematic brutality” of the military was again has pledged to hold new elections but given no "Aid workers and the relief they pro- Thursday, residents said, in what appeared to be on display. time frame. vide seem to have fallen in the crosshairs a show of military might. “I urge members of the UN Security Council Suu Kyi, 75, has been held incommunicado of the Taliban's attempts to portray them- On Wednesday (3), police and soldiers opened to view the photos/videos of the shocking vio- since the coup but appeared at a court hearing selves as a governing entity," said Inter- fire with live rounds with little warning in sev- lence,” he said on Twitter. via video conferencing this week and looked in national Crisis Group analyst Andrew eral cities and towns, witnesses said. UN special US State Department spokesman Ned Price good health, a lawyer said. Watkins. envoy on Myanmar, Christine Schraner Bur- said the United States was “appalled” by the vio- -Reuters Afghan women working with aid groups who once regularly travelled to insurgent- held enclaves in the north say they have been blocked by the Taliban from enter- ing certain areas to work. By Richard Pérez Peña and Abdi Latif Dahir "We tried a lot to convince them but they said no, not having women," one aid worker told AFP. Another group said they had been forced to send only male staff to Smugglers throw migrants overboard oversee certain projects in Taliban areas. A staff member from that organisation At least 20 are feared drowned said it decided to not recruit women to work on a new aid project as a result. Smugglers threw 80 migrants into the sea be- of Africans cross the sea to war-torn Yemen, in- Obock, a small port town in Djibouti, he said. "They said they won't have access so tween the Horn of Africa and the Arabian Penin- tending to make the dangerous journey through In one case in 2017, at least 50 people drowned. there's no point of having someone sit sula on Wednesday (3), and at least 20 of them that country to one of the wealthy Gulf states, Some migrants have reported being beaten with in the office," said the staff member who are believed to have drowned, in the third inci- where they hope to find work — just as many oth- sticks and metal bars to force them off the boats. was working for the organization. dent of its kind in less than six months, United ers cross the Mediterranean Sea, hoping to reach Others say that once at sea, smugglers have In areas where the Taliban are more Nations migration officials said. Europe. demanded more than the agreed-upon price, flexible, Afghan women aid workers are The smugglers had packed about 200 mi- The coronavirus pandemic has brought an eco- threatening to throw them overboard if they fail required to wear burqas, must be accom- grants, including children, onto a boat in Djibou- nomic slowdown and new travel restrictions, sig- to pay. panied by a male chaperone from their ti that was bound for Yemen, crossing the nar- nificantly reducing the flow of migrants into the “Prosecuting traffickers and smugglers who family and have to watch what they say. row mouth of the Red Sea, according to Yvonne Arabian states. They have also been scapegoated prey on the vulnerabilities of migrants must be "We do not use the terms 'human Ndege, regional spokeswoman for the Interna- in Yemen as carriers of the virus, making the trip a priority,” António Vitorino, director-general of rights' or 'women's rights' because they tional Organization for Migration, a UN agency more perilous. the IOM, wrote on Twitter on Wednesday. are sensitive words," said one aid worker. known as IOM. Many migrants who lost their jobs in the Gulf Djibouti is a tiny country, smaller in area than Others say travel has become increas- About a half-hour after leaving shore, the in the past year have made the trip in reverse, New Hampshire, with fewer than 1 million peo- ingly dangerous and they risk getting smugglers began shouting that there were too and thousands have spent time in IOM quaran- ple, wedged between Ethiopia, Somalia and Eri- caught in fire-fights, with the Taliban en- many people on board, and threw dozens of them tine facilities in Djibouti. trea. gaged in fierce battles with Afghan secu- overboard, she said. At least five bodies had been Mohammed Abdiker, the Horn of Africa di- The major city and capital, also called Djibouti, rity forces over territory. pulled from the water by Wednesday night, she rector of the UN agency, tweeted that in two in- lies only about 80 miles from the Yemeni coast. "When we travel, we take blood on our added, and survivors were being treated at an stances in October and in the incident Wednes- In some places, the strait between the two coun- hands," another aid worker told AFP. IOM center in Djibouti. day, dozens have died at the hands of smugglers tries narrows to less than 17 miles, making it a "Because we are usually (caught) in cross- No information was immediately available who forced people overboard. The people were prime crossing location. fire." about the migrants, but every year, thousands thrown into the sea Wednesday off the coast of -New York Times - Agence France-Presse 6 MARCH 05 - 07, 2021 WEEKEND EXPRESS REALITY CHECK

By Isabel Kershner ICC will investigate accusations of war crimes in Israeli-occupied territories JERUSALEM — The International Criminal Court (ICC) announced Wednesday (3) it was opening an investigation into allegations of war crimes by Israel and Palestinian militant groups in territories occupied by Israel in 1967. The decision, which infuriated many Israelis but was welcomed by the Palestinian leadership and its supporters, came six years after the court began a preliminary investigation of Israeli ac- tions in the territories and just weeks after a rul- ing by the court that it had jurisdiction there. The court’s outgoing chief prosecutor, Fa- touBensouda, said in a statement Wednesday that the investigation would cover crimes that were al- leged to have been committed since June 13, 2014, shortly before the start of that summer’s devastat- ing, 50-day Gaza war. - Tyler Hicks/The New York Times Some of Israel’s airstrikes during the war, which The funeral of a COVID-19 victim in Manaus, Brazil, May 19, 2020. Brazil is seeing a record number of deaths from the coronavirus — a led to many Palestinian civilian deaths, are likely spike partly explained by the spread of a more contagious variant and a growing disregard for precautionary to be one focus of the inquiry, as is the indiscrimi- nate rocket fire by Palestinian militant groups By Manuela Andreoni, Ernesto Londoño and Letícia Casado against Israeli civilian communities. Israel’s con- tinued settlement construction will also come un- der scrutiny. Scientists say The court ruled that its areas of jurisdiction included the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem. “To both Palestinian and Israeli victims and affected communities, we urge patience,” Ben- Brazil’s COVID-19 crisis is a warning souda’s statement read. It added, “Investigations take time, and they must be grounded objectively in facts and law”. Among the operational chal- lenges the court faced, it said, were the pandemic, the limited resources available to it and its current to the whole world heavy workload. RIO DE JANEIRO — COVID-19 has already By January, scientists had discovered that a Juliana Cunha, a nurse in Rio de Janeiro who Israel is unlikely to cooperate formally with left a trail of death and despair in Brazil, one of new variant, which became known as P.1, had has been working at COVID-19 testing centres, the inquiry or to allow investigators into the ter- the worst in the world. Now, a year into the pan- become dominant in the state. Within weeks, its said she assumed she was safe after catching the ritories it controls, meaning that investigators will demic, the country is setting another wrenching danger became clear as hospitals in the city ran virus in June. But in November, after experienc- likely have to take testimony abroad. record. out of oxygen amid a crush of patients, leading ing mild symptoms, she tested positive again. Israel has accused the court, which is based in No other nation that experienced such a ma- scores to suffocate to death. “I couldn’t believe it,” Cunha, 23, said. “It The Hague, in the Netherlands, of acting out of jor outbreak is still grappling with record-set- Dr. Antonio Souza remains haunted by the must be the variants.” political motivation in the case and without valid ting death tolls and a health care system on the horrified faces of his colleagues and relatives of But there is no way to be sure what is happen- legal basis. Palestinian leaders and human rights brink of collapse. Many other hard-hit nations patients when it became clear his Manaus hos- ing to people who are re-infected, unless both organizations have hailed the court’s efforts so far are, instead, taking tentative steps toward a pital’s oxygen supply had been exhausted. He their old and new samples are kept, genetically as a step toward justice for the victims. semblance of normalcy. thinks about the patient he sedated, to spare her sequenced and compared. A new prosecutor, Karim Khan, a British law- But Brazil is battling a more contagious vari- an agonizing death, when the oxygen ran out at One way to tamp down the surge would be yer, will take over in June when Bensouda’s term ant that has trampled one major city and is another clinic. through vaccinations, but the rollout in Brazil, ends. Khan is not necessarily bound by Bensou- spreading to others, even as Brazilians toss “Nobody should ever have to make that deci- as in so many countries, has been slow. da’s decision. Lawyers familiar with the court and away precautionary measures that could keep sion,” he said. “It’s too terrible.” Brazil began vaccinating priority groups, in- colleagues of Khan said they did not know Khan’s them safe. Maria Glaudimar, a nurse in Manaus, said she cluding health care professionals and the el- position on the case. On Tuesday (2), Brazil recorded more than felt trapped in a nightmare early this year with derly, in late January. But the government has The Palestinian Authority’s Ministry of Foreign 1,700 COVID-19 deaths, the highest single-day no end in sight. At work, patients and their rela- failed to secure a large enough number of doses. Affairs urged a prompt conclusion of the inves- toll of the pandemic. tives pleaded for oxygen, and all the intensive Wealthier countries have snapped up most of tigation, saying that “the crimes committed by “The acceleration of the epidemic in various care beds were full. At home, her son caught tu- the available supply, while Bolsonaro has been officials of the occupying power against the Pal- states is leading to the collapse of their public berculosis after contracting COVID-19, and her sceptical both of the disease’s impact and of estinian people are ongoing, systematic and wide- and private hospital systems, which may soon husband shed 22 pounds as he fought the virus. vaccines. spread.” become the case in every region of Brazil,” the “No one was prepared for this,” Glaudimar Just over 5.8 million Brazilians — roughly HusamZomlot, head of the Palestinian mission national association of health secretaries said said. “It was a horror film.” 2.6% of the population — had received at least to Britain, called the investigation “a source of re- in a statement. “Sadly, the anaemic rollout of Since then, the coronavirus crisis has eased one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine as of Tuesday, assurance about the international legal and justice vaccines and the slow pace at which they’re be- somewhat in Amazonas but worsened in most according to the health ministry. Only about 1.5 system.” coming available still does not suggest that this of Brazil. million had received both doses. The country is “For many years, international order has been scenario will be reversed in the short term.” Scientists have scrambled to learn more currently using the Chinese-made CoronaVac — incomplete, incapable and lagging behind, but we And the news just got worse for Brazil — and about the variant and to track its spread across which laboratory tests suggest is less effective are finally seeing the international system under- possibly the world. the country. But limited resources for testing against P.1 than against other variants — and take its responsibility to hold Israel accountable,” Preliminary studies suggest that the variant have kept them behind the curve as they try to the one made by British-Swedish pharmaceuti- he added. that swept through the city of Manaus is not determine what role it is playing. cal company AstraZeneca. Regarding the possibility of Palestinians also only more contagious, but it also appears able to Anderson Brito, a Brazilian virus expert at MargarethDalcolmo, a pulmonologist at Fi- being investigated for war crimes, he said: “We infect some people who have already recovered Yale University, said his lab alone sequenced ocruz, a prominent scientific research centre, are committed to international law, regulations from other versions of the virus. And the variant almost half as many coronavirus genomes as said Brazil’s failure to mount a robust vaccina- and rules. Period. We have always wanted to end has slipped Brazil’s borders, showing up in two all of Brazil had. While the United States has tion campaign set the stage for the current cri- impunity with regard to Israel. So we will accept dozen other countries and in small numbers in done genetic sequencing on roughly one in 200 sis. international law in full, and we will defend our- the United States. confirmed cases, Brazil sequences about one in “We should be vaccinating more than a mil- selves. International law can’t be subdivided.” That danger of new variants has not been lost 3,000. lion people per day,” she said. “That is the truth. The court’s latest announcement comes as a on scientists around the world. Rochelle Walen- The variant spread quickly. By the end of Jan- We aren’t, not because we don’t know how to do diplomatic blow to Israel. Prime Minister Benja- sky, director of the US Centres for Disease Con- uary, a study by government researchers found it, but because we don’t have enough vaccines.” min Netanyahu denounced it in a video statement trol and Prevention, pleaded with Americans it was present in 91% of samples sequenced in Health Minister Eduardo Pazuello, who called as “undiluted anti-Semitism and the height of hy- this week not to let their guards down. “Please the state of Amazonas. By the end of February, the variant a “new stage” of the pandemic, said pocrisy”. hear me clearly,” she said. “At this level of cases health officials had reported cases of the P.1 last week that the government was ramping up He described Israel as being “under attack” and with variants spreading, we stand to completely variant in 21 of 26 Brazilian states, but without its efforts and hopes to vaccinate roughly half of pledged that “we will never stop fighting this in- lose the hard-earned ground we’ve gained.” more testing it is hard to gauge its prevalence. its population by June and the rest by the end justice. We will speak the truth in every forum, in Brazilians hoped they had seen the worst of Throughout the pandemic, researchers have of the year. every country, on every stage until this outrageous the outbreak last year. Manaus, capital of the said that COVID-19 re-infections appear to be But many Brazilians have little faith in a gov- decision is reversed and becomes null and void.” northern state of Amazonas, was hit so hard in extremely rare, which has allowed people who ernment led by a president who has sabotaged The Israeli foreign minister, Gabi Ashkenazi, April and May that scientists wondered if the recover to presume they have immunity, at least lockdowns, repeatedly downplayed the threat of a centrist and a former Army chief of staff, also city might have reached herd immunity. for a while. But that was before P.1 appeared the virus and promoted untested remedies long denounced the prosecutor’s decision as “morally But then in September, cases in the state be- and doctors and nurses began to notice some- after scientists said they clearly did not work. bankrupt and legally flawed.” gan rising again, perplexing health officials. An thing strange. Just last week, the president spoke dismiss- “This is a political decision made by a prosecu- attempt by Amazonas Gov. Wilson Lima to im- JoãoAlho, a doctor in Santarém, a city in ively of masks, which are among the best de- tor at the end of her term in an attempt to dictate pose a new quarantine ahead of the Christmas Pará, a state that borders Amazonas, said that fences to curb contagion, claiming that they are her successor’s priorities,” he said. “It turns the holiday was met with fierce resistance by busi- several colleagues who recovered from COV- harmful to children, causing headaches and dif- court into a tool in the hands of extremist actors ness owners and prominent politicians close to ID-19 months ago had fallen ill again and tested ficulty concentrating. and emboldens terrorist organizations and anti- President Jair Bolsonaro. positive. -New York Times Semitic groups.” The United States joined Israel in rejecting the court’s ruling last month that it had jurisdiction in the case, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken Freedom House 2020 said in a statement Wednesday that the United States was against the investigation. “The United States firmly opposes and is deep- India downgrade from ‘free’ to ‘partly free’ ly disappointed by this decision. The ICC has no jurisdiction over this matter,” Blinken said. “We WASHINGTON - Freedom House has down- House said in its annual report on Wednesday ings, it said that less than 20% of the world’s will continue to uphold our strong commitment to graded India from free to partly free, voicing (3). “Under Modi, India appears to have aban- population lives in free countries, the lowest Israel and its security, including by opposing ac- fear that the world’s largest democracy was doned its potential to serve as a global demo- since 1995. tions that seek to target Israel unfairly.” descending into authoritarianism under Prime cratic leader, elevating narrow Hindu nation- Freedom House also voiced alarm at deterio- However, Blinken added, “the United States re- Minister Narendra Modi. alist interests at the expense of its founding rations in Hong Kong, where Beijing imposed mains deeply committed to ensuring justice and The democracy research institute, which is values of inclusion and equal rights for all.” a draconian new security law; Belarus, where accountability for international atrocity crimes.” independent but receives funding from the Freedom House also pointed to the “ham- strongman Alexander Lukashenko has held The court’s defiance of US wishes could “en- United States, pointed to mob violence against fisted” COVID-19 lockdown ordered by Modi onto power despite protests following elections hance the reputation of the court as a genuinely Muslims, intimidation of journalists and ris- in which enormous numbers of workers who widely seen as unfair; and Ethiopia, where No- independent body,” said William Schabas, a for- ing judicial interference since Modi’s Hindu lacked resources were obliged to walk across bel Peace Prize-winning Prime Minister Abiy mer chairman of the UN Gaza Commission and a nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won the country to their villages. Ahmed launched a military campaign in which well-known expert on international law and pro- power in 2014. “The ruling Hindu nationalist movement rights groups have reported major abuses. fessor at Middlesex University in London. “Rather than serving as a champion of also encouraged the scapegoating of Muslims, The United States remained classified as free Any arrest warrants in the case are not expected democratic practice and a counterweight to who were disproportionately blamed for the following Donald Trump’s turbulent presiden- any time soon and are not up to the prosecution. authoritarian influence from countries such as spread of the virus and faced attacks by vigi- cy but Freedom House warned of the “parlous It will have to take its conclusions to a panel of China, Modi and his party are tragically driving lante mobs,” it said. With the decline of the state of US democracy”. judges, who can then issue or refuse warrants. India itself toward authoritarianism,” Freedom billion-plus nation in Freedom House’s rank- - Al Jazeera/Agencies -New York Times WEEKEND EXPRESS MARCH 05 - 07, 2021 7 RETHINKING AMERICA

By Maria Jimenez Moya, Campbell Robertson, Erin Coulehan and James Dobbins Neanderthal thinking Biden denounces states for lifting orders on masks; experts plead for vigilance

HOUSTON — President Joe Biden on Wednesday (3) strongly criticized the deci- sions by the governors of Texas and Missis- sippi to lift state-wide mask mandates, call- ing the plans “a big mistake” that reflected “Neanderthal thinking”, as his administra- tion tries to manage the pandemic while state leaders set their own plans. The president said it was critical for public officials to follow the guidance of doctors and public health leaders as the coronavirus vaccination campaign gains momentum. “The last thing we need is Neanderthal thinking that in the meantime, everything’s fine, take off your mask and forget it,” Biden told reporters at the White House. “It’s critical, critical, critical, critical that they follow the science.” “Wear a mask and stay socially dis- tanced,” he added. “And I know you all know that. I wish the heck some of our elected officials knew it.” The sudden announcement Tuesday (2) by Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas that he would - John Moore/Getty Images/NYT lift a state-wide mask requirement and al- New temporary restrictions quietly issued by the Biden administration require the military and the CIA to obtain White House permission before low all businesses to operate at full capac- carrying out drone strikes in regions with few American troops on the ground ity was a surprising development in a state where vaccinations considerably trail the national average, more than 7,000 new cases are being reported a day and, in re- cent weeks, ominous variants of the virus By Charlie Savage and Eric Schmitt have appeared. The decision by Abbott, a Republican, frustrated public health experts and a range of city officials, coming two weeks after a large winter storm collapsed the state’s power grid and left millions of Tex- Biden secretly limits counterterrorism ans without power or water, potentially fuelling the spread of disease. Still, the move was welcomed by some Texans, particularly those whose liveli- hoods and businesses have suffered over drone strikes away from war zones the past year. “I’m proud to be Texan and WASHINGTON — The Biden administration dent Barack Obama’s vice president, Biden was the context of evolving counterterrorism threats this is the first step to bring Texas back,” has quietly imposed temporary limits on coun- part of a previous administration that oversaw in order to refine our approach going forward,” said Amber Rodriguez, 32, who owns an terterrorism drone strikes and commando raids a major escalation in targeted killings using re- she said. “In addition, the review will seek to en- air-conditioning company in Houston. outside conventional battlefield zones like Af- mote-piloted aircraft in its first term, and then sure appropriate transparency measures.” But for many other Texans, the an- ghanistan and Syria, and it has begun a broad imposed significant new restraints on the prac- Among the issues said to be under considera- nouncement, framed as long-awaited relief review of whether to tighten Trump-era rules for tice in its second. tion is whether to tighten a limit intended to pre- after an exhausting stretch of isolation and such operations, according to officials. While the Biden administration still permits vent civilian bystander casualties in such opera- hardship, was anything but reassuring for The military and the CIA must now obtain counterterrorism strikes outside active war tions. The current rules generally require “near a state that has recorded more than 44,000 White House permission to attack terrorism sus- zones, the additional review and bureaucratic certainty” that no women or children are present deaths and nearly 2.7 million cases. If any- pects in poorly governed places where there are hurdles it has imposed may explain a recent lull in the strike zone, but the Trump team appar- thing, some said, it would only prolong scant US ground troops, like Somalia and Yemen. in such operations. ently permitted operators to use a lower standard the misery. Sylvester Turner, the mayor of Under the Trump administration, they had been The US military’s Africa Command has carried of merely “reasonable certainty” that no civilian Houston, called the announcement a “dan- allowed to decide for themselves whether circum- out about half a dozen airstrikes this calendar adult men were likely to be killed, the officials gerous” attempt “to deflect from the state- stances on the ground met certain conditions and year in Somalia targeting al-Shabab, a terrorist said. wide failure” in handling the storm. Mayor an attack was justified. group affiliated with al-Qaida — but all were be- Permitting that greater risk of killing civilian Ron Nirenberg of San Antonio called it a Officials characterized the tighter controls as fore Jan. 20. men made it easier for the military and the CIA to “huge mistake”. Dr. Victor Treviño, the a stopgap while the Biden administration re- Emily Horne, a spokesperson for the National meet the standards to fire missiles. But it is also health authority of Laredo, said he feared viewed how targeting worked — both on paper Security Council, acknowledged that Biden had routine for civilian men to be armed in the kinds that the decision would “eliminate all the and in practice — under former President Donald issued “interim guidance” about the use of mili- of lawless badlands and failed states for which the gains that we have achieved.” Trump and developed its own policy and proce- tary force and related national security opera- rules are written. “We know from the science that masks dures for counterterrorism kill-or-capture opera- tions. Among the trade-offs under discussion, offi- work and that social distancing works,” tions outside war zones, including how to mini- “The purpose of the interim guidance is to en- cials said, is that intelligence-gathering resources said Dr. Katelyn Jetelina, an epidemiolo- mize the risk of civilian casualties. sure the president has full visibility on proposed are finite. gist with UTHealth School of Public Health The Biden administration did not announce significant actions into these areas while the Na- For example, keeping surveillance drones over in Dallas, who believed that the upheaval the new limits. But the national security adviser, tional Security Council staff leads a thorough in- a potential strike zone for a longer period to watch of the winter storm, the arrival of new virus Jake Sullivan, issued the order Jan. 20, the day of teragency review of the extant authorizations and who comes and goes means rendering them less strains and the governor’s planned reopen- President Joe Biden’s inauguration, said the of- delegations of presidential authority with respect available for other operations. ing, which goes into effect March 10, would ficials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to these matters,” Horne said. Biden administration officials are also discuss- further postpone any return to normalcy. to discuss internal deliberations. The Biden administration’s review of legal and ing whether to write general rules that are more “We have a lot of things going against us Any changes resulting from the review would policy frameworks governing targeting is still in strictly applied than the Trump-era system some- right now.” be the latest turn in a long-running evolution of preliminary stages. times was in practice. Since the start of the pandemic about a rules for drone strikes outside conventional bat- Officials are said to be gathering data, like of- They discovered that the Trump system was year ago, states have not taken a unified tlefield zones, a gray-area intermittent combat ficial estimates of civilian casualties in both mili- very flexible and allowed officials to craft pro- approach to the coronavirus. Even within action that has become central to America’s long- tary and CIA strikes outside of battlefield zones cedures for strikes in particular countries using states, restrictions have varied widely from running counterterrorism wars that took root during the Trump era. lower standards than those laid out in the general one county to the next. At the time of Ab- with the response to the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. No decisions have been made about what the policy, so that administration’s safeguards were bott’s announcement, 12 other states had Counterterrorism drone warfare has reached new rules will be, Horne said. “This review in- sometimes stronger on paper than in reality. no state-wide mask mandate — a number its fourth administration with Biden. As Presi- cludes an examination of previous approaches in -New York Times that grew to 13 when the mandate ended in Mississippi on Wednesday night. South Dakota never had one. But the decision to reopen Texas, with its 29 million residents, comes at a deli- cate time in the punishing season of the By Catie Edmondson and Michael D. Shear coronavirus, as public health officials plead with people to not let impatience outrun prudence. With vaccinations steadily roll- Inspector General’s report finds ing out nationwide and the worst of the pandemic appearing now to have an end date, the guidance from health experts and Ex-White House doctor bullied colleagues and drank on the job federal health officials has been consistent: WASHINGTON — Ronny Jackson, the White ny is strong on Crime and Borders, GREAT for or under the influence of a powerful sleeping Keep your guard up a little while longer. House doctor who rhapsodized about Donald J. our Military and Vets,” Jackson went on to win a drug while he was responsible for the president’s “Now is not the time to release all re- Trump’s “incredible genes” and went on to win a Republican primary in Texas and was elected to health and safety. strictions,” Dr. Rochelle Walensky, direc- Texas congressional seat with the former presi- Congress in 2020. The report painted a picture of a physician who tor of the Centres for Disease Control and dent’s help, cursed and belittled his subordinates, On Wednesday, Jackson vehemently disputed engaged in reckless and sometimes threatening Prevention, said at a White House briefing drank and took sleeping pills on the job, and sex- the findings of the report. In a statement released behaviour that created a toxic environment for Wednesday. ually harassed a woman, according to a detailed by his congressional office, he accused the Penta- subordinates. Federal officials have urged people to report released Wednesday (3) by the Pentagon’s gon’s investigators, who are nonpartisan, of seek- Nearly all of the 60 witnesses interviewed by keep wearing masks, and to double them inspector general. ing to punish him for his support of Trump. investigators described Jackson’s “screaming, up. Dr. Anthony Fauci, Biden’s chief medi- His effusive praise of Trump later helped win The searing report, which came after a nearly cursing” behaviour and his “yelling, screeching, cal adviser for COVID-19, suggested that him a nomination to become the secretary of Vet- three-year investigation started by Glenn A. Fine, rage, tantrums and meltdowns” when dealing masks may even be needed for another erans Affairs. But Trump abandoned the nomi- the acting inspector general for the Defence De- with subordinates. year. “When it goes way down, and the nation after news accounts reported that Jack- partment at the time, went further than previous Investigators were unable to corroborate accu- overwhelming majority of the people in the son was a bully to his staff, kept sloppy medical news reports. sations in 2018 by Senate Democrats that Jack- population are vaccinated, then I would records, drank too much and loosely dispensed It concluded that “Jackson’s overall course of son crashed a government vehicle after becoming feel comfortable in saying, ‘We need to pull strong drugs on Air Force One and in the White conduct toward subordinates disparaged, belit- intoxicated at a going-away party for a Secret Ser- back on the masks,’ ” he said in a recent in- House to curry favour with top officials. With the tled, bullied and humiliated them,” and docu- vice agent. terview on CNN. endorsement of Trump, who tweeted that “Ron- mented instances in which Jackson was drunk -New York Times -New York Times 8 MARCH 05 - 07, 2021 WEEKEND EXPRESS COMMENTARY

By Kassapa Will it be Hobson’s choice for the Cardinal? Like God, Presidential Commissions of Inquiry also work in mysterious ways- and it certainly has, with re- gard to the Commission probing the Easter Sunday terror attacks of April 2019 and former President Maithripala Sirisena and the government find themselves in a fright- ful dilemma as a result. The first ‘committee of inquiry’ was appointed by then President Maithripala Sirisena, a day after the attacks, shortly after he returned from Singapore. While that com- mittee was sitting, the Parliament, which was at logger- heads with Sirisena, appointed its Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) to probe the events of that Sunday. The two committees ran in parallel. At one stage, there was the farcical spectacle of members of President Sirisena’s committee being asked to give evidence before the PSC. Sirisena himself was summoned before the PSC. The next day, he hit back, appointing a five member Presidential – Tamil Guardian Commission of Inquiry. The Commission comprised four Perhaps for the first time since the 70s, Tamils of all hues – Jaffna and Easterners, Muslims and Tamils of Indian origin – came judges and a retired senior official. That was in Septem- together, across political affiliations, to march peacefully for five days to voice their demands ber 2019. Unfortunately for Sirisena, by the time the Commis- By R. Hariharan sion conducted their inquiries and submitted an interim report, it was December 2019. By that time, Gotabaya Ra- In a month of forgettable performance japaksa had become President, having won the presiden- tial election a month earlier. A second interim report was submitted in March 2020. The final report was submit- ted almost a year later, just a few weeks ago. Sri Lanka’s ineptitude in handling foreign The final report has now more or less been made pub- lic. It recommends criminal proceedings against former President Sirisena and several other senior officials including former Inspector General of Police Pujith- relations laid bare Jayasundara and then Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fer- nando. If the happenings during the month of Febru- ers. Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa who is fectively, in accordance with the 13th Amend- Spare a thought for Sirisena. The recommendation ary in Sri Lanka are any indication, the govern- politically savvy, would remember that the P2P ment. against him is sheer irony. It was Sirisena who appointed ment of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, voted to was reminiscent of the early 70s, when Tamils It asks Sri Lanka to provide sufficient resourc- this Commission of inquiry. The same Commission has power by 6.9 million Sinhalese to restore Sin- started projecting their demands for autonomy es and technical means for effective functioning now recommended criminal proceedings against him. hala pride and Buddha Sasana as he claims, did peacefully. It later snowballed into Satyagraha of the Office on Missing Persons and the Office The good Buddhist that he is, Sirisena must believe in not cover itself with glory. This was evident in movement under Dr. S. J. V. Chelvanayakam’s for Reparations and stresses the importance of karma, but this is poetic justice at its harshest. the government conduct on three issues, which leadership and opened the gates for Tamil sepa- maintaining support to these institutions, “safe- The Commission castigates the former President for peaked during the month – troubled ethnic rela- ratist struggle. guarding their independent functioning.” not appointing an Acting Minister of Defence when he tions, the handling of the United Nations Human Wasted opportunity at UNHRC It expresses serious concern over emerg- travelled overseas and for not allowing Prime Minister Rights Council (UNHRC) meeting on Sri Lanka’s ing trends over the past year, which “represent Ranil Wickremesinghe to attend meetings of the National human rights accountability, and challenges of The four-week long 46th session of the United clearly early warning signs of a deteriorating hu- Security (NSC) after the constitutional crisis six months governance. Perhaps, the bonhomie showed by Nation’s Human Rights Council (UNHRC) con- man rights situation in Sri Lanka, including the prior to the attack. It is even more damning in its obser- visiting Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, ducted virtually, has so far gone according to accelerating militarization of civilian functions, vations about Sirisena’s integrity when the ex-President despite accusations of Islamophobia voiced by script. Human Rights Commissioner Michelle erosion of the independence of the judiciary and has proclaimed his innocence throughout, insisting that Muslim minority, was the only moment of cheer Bechelet’s report was taken up for discussion, key institutions responsible for the promotion he had no knowledge of intelligence warnings of an im- for the government. with 40 countries presenting their views in the and protection of human rights, ongoing impu- pending attack. It notes that the Director of the State In- interactive dialogue that followed. Significance of P2P march nity and political obstruction of accountability telligence Services Nilantha Jayawardena made several Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena’s ad- for crimes and human rights violations in em- calls to the Presidential Secretariat in April 2019, prior to Perhaps for the first time since the 70s, Tam- dress was largely defensive, trying to counter blematic cases.” Sirisena leaving on his overseas visit. ils of all hues – Jaffna and Easterners, Muslims Bechelet’s report with recycled arguments, rath- Presumably, the draft resolution would be Having observed the close connection between the two, and Tamils of Indian origin (Up country Tamils) er than breaking new ground to tone down the toned down in its final form; but the writing on the Commission, “on a balance of probability” concluded – came together, across political affiliations, to damage caused by the report. He said her report the wall is clear – Sri Lanka cannot do business that Jayawardena did convey details of intelligence re- march peacefully for five days to voice their de- has “unjustifiably broadened its mandate and as usual, if it wants to maintain its win-win rela- ports pertaining to a possible attack to the former Presi- mands. They covered a distance of 750 km from scope” to incorporate many issues of governance tions with its traditional Western allies. India in dent. In other words, it accuses Sirisena of lying. Former the Eastern town of Pottuvil to Polikandy in Jaff- and matters that are essentially domestic, and 2010 had provided valuable support to Sri Lanka Prime Minister Wickremesinghehas also been admon- na in the North, to draw attention to demands, dismissed the previous resolutions brought at in the UNHRC in shaping the final resolution. ished for not publicizing the issue of not being invited for ignored by successive governments, as well as the UNHRC as politically motivated. Few would With China assuring Sri Lanka its support in in- meetings of the NSC noting that he should have raised concerns on current issues. be convinced by his argument that the former ternational forums, how would India handle Sri the matter in Cabinet or Parliament. However, ever the The march held from February 3 to 9, now Sri Lanka government decision to co-sponsor Lanka’s request for help in the UNHRC, remains escape artiste who survives to fight another day, Wick- embedded in Tamil lore as P2P, did not draw UNHRC Resolution 30/1 resulted in compro- to be seen when the final resolution takes shape. remesinghe gets away with a slap on the wrists, with no much attention in mainstream media, though mising national security, which eventually led to Future recommendations against him. Tamil media estimated the participation of a the Easter attacks of 2019. Where does this leave Sirisena now and perhaps more thousand people. Apparently, it was timed to Representatives of the UK, Germany, Canada, Alan Keenan of the International Crisis Group importantly, where does this lead the government? draw international attention on the eve of the Norway and the US shared the concerns raised summed up the situation in Sri Lanka in his pa- President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, in his Independence UNHRC meeting slated to discuss Sri Lanka’s by the OCHR and called upon Sri Lanka to share per, “The Rajapaksa family’s return to govern- Day address to the nation pledged that he would be in- human rights accountability issue. The proceed- a time table for the implementation of the rec- ment has put an end to tentative efforts to ad- structing the attorney general to pursue action against ings of the UNHRC session, so far, indicates ommendations mentioned in the report. dress the legacy of civil war and brought in more those responsible for the Easter bombings and the Cen- they had achieved their aim. The P2P march is India did not allow the recent hiccups in its centralized, militarized government, anchored tral Bank bond scam. Now, he could do just that because a watershed moment for a number of reasons. relations with Sri Lanka to highlight the core as- in Sinhala majoritarianism. As Sri Lanka’s long- that is what the Commission has recommended but do- For the first time, besides Tamils from north and pects of Sri Lanka’s human rights issue. India’s standing ethno-religious tensions continue to ing so would throw Sirisena to the wolves. east, plantation Tamils and Muslims had joined Permanent Representative, Indra Mani Pan- linger, the presence of hard-line Sinhala nation- Sirisena, though not in the Cabinet, is still a key mem- hands to project their demands peacefully. It dey, noted that India was an active participant alists in power rules out any accommodation ber of the government. He is still the leader of the Sri was led by civil society organizations, with Tamil in the discussions on the seven resolutions on of Tamil political claims. Once-fringe ideas of Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) which contributes more and Muslim political parties taking a back seat. the question of human rights in Sri Lanka since militant Buddhist groups regarding violence and than a dozen parliamentarians to the government. With- Slogans raised at the march voiced, much 2009 and Sri Lanka remained a close friend and hate speech against Muslims are increasingly be- out them, the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) led more than longstanding demands of Tamils of immediate neighbour. ing adopted as government policy.” government will not command a two-thirds majority, North and East, like forcibly disappeared, vaca- “We believe that respecting the rights of the The Rajapaksa government has so far shown which will come in handy if they are to enact a new Con- tion of land under occupation of security forces Tamil community through meaningful devolu- neither the willingness, nor the ability, to tackle stitution. Throw Sirisena at the mercy of the legal system and release of LTTE suspects still in custody tion contributes directly to the unity and integ- these issues dispassionately. The Rajapaksas and the government risks losing the support of the SLFP, without due legal process. They also protested rity of Sri Lanka.” Therefore, she added India ad- weakest link is the ineptitude in handling foreign lock stock and barrel. Even now, it is making noises to against denial of burial rites to Muslim victims vocated “delivering on the legitimate aspirations relations, which has caused maximum damage that effect. Their members are livid, even though Sirisena of COVID-19 pandemic, continued recourse to of the Tamil community is in the best interest of to the country. This was seen in all critical situa- must take most of the blame because this is the Commis- Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), denial of Sri Lanka.” India called upon Sri Lanka to take tions: continued insensitivity in handling India’s sion he himself appointed. So, Rajapaksa does the next minimum wage of Rs 1000 per day to plantation steps to address such aspirations through rec- concerns, embarrassing the new US administra- best thing. He appoints yet another committee of minis- Tamils and aberrations of Sinhala majoritarian onciliation and full implementation of the 13th tion by undiplomatic comments, and clumsiness ters led by elder brother, Chamal Rajapaksa. Unsurpris- rule against minorities. This would indicate, the Amendment to the Constitution. in handling Prime Minister Imran Khan’s visit to ingly, the other members are Johnston Fernando, Udaya patience of minority population is wearing thin Sri Lanka is worried about the new draft reso- Colombo and the inability to strategize the ap- Gammanpila, Ramesh Pathirana, Prasanna Ranatunga over the government’s continued indifference to lution put forward by the Core Group led by UK, proach to the UNHRC session. The after effects and Rohitha Abeygunawardena. their grievances. This increases the likelihood of which would be voted on March 22. Sri Lanka of this weakness are likely to impact the country Barring the elder Rajapaksa and Pathirana, all of the minority politicians coming together for making would consider certain comments and clauses of in the coming months. others have been accused and charged with various of- common cause to build upon the Tamil idiom to the draft resolution as provocative. For instance, -Col R. Hariharan, a retired MI specialist fences in recent times. Obviously, virtue and honesty further their political aspirations. it takes note of the passage and operationaliza- on South Asia and Terrorism, served as the were not criteria in selecting this committee- which is Two mainstream political parties the Samagi tion of the 20th Amendment to the Constitution, head of intelligence of the Indian Peace now the fourth looking into the Easter attacks. Jana Balawegaya (clone of its parent United counsels the government to respect local govern- Keeping Force in Sri Lanka 1987-90. Already Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith has slammed the National Party) and the JanathaVimukthiPera- ance including holding of elections to provincial This article was originally featured on his committee, asking why the observations made by learned muna – came out in support of the Tamil march- councils and ensure they are able to operate ef- website col.hariharan.info men and women after careful inquiry should be subject to scrutiny by “persons who haven’t passed their ‘O’ Lev- els”. A valid point indeed and one that has the opposi- Muslim burials issue tion scurrying to check the academic attainments of the ministerial committee!! There is no denying that it was the Easter attacks that propelled Gotabaya Rajapaksa to Iranativu islanders don’t want the Covid-dead buried in their backyards power. It rekindled the threat of terrorism in a nation COLOMBO – Residents of the island of Ira- The sea around the island is rich in marine life have returned the children continue to live in a that had become accustomed to peace. Rajapaksa seized naitivu off the Gulf of Mannar on Wednesday and an abundance of Sea Cucumbers attracts settlement called Iranamata Nagar on the main- the opportunity and, just a few days after the attacks, (3) staged a protest against the decision an- many fishers who use the island for victuals and land. Muslim leaders said “several sites have offered himself as the presidential candidate with the nounced by the government a day earlier to bury as a place to repair boats and nets. been offered for burials.” Among them, Saintha- pledge that he would “secure the nation” once again as he the remains of those who die of the novel coro- The navy occupies nine acres of land for a maruthu near Kattankudy in the Eastern Prov- had done ten years earlier against Tiger terrorists. Need- navirus on the tiny island. base that it says is needed to monitor illegal boat ince. less to say, swayed by some carefully crafted anti-Muslim The Economy Next on Tuesday warned the traffic to and from the nearby Indian coast. Hilmy Ahamed a Vice-President of the Mus- propaganda, 6. 9 million voters believed him. decision would worsen the current tensions on Cabinet Spokesman, Media Minister Keheliya lim Council said that according to the expert Now though, that pledge has come back to haunt Raja- the island which has been held by the Sri Lanka Rambukwella told reporters on Tuesday that committee headed by Prof Jennifer Perera, bur- paksa. He can keep his promises and punish Sirisena or Navy for many years. Its traditional occupants the government has designated the small island ials need not have a certain designated site but get the ministerial committee to scuttle the process. If he had been moved to the mainland in 1997 and which measures 1km by 1.5 km as a burial site. could take place at any cemetery. opts for the former he risks instability within the govern- were allowed to return only in 2018. Iranaitivu has some 400 families claiming Rambukwella said the decision was taken on ment. If he chooses the latter, he will have to deal with The residents who are currently rebuilding ownership and many of them, Roman Catholics. Monday (March 1) and most of the initial pro- the fallout from the Catholic community and its most vo- their homes and digging wells have said that The Navy recently rebuilt the churches on the cesses has been completed to a level where bod- ciferous representative, the Cardinal. Iranaitivu has rich soil which makes it suitable island, a new jetty was installed and solar power ies can be taken to the place to bury. Which would Rajapaksa choose? The fact that a min- for cattle and agriculture. introduced to the inhabitants. He said the burying will be done according to isterial committee has been appointed should give you a “Making it a burial site will destroy the is- However, the school and other installations the health authorities guidelines. clue as to what the answer to that question would be! land,” they said. are still not built and although many residents -economynext.com -This article was originally featured on counterpoint. WEEKEND EXPRESS MARCH 05 - 07, 2021 9 GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE

By Jawed Naqvi The dubious national interest GEN Pervez Musharraf was returning from a stra- tegic meeting in Colombo when Nawaz Sharif over- played his hand. He interdicted the army chief’s flight, and set off a chain of events the former prime minister would be ruing now in faraway London. Last week, Prime Minister Imran Khan was in Sri Lanka in as close an embrace with its leaders as the coronavi- rus permitted. There was a time when Sri Lanka banked on India, and Indira Gandhi did help Sirimavo Bandaranaike defeat a Sinhalese chauvinist insurrection against her government in 1971. In the living room of one of Sirimavo’s daughters is a framed picture of a joyous Nehru hoisting one of her children in the air. Mrs. Bandaranaike was close to Marshall Tito and Zhou Enlai but her heart was always ready to slam criticism of her friendship with India. It was a while before stridently pro-Washington Junius Jayewardene would allow the Americans to instal a VOA transmitter on the island, which Mrs Gandhi, given the Cold War alignments, vehemently opposed. Someone subsequently advised Rajiv Gan- dhi to mediate in the Sinhalese-Tamil ethnic blood- bath and he gullibly sent Indian troops to keep peace between the two. Both ditched him. A Sinhalese army cadet struck Gandhi with the butt of his rifle during a guard of honour in Colombo. Then a Tamil suicide bomber from Jaffna blew him up during an election rally near Chennai. Khan’s visit to Colombo last week was projected as routine but there was always going to be more to it.

- EPA-EFE/Tolga Bozoglu Pakistan had helped the Sinhalese government with arms and military credit to meet the challenge from Still no justice for Jamal Khashoggi Tamil separatists. India, hugging national interest, looked on silently. Not that Pakistan deserves ap- plause. One recalls not getting a straight answer at By Michael Eisner and Jack Steele a press conference with Musharraf in Islamabad. He was asked why Pakistan supported what Indians see as Kashmiri separatism while opposing its Tamil var- iant in Sri Lanka. Musharraf mumbled that the two situations were different but didn’t say how. See you in court, Mr Crown Prince Who decides the national interest, and, thereby, which separatism to support, which to oppose? Lead- With Joe Biden refusing to act, courts are Three cases have been brought against the mitted during the Syrian civil war. ers declare war, suspend civil liberties, and even the best chance of achieving justice for Jamal crown prince in US federal courts, one for the The laws of universal jurisdiction, prevalent without the nicety of declaring emergency can throw Khashoggi and holding Mohammed bin Sal- murder of Khashoggi; the second for the at- in many European countries and in the US in opponents into jail, all in the national cause. Every man to account for his many human rights tempted murder of the exiled former senior the form of the Alien Tort Statute, are based critic of the Indian government, particularly the cur- abuses - strap intelligence official SaadAljabri; the third for on the notion that perpetrators of certain rent one, becomes a foreign agent or worse a closet On Friday, February 26, the Biden Admin- the hacking, harassment and defamation of Al egregious offences, such as genocide, torture Pakistani. Critics of the Pakistani government are istration released an unclassified version of Jazeera anchor GhadaOueiss. or extrajudicial killings, are “hosteshumani called Indian agents. the report prepared by the Office of the Direc- Recent developments bode well for the generis”, meaning “enemies of all mankind”. National interest is often a personal fiefdom. In- tor of National Intelligence (ODNI), reveal- plaintiffs in all three cases. Mohammed bin Salman’s extrajudicial kill- dira Gandhi ran a kitchen cabinet of a dozen men ing the worst-kept secret in US intelligence: The Biden administration has indicated ing of Jamal Khashoggi falls squarely within and women who watched over India’s national inter- Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman that it considers MBS as Saudi defence minis- this category. As a result, it seems likely that est in imposing the emergency. Rahul Gandhi claims (MBS) ordered the operation that killed Ja- ter to be on the same level as the US secretary courts on both sides of the Atlantic will force four men are currently running the country, two ex- mal Khashoggi. of defence, a designation that will almost cer- MBS to account for his role in the killing of cessively powerful politicians and two excessively Despite the findings in the ODNI report, tainly deny him head of state immunity from Khashoggi. As these court cases gain media rich businessmen. If true, which is not unlikely, the the Biden Administration chose to impose no these lawsuits. attention, more plaintiffs and prosecutors foursome wears the thinking cap for a country of a sanction on him. Fortunately, another mecha- The ODNI report also confirms the core might well be encouraged to launch new cases billion-plus to decide the national interest. Farmers nism exists to achieve personal accountability underlying factual claim made by plaintiffs against MBS for similar crimes. are aggrieved over new farm laws, but the foursome against the crown prince: the courts. in the Khashoggi case: MBS was responsible These cases are exactly why MBS has not perhaps determine the protesters are wrong and not Efforts to bring justice for Khashoggi’s for Khashoggi’s murder. If the court in the dared to set foot in the US or Europe since he worth heeding. Occasionally they can get it right, like murder extend across the branches of govern- Khashoggi case defers, as it should, to the murdered Khashoggi. By imposing a signifi- the DGMOs meeting to resume the ceasefire. ment. As Congress pressured the administra- ODNI report’s finding of MBS’s culpability, cant penalty on MBS for his campaign of har- After the fire and brimstone of recent days, there’s tion to release the ODNI report, they will try it will hold MBS liable for the murder, and assment, detention, and murder, the courts one logical explanation to the twist in the national to force Biden to hold MBS accountable. might well impose substantial damages, mak- might accomplish what governments have cause. Has the Biden administration recommended Representative Tom Malinowski introduced ing MBS “pay the price” that President Biden been unable or refused to do, providing a good the resumption of the stalled SAARC summit? No legislation on March 1 to impose a visa ban on promised but did not deliver. reason for MBS to moderate his behaviour. harm if American national interest becomes the trig- MBS. A day later, Representative Ilhan Omar Though it seems MBS has escaped Magnit- We’ve seen just this week, with targeted ger for eight other countries to tweak their national introduced legislation to impose sanctions on sky sanctions, for now, he will have a much harassment and threats of Saudi trolls against interest in a peaceful compact. The Chinese can’t be MBS for his role in the murder. It remains to harder time evading the judgment of a fed- our staff and organisation, Democracy for averse to the idea of SAARC resuming either. The be seen if Congress can muster the bipartisan eral court. US courts are not the only venue the Arab World Now (DAWN) that MBS is Modi government though will have to invent a good support to pass either of these bills as a direct in which MBS may face judicial sanction. This not ready to give up his bullying tactics. The reason to put the sword in the scabbard where Pa- and early challenge to President Biden. week, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) filed Biden administration’s inaction certainly did kistan is considered. National interest is a malleable Regardless, given its refusal to sanction a 500-page criminal complaint against MBS not create incentives for MBS to temper his commodity, nevertheless. MBS after the release of the report, the Biden in a German court, alleging that the crown abuses. Karan Thapar’s interview with former Indian dip- administration will likely adopt the same pos- prince committed crimes against humanity in Whether or not they can influence MBS’s lomat Shiv Shankar Menon revealed a consummate ture as the Trump administration towards his crusade against journalists, including the behaviour, courts right now provide the best intellectual that Menon is. But he also said worry- Congressional efforts to hold MBS account- murder of Khashoggi. chance of achieving a small measure of jus- ing things about watching India’s national interest. able and veto legislation that imposes any RSF relies on Germany’s universal juris- tice for Jamal Khashoggi and other victims of Menon was disparaging of the running commentary penalty on MBS for the murder. diction laws that allow a German court to try MBS’s human rights abuses. most Indian media and assorted analysts delight in of- The good news is that the US judiciary re- MBS for crimes committed elsewhere. The -Michael Eisner and Jack Steele are fering on the make-believe ringside view of the tricky mains independent of both political branches principle of universal jurisdiction was invoked General Counsel and Research Assistant China-India stand-off. It’s early days in the rollback and is not subject to a presidential veto; it just last week as Germany sentenced former at Democracy for the Arab World Now of troops, was Menon’s cryptic watchword sans ves- might well provide the means to achieve jus- Syrian intelligence officer Eyad al-Gharib to (DAWN) and this article was originally tigial emotions. But then he cautioned India against tice for MBS’s crimes. four and a half years in jail for crimes he com- featured on aljazeera.com ruffling the feathers of Myanmar’s military usurpers. He cited national interest. It’s not that Modi’s India was waiting for the advice. It has already gone down that route, duly concerned that any criticism of the junta could give a clear advantage to China. The two-timing national interest would be tested for India this month in Geneva, where the UN Human Editorial of The Guardian Rights Council is holding its 46th regular session. It is expected to decide the fate of a critical resolution against Sri Lanka. The first draft was circulated re- Pope in Iraq: in the footsteps of Abraham cently and the vote takes place in the last couple of days of the session, ending on March 22. The lead-up to the first-ever papal visit to spiritual wounds of the suffering are healed. Christianity and Islam fuelled the growth of The draft resolution, submitted by the Core Group Iraq has been somewhat overshadowed by On Saturday (6), in the city of Najaf, a holy violent religious extremism, with tragic and of the United Kingdom, Germany, Malawi, Monte- concerns over its timing. Last month, a surge city for Shia Muslims, Francis will meet the bloody consequences. negro and North Macedonia, responds to a damning of coronavirus cases led the Iraqi government Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, Iraq’s leading Christian minorities in the Middle East and report released by the Office of the UN High Commis- to impose a partial lockdown and curfew. The Shia cleric and one of the world’s most influ- elsewhere have suffered persecution. In parts sioner for Human Rights on Jan 27. This report was Vatican’s ambassador to Iraq, Archbishop ential Muslim leaders. of Europe and in the United States, the pro- formally presented to the UN Human Rights Council MitjaLeskovar, is currently self-isolating af- He will also visit Christian communities motion of “cultural Christianity” has become on Feb 24, followed by member states offering their ter testing positive for COVID-19, and there in Baghdad and in Iraq’s north, where thou- a proxy for thinly-veiled Islamophobia and views over two days. At the meeting, Sri Lankan For- are fears that crowds enthusiastic to see Pope sands of believers were killed by occupying hostility towards migrants. eign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena had called on the Francis could ignore social distancing rules Islamic State forces between 2014 and 2017. The pope’s visit to Iraq, which takes as its member states to reject the draft resolution. at public events. Security concerns have also Many more fled Iraq altogether. Since the motto the words of Matthew’s gospel, “You In comments to The Hindu on Saturday (Feb 27), been heightened by the double suicide bomb- disastrous Anglo-American invasion in 2003 are all brothers”, is intended to challenge Sri Lanka’s foreign secretary, retired Admiral Jayan- ing at a Baghdad market in January, which unleashed a cycle of violence and sectarian- such divisions and distortions of religious tha Colombage, sought India’s “proactive” support killed at least 32 people. ism, the estimated Christian population of faith. in Geneva. “India cannot abandon us,” Colombage The Iraqi authorities are confident that the the country has plummeted from around 1.5 Two years ago, Pope Francis joined with stressed. He hoped that India, Pakistan, Nepal and risks can be managed. But given the circum- million to between 200,000 and 300,000. A the grand imam of Cairo’s al-Azhar mosque, Bangladesh — who are among members of the cur- stances, there was certainly a case for delay- message of inter-faith tolerance and solidar- Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb, one of the world’s rent human rights council — will back Sri Lanka. ing the trip, which begins on Friday (5) and ity will be symbolised by a joint prayer ser- leading Sunni clerics, in a ground-breaking History tells us how Pakistan would vote. Colombo will last four days. vice at the ancient archaeological site of Ur, call for a cross-faith commitment to human senses trouble from India, not for rigorous principles The pope’s determination to go ahead testi- believed to be the birthplace of Abraham. The fraternity. In an era of cultural and religious of human rights, but because the state of Tamil Nadu fies to the significance he attaches to a visit ceremony will be attended by Yazidis and polarization, alliances such as these are des- will be going to polls in a few weeks. The national in- that sums up two key themes of his papacy: other Iraqi religious minorities, as well as perately needed to create a counter-narrative. terest that evoked a muffled inanity over the coup in the need to develop genuine inter-faith dia- Muslims and Christians. Pope Francis’s trip, and his meeting with the Myanmar, could be pressed into service with equal logue with Islam, and a non-sectarian vision Following the 9/11 attacks and the Iraq war, grand ayatollah, will hopefully prove to be alacrity, in the opposite direction. of the church as a “field hospital”, where the the notion of a clash of civilizations between landmark moments in that crucial task. -Dawn 10 MARCH 05 - 07, 2021 WEEKEND EXPRESS RIGHTS & FREEDOM

By Minoli de Soysa Waiting for Godot A story of 600 acres in Mullikulam Three years ago, the villagers of Mullikulam in the Mannar district left behind their brick homes with water, toilets and beds to camp out in tents on the land they called home. Their stand last- ed three months during which time they had to withstand rampaging elephants and torrential rains; the tents flooded, forcing them to return. One year earlier, they had launched a month- long protest outside the Navy occupied village demanding their land back and had been assured that it would happen very soon, but like so many before, it was an empty promise. After a year of waiting, they took matters into their own hands and decided to go back but it was an unten- able situation to live without water, electricity or proper shelter. The navy officers in the area say they are will- ing to leave at any time since all necessary docu- ments have been presented and the surveyor has completed his job but the order has to come from the Ministry of Defence, which is deafeningly silent on the matter; whether this is deliberate or due to bureaucratic inefficiency is anyone’s guess. - Indunil Usgoda Arachchi/Reuters The people of Mullikulam are Tamil Catho- Sri Lankan journalists at the Black January vigil honour colleagues who were killed and abducted in that month over the years lics who make a living by fishing and farming in nearby forests, tanks and the sea. Their vil- lage includes a 200 year-old church, a school, a hospital and a cooperative centre. Until the war By Dharisha Bastians tore their lives apart and drove them from their homes in 1990, the villagers were prosperous, with a steady income. Many of them returned af- For Sri Lankan reporters ter the 2002 Ceasefire Agreement and started to rebuild their homes and livelihoods. In 2007, Mullikulam was taken over by the army for what the villagers were told was a tem- The ghosts of violence and porary situation. Some of them went to live with relatives while others were housed in makeshift huts elsewhere. Fourteen years later, most of them are still waiting to return because once the army left, the intimidation loom again navy established its North-western Command Headquarters and Naval Institute at Mullikulam, Terror tore through me when I heard that my had signed off, he broke the silence in the press Wickrematunge’s killers, Noyahr’s assailants occupying 27 houses that are used by its person- friend and editor of the Nation newspaper, Keith about the activities of the defence secretary. and other perpetrators are free men, and jour- nel. The villagers are now divided with some of Noyahr, had been abducted. It was May 2008; Years later, Sri Lankan criminal investigators nalists working in Sri Lanka are haunted by the them living on their original land and others re- the civil war was raging and Sri Lankan troops alleged that Gotabaya Rajapaksa operated mili- old ghosts of violence and intimidation. settled a few kilometres away. were chalking up victories against Tamil Tiger tary death squads to attack journalists, includ- All over the world, authoritarians are weap- The villagers want the 600 acres of ancestral separatists in the North. In the fog of war, gov- ing Wickrematunge and Noyahr. Rajapaksa has onizing the law to silence the press, from editors land where they were born and raised to be re- ernment critics were being terrorized all over consistently denied this and all other allegations such as Maria Ressa in the Philippines to the re- leased by the Navy so that they can go back to the country. We had learned to expect the worst of wrongdoing. porter Mahmoud Hussein in Egypt. fishing and farming, reoccupy their homes, at- when a journalist went missing. From 2005 to 2015, Mahinda Rajapaksa pre- In Sri Lanka, too, these new repressive tactics tend church and send their children to school. Outside Noyahr’s home that night, through his sided over a systematic assault on the press. The have been deployed. Once there were white vans Now, although they live just a few kilometres six-year-old daughter’s screams, I heard phone Committee to Protect Journalists estimates that and guns; now there are warrants, seizures and away in comfortable houses provided by the gov- calls pleading with diplomats and politicians to 13 journalists were killed over the decade. Others disinformation campaigns, which erode public ernment, they do not feel at home. They have save Keith’s life. The journalist was released by were threatened, abducted and tortured. Tamil trust in critics and the news media. As one of the been given just half an acre, hardly enough to di- his abductors shortly before dawn and staggered journalists were disproportionately victimized. earliest targets of this subdued terror campaign, vide among a few children. In Mullikulam, many home, his head matted with blood, legs unsteady In 2014, Sri Lanka ranked fourth on an index of I can attest to its effectiveness. The government have five to 10 acres, with deeds and permits. from continuous beatings. countries where journalists are slain – and their is waging a propaganda war – and journalists Eight tanks on their properties have fallen into Within days, Noyahr had fled the country. killers go free. and critics are losing. disrepair. He told investigators he had been suspended in The attacks had a chilling effect on reporters. In Sri Lanka the history of critical journalism So far 77 acres have been given over by the mid-air, stripped and beaten by his captors. Fear spread like scars over parts of us cut open is written in blood and bruises. Journalists have navy but some of the roads to the lands have been Seven months later, we realized the attack had by the violence, transforming our reporting. the ignominious honour of being among those blocked. “We need an aircraft to reach them,” been a trial run. In January 2009 the murder of We learned to write between the lines, to leave who have borne the greatest burden of state ter- says one resident who prefers not to be named. Lasantha Wickrematunge, another Sri Lankan things unsaid. ror over the years. “The people have accepted that the navy can journalist and editor of the Sunday Leader, sent Journalism’s calling is to speak truth to power. Spanning decades and governments, a culture keep 269 acres but they want the other 600 acres shockwaves across the world. But every time a journalist is attacked, and the of impunity for crimes against journalists has back. No order is being given from Colombo even The man Wickrematunge’s daughter has ac- perpetrators go free, the space for independent thrived. three years after the decision to hand back the cused of planning her father’s killing, Gotabaya reporting shrinks. In that decade of darkness Details that emerged about the 2005-15 at- land. Many people have been lobbying and ap- Rajapaksa, is now president of Sri Lanka. His from 2005 to 2015, the priority for Sri Lankan tacks on our colleagues left no doubt that a Gota- pealing but to no avail.” election in 2019 heralded an immediate crack- journalists was to just stay alive. baya Rajapaksa presidency would force journal- Barrels and barbed wire separate the navy and down against the media. After 10 years of watching colleagues fall or ists to confront an existential question: the story villagers from each other but they still live cheek Human Rights Watch says the Sri Lankan me- flee, journalists worked briefly without fear after or your life? No journalist should have to make by jowl in an uneasy peace. The villagers have to dia practices “rampant self-censorship” – per- the Rajapaksa government was defeated in 2015. that choice. pass by the imposing grey stone structure of the haps because there is an eerie familiarity to the Old investigations were reopened, and Gotabaya In the thrall of a populist president with evi- navy’s North-western Command Headquarters recent intimidation. The last time this regime was implicated in several cases of corruption dent authoritarian tendencies, Sri Lanka needs to get to their homes. held power, journalists had a front-row seat to and violence against journalists. critical journalists more than ever. Unrelenting The navy road is smooth and evenly gravelled. repression. By clinching the presidency in 2019, Gotabaya commitment and credible action from the inter- The sandy road leading to the church, the small When Wickrematunge was killed, Gotabaya Rajapaksa secured immunity from the charges. national community to end impunity for those school and the few scattered houses is full of pot Rajapaksa was defence secretary. As brother of As president, he has suppressed investigations who harass and kill journalists sends a message holes. If the navy personnel at the gate do not the then President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Gota- that led to arrests of military personnel under to would-be despots about the consequences of speak Tamil and the people do not speak Sinhala, baya Rajapaksa wielded unparalleled military his command. In a brazen rewriting of history, repression, and perhaps stay their hand. they are unable to explain that they are visiting influence, earning a reputation as the coun- his administration has turned police detectives -Dharisha Bastians is the former editor the church for a wedding, funeral or baptism. Af- try’s most feared bureaucrat. When Wickrema- into criminals, and military officials accused of of the Sunday Observer and this article was ter being kept waiting for 20 minutes while the tunge exposed a corrupt arms deal Rajapaksa murder into victims of persecution. featured on theguardian.com sentry calls a higher authority, the auspicious time has passed. The resettled villagers want the entrance of the Command Headquarters to be shifted to another By P. K. Balachandran location so that they do not have to come past it every time they go to their homes but the Navy is insisting that the Rs 6 million it claims is neces- Govt asks UNHRC to delete reference to the burial issue even as fresh protests erupt sary for the move comes from a source other than Even as the controversy over the burial of pense of transporting the bodies and would al- will affect the sea cucumber project expected to the Rs 355 billion defence budget. COVID-19 dead is heating up with the people low three family members to witness the burial earn US$ 25 million in foreign exchange. The villagers who are yet unable to occupy of IranaitivuIsland protesting against the deci- and say their prayers. Meanwhile, in South Sri Lanka, the Catholic their own land live a hand to mouth existence, sion to bury all the COVID dead in their midst, But Muslims have roundly condemned this Church is up in arms against the government for barely able to survive by a little fishing and farm- the Sri Lankan government has asked the UN impractical way disposing off the bodies. They failing to explain as to who or which group had ing. They have no money to send their children Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to delete any point out that having accepted the scientific ar- masterminded the April 21, 2019 Easter Sunday for further education or to tide them over during reference to the issue from the draft resolution gument that burial of the COVID-19 dead will multiple suicide bombings in three churches sickness or injury. on Sri Lanka. not contaminate groundwater, there is no rea- and three hotels in three towns including Co- Sebastianamma Croos fled to India in 1990 to The Core Group’s draft resolution, which son why Muslims should be forced to bury them lombo. Most of the 277 dead were Catholics, escape the war, where she lived in a refugee camp is now being debated in the Council, had con- in a place very far away on an island in North mostly Tamil speaking. The Presidential Com- for 15 years. Born and bred in Mullikulam, Croos, demned the forced cremation of coronavirus de- Lanka. Why cannot they be allowed to bury in mission of Inquiry had only spoken about neg- who is 49, has three children. Her daughter is ceased. According to Muslim leaders, hundreds Muslim graveyards in various towns and vil- ligence and suggested criminal proceedings married and her son is a fisherman while her of Muslim COVID-19 dead had been cremated lages in Sri Lanka? against a former President and a few officials. youngest child is still in school. In 2007 she was against the wishes of their families. Islam pro- The decision to bury the bodies in Iranaitivu The commission is silent on the conspiracy and evicted from Mullikulam and went to stay with hibits cremation and makes burial mandatory. has created a new rift – between the government those involved in it. relatives. In 2011, she was resettled in a nearby Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the and the Catholics and added a new dimension to The government’s decision to submit to MPs area on half an acre of land. She was part of the UN in Geneva C. A. Chandraprema insisted that the conflict with the Tamil minority. and the clergy only a part of the commission’s group that went back to Mullikulam in 2018, the co-sponsors remove the reference to man- The island is inhabited by Tamil Catholics report, and the formation of a committee of living in a tent in the rain and dodging wild ele- datory cremations, because it had become “ob- and the Catholic clergy in Kilinochchi district ministers to study it gives the impression that phants foraging for food. After three months she solete” after government had reversed its policy. has plunged headlong into the protest, giving it the government has something to hide, the went back but fully expected to return to her an- Indeed the government had revered its order leadership. The inhabitants of the island have Catholics suspect. cestral land. She says half an acre is not enough allowing burial, but as per the rules, the COVID cordoned off the graveyard created by the navy The Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Mal- to divide between three children. “We have ten bodies could be buried only in one special grave- and filled up the graves that had been dug by colm Ranjith has threatened to take the issue acres in Mullikulam that will give me the chance yard located in Iranaitivuisland in the far north the navy. to the international community and has asked to fish and farm and earn a good living. In any of Sri Lanka in the Gulf of Mannar. The lone Tamil cabinet minister from North Catholics to come for Mass this Sunday (7) in case, I want to spend my old age and die on the Government spokesman Kehliya Rambuk- Sri Lanka, Douglas Devananda, has pointed out black to register their protest. land where I grew up,” she says. wella said the State would bear the entire ex- that the burial of the COVID dead in Iranaitivu -ENCL -groundviews.org WEEKEND EXPRESS MARCH 05 - 07, 2021 11 LITERARY LIVES

John Steinbeck -1902-1968 The social truth-teller Sir Christopher Ondaatje delves into the life and literary career of the most read American writer of the 20th century who won the Nobel Prize in Literature for The Grapes of Wrath, one of his best known books that summed up the bitterness of the Great Depression decade, aroused widespread sympathy for the plight of migratory farm workers, and is deemed relevant even today

-Hulton Archive/Getty Images John Steinbeck

“The writer must believe that what he is doing ed stories of a valley in Monterey; The Red Pony Jr. which launched small-unit operations against reception of the novel, Steinbeck did not attempt is the most important thing in the world. And he (1933) – a short book on his childhood; and To a German-held islands in the Mediterranean. He another work of fiction in the remaining six years must hold to this illusion even when he knows it God Unknown (1933) about the life of a home- returned from the war with shrapnel wounds and before his death. is not true.” steader in California. psychological trauma. He wrote screenplays for -John Steinbeck Alfred Hitchcock’s Lifeboat (1944) and A Medal “It seems to me that if you or I must choose It wasn’t until 1935 with Tortilla Flat that he for Benny (1945). between two courses of thought or action, we John Steinbeck was born on February 27, 1902 received any real recognition, also about home- should remember our dying and try so to live in Salinas, California. He was of German, English less men in Monterey after World War I. It won In 1944, homesick for his 1930s life on Pacific that our death brings no pleasure on the world.” and Irish descent. Steinbeck’s paternal grandfa- the California Commonwealth Club’s Gold Medal Grove, Monterey, he wrote Cannery Row (1945) -John Steinbeck ther Johann Adolf Großsteinbeck shortened the and was eventually made into a 1942 film star- which became so popular that in 1958 Ocean family name to Steinbeck when he emigrated ring Spencer Tracy, Hedy Lamarr and John Gar- View Avenue in Monterey, the setting of the Steinbeck was awarded the Nobel Prize for Lit- from Germany to the United States. His father, field. With the proceeds he built a small ranch book, was renamed Cannery Row – the name it erature in 1962 for “his realistic and imaginative John Ernst Steinbeck, was the Monterey County in Los Gatos, California. Spurred by this success still holds today. writing combining as it does sympathetic humour treasurer; and his mother, Olive Hamilton, was a he wrote a series of California novels about ordi- and keen social perception.” The selection was school teacher who instilled in her son a passion nary ‘Dust Bowl’ people during the Great Depres- The Pearl, a short story, was first published in heavily criticized and described in a Swedish news- for reading and writing. sion: In Dubious Battle (1936), Of Mice and Men the December 1945 issue of Woman’s Home Com- paper as one of the Academy’s biggest mistakes. (1937), and The Grapes of Wrath (1939). panion. It recounted a story Steinbeck first heard The Steinbecks lived in a small rural valley in La Paz in 1940. It too was made into a film in “Scandinavia paid its wartime debt to Stein- twenty-five miles from the Pacific Coast. Young Of Mice and Men is a drama about two migrant Mexico with the help of screenwriter Jack Wag- beck with the award of the Nobel Prize. It was Steinbeck worked on ranches in the summer, and agricultural labourers in California and was pro- ner. While there he was inspired by the story of the period when the new Jewish school of New later with migrant workers on sugar beet farms duced on stage starring Broderick Crawford and Emiliano Zapata and wrote the screenplay for the York fiction ... was ascendant. ‘The New York where he learned the harsher aspects of migrant Wallace Ford. It was later adapted as a film in film Viva Zapata! (1952), directed by Elia Kazan Times hailed Steinbeck’s achievement with a life and the dark side of human nature. Both gave 1939 starring Lon Chaney and Burgess Meredith. and starring Marlon Brando and Anthony Quinn. breathtaking denunciatory editorial, question- him material for his future literary works. ing the mental abilities of the Swedish judges The Grapes of Wrath is still considered to be Steinbeck made the first of many trips to Russia ... Steinbeck duly made his acceptance address He graduated from Salinas High School and Steinbeck’s greatest work. Set in the Great De- in 1947, this time with the photographer Robert a counter-attack on ‘an emasculated criti- studied English Literature at Stanford University pression it describes a family of sharecroppers Capa. He had earlier joined the League of Ameri- cal priesthood singing their litanies in empty near Palo Alto – leaving without a degree in 1925. driven from their land because of dust storms. can Writers, a communist organization, in 1935. churches’. Fight back as he might, the Prize was He went to New York getting part-time work but Sympathetic to the workers’ plight it won both He was one of the first Americans to visit Moscow dust in his mouth. He wrote no more fiction.” no one was interested in publishing his writing. the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize and other parts of the USSR since the Commu- -John Sutherland Disappointed, he returned to California, work- for fiction, and was later adapted as a film direct- nist revolution. A book A Russian Journal was Lives of the Novelists (2011) ing as a tour guide in Lake Tahoe where he met ed by John ford, starring Henry Fonda and Jane published in 1948 with Capa’s photographs, the Carol Henning – his first wife. They married in Darwell. Both Of Mice and Men and The Grapes same year Steinbeck was elected to the American Fifty years later, in 2012, the Nobel Prize Los Angeles in January 1930 and for a while eked of Wrath were produced by two different movie Academy of Arts and Letters. opened its archives and it was revealed that Stein- out a living manufacturing plaster mannequins. studios at the same time in 1939. beck had been a “compromise choice” among a That didn’t last and when their money ran out In May 1948 Steinbeck got news that his friend shortlist containing Steinbeck, British authors they moved back to Pacific Grove, California, to Ed Ricketts friendship with Steinbeck has Ed Ricketts had been seriously injured in Cali- Robert Graves and Lawrence Durrell, French a cottage owned by his father on the Monterey been the subject of much controversy. There may fornia when a train had struck his car. He made dramatist Jean Anouilh, and Danish author Ka- peninsula. have been something homoerotic between the the emergency trip to California only to learn that ren Blixen. The Committee believed Steinbeck’s men. They took frequent trips together along the Ricketts had died hours before he arrived. When best work was behind him by 1962, but one Com- Steinbeck’s parents were very tolerant of his California coast to collect the specimens, which he returned home his wife Gwyn asked for a di- mittee Member, Anders Österling, believed that writing ambitions and gave him not only free ac- Ricketts sold for a living. Their joint book about vorce, which became final in August 1948. Both with the release of his novel The Winter of Our commodation but paper and interest free loans a collecting expedition Sea of Cortez: A Leisurely Ricketts’ death and the divorce forced Steinbeck Discontent, Steinbeck had regained his position that allowed him to write. The couple also ac- Journal of Travel and Research was not a suc- into a period of deep depression. as a social truth-teller and an authentic realist cepted welfare, and for a time lived on fish they cess and did not sell well. It was republished in fully equal to his predecessors Sinclair Lewis and had caught from a small boat in the sea. They 1951 as The Log from the Sea of Cortez under In June 1949 Steinbeck met Elaine Scott, the Ernest Hemingway. shared what they had with friends in much the Steinbeck’s name only and is still in print today. wife of actor Zachary Scott, in Carmel, California. same plight. Carol Henning became the model They married in December 1950 almost immedi- In September 1964 President Lyndon B. John- for Mary Talbot in Cannery Row. Carol Steinbeck accompanied Ricketts and ately after she received her divorce from Scott. It son awarded Steinbeck the Presidential Medal Steinbeck on their 1940 journey, but the Stein- was his final marriage. of Freedom. In 1967, at the behest of Newsday “Where does discontent start? You are warm beck marriage was beginning to crumble even as magazine and despite failing health, Steinbeck enough, but you shiver. You are fed, but hun- Steinbeck worked on the manuscript. They di- East of Eden, which Steinbeck considered to be went to Vietnam to report on the war. His sons ger gnaws you. You have been loved, but your vorced a year later in 1941, and in 1942 Steinbeck his best work, was published in 1952. It returned served in Vietnam before his death, and Stein- yearning wanders in new fields. And to prod all married Gwendolyn ‘Gwyn’ Conger. The second him to the best seller lists and some highly re- beck visited one son in the battlefield. these there’s time, the Bastard time.” marriage produced two sons: Thomas Myles and munerative Hollywood work. With the success -John Steinbeck John Steinbeck IV. of the film Viva Zapata! Steinbeck decided again Steinbeck died in New York City on Decem- to work with the director Elia Kazan on the East ber 20, 1968 of heart disease and congestive In 1930 Steinbeck met the marine biologist Ed Steinbeck’s close relationship with Ricketts of Eden film, which was made in 1955 and starred heart failure. He was sixty-six years old and had Ricketts who was to become a close friend and ended in 1941 when Steinbeck moved away from James Dean. The book and film deals with the been a lifelong smoker. An autopsy showed near mentor over the next decade. Ricketts had an en- Pacific Grove and divorced his wife Carol. Rick- nature of good and evil in the Salinas Valley and complete occlusion of the main coronary arter- cyclopaedic knowledge of a great many subjects etts was Steinbeck’s model for the character of is based on Steinbeck’s own maternal ancestry. ies. In accordance with his wishes his body was and became a proponent of ecological think- ‘Doc’ in Cannery Row published in 1945. cremated and interred on March 4, 1969 at the ing. He had a huge influence on Steinbeck and “Man is the only kind of varmint – sets his Hamilton family gravesite in Salinas, with those Steinbeck’s wife began working in the biologi- During the Second World War Steinbeck wrote own trap, baits it, then steps in it.” of his parents and maternal grandparents. His cal laboratory in Monterey, which Ricketts op- The Moon is Down (1942) about an unnamed -John Steinbeck third wife, Elaine, was buried in the plot in 2004. erated – selling samples of small animals, fish, country in Northern Europe, later presumed to rays, starfish, turtles and other marine forms to be Norway, and its resistance against the Nazis. Travels with Charley: In Search of America schools and colleges. All three had a common Steinbeck received the King Haakon VII Free- (1962) was Steinbeck’s travelogue about his road love of music and art. Ricketts strongly influ- dom Cross for his literary contributions to the trip with his dog Charley – and is a sad look back enced Steinbeck’s writing. Norwegian resistance movement. at his lost youth and roots. Steinbeck, perhaps, knew he was dying and wanted to see the country Steinbeck published four works between 1929 In 1943 Steinbeck was a war correspondent for he remembered one last time. He only wrote one and 1933: Cup of Gold (1929) loosely based on the New York Herald Tribune and also worked more novel The Winter of Our Discontent (1961) the life of the privateer Captain Henry Morgan; with the Office of Strategic Services. He accom- examining the moral decline of America. The The Pastures of Heaven (1932) – twelve connect- panied commando raids with Douglas Fairbanks book was not a success. Surprised by the critical 12 MARCH 05 - 07, 2021 WEEKEND EXPRESS SPORTS Pollard hits six sixes off hat-trick man Dananjaya in T20 triumph ST. JOHN’S, Antigua and Barbuda - West In- Pollard followed in the footsteps of South Af- side’s 13th six. “I felt I could hit six sixes after the “What I told Akila was to go for his wicket even dies captain Kieron Pollard on Wednesday (3) rica’s Herschelle Gibbs against the Netherlands third one,” said 33-year-old Pollard. “Once I had if he gets hit for six sixes. If he miscued one we became only the third man to hit six sixes in in the 2007 World Cup and India’s Yuvraj Singh, five sixes I knew I had the bowler on the back could have got him out. Unfortunately it didn’t an international over in his team’s four-wicket who also achieved the feat in the 2007 Twenty20 foot. He was going around the wicket and it was happen.” Twenty20 victory over Sri Lanka. World Cup against England. difficult for him. I just told myself: ‘Go for it’.” Only eight men have hit six sixes in an over The feat came in the sixth over of a bizarre Pollard was eventually out for 38 off 11 balls Sri Lanka skipper Angelo Mathews hailed his in all forms of cricket with fellow West Indian West Indies innings, bowled by off-spinner Akila as the West Indies chased 132 to win at the Cool- opposite number. Garfield Sobers the first to do so in an English Dananjaya who moments earlier in his previous idge Cricket Ground, reaching their target in “Pollard as we know is very destructive,” county game in 1968. over had been celebrating taking a hat-trick. the 14th over when Jason Holder clobbered his Mathews told the post-match presentation. -AFP

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