Sri Lanka has been under Emergency Law on and off for what seems like my entire lifetime (I was born in 1982). The Prevention Of Terrorism Act (readable 1981 version) is our Emergency Law. It basically makes warrantless search and seizure OK and detention possible because the government says so.

Not by grease yakas (grease devils that sparked mass hysteria) but the Women and Media Collective has organized a group of men and women from affected areas to share their experiences. It’ll be at the Hotel Renuka at 3 PM today. I can’t make it, but if someone else goes, please let me knows.

Professor Ratnajeevan Hoole once had to flee Sri Lanka because he spoke out against the LTTE. Now he’s left again, this time because he spoke out against Douglas Devananda and the EPDP. What does that tell you about the EPDP, and the government’s support for them? “This time he had to leave, he said, because of his differences with the lone Tamil Minister in Sri Lankan Cabinet, Douglas Devananda.”

Sri Lanka is a country of about 20 million people which has barely been under central control, ever. Post-independence, first the south broke off, then the north. Both were bloodily pasted back on. The 13th amendment has devolution in it, which was never implemented. Will the government implement it now? Nope. They have neither the ability nor the inclination to create local institutions. But the provinces can.

Oh, Gotabhaya. I used to hate him viscerally but I don’t anymore. He still puts his foot in it pretty consistently. Most recently, “The existing constitution is more than enough for us to live together. I don’t think there is any issue on this more than that. I mean this was given as a solution for the whole thing with the discussion of these people. I mean now the LTTE is gone, I don’t think there is any requirement.”

After serious edits (namely the country name), the play Pusswedilla 3 is being allowed to run. The reason the censor board, uh, censored it in the first place? According to Director Feroze Kamardeen: ‘Reasons given are that it deals with Sri Lanka, Sri Lankan Politicians and institutions.’

Minister Champika Ranawaka is outraged that a provincial council would ask for police and land powers. Count me confused, cause that’s exactly what the Constitution says they’re supposed to do. ‘Government Minister Champika Ranawaka had on Tuesday July 26, said, “Just because they won a few councils they must not demand police and land powers.” (referring to Tamil parties, quoted in The Sunday Leader).’ If you read the Constitution, however, that’s exactly what they should demand.

Two friends of mine are dating. They were walking home from coffee along Marine Drive. A bunch of cops stopped them, harassed them and threatened to call their parents and place them under arrest. For walking together. They solicited a bribe but my friends got away without paying one. The cops had their info and called them the next day, looking for money. WTF.

Human Rights Watch is recommending a criminal investigation into the George W. Bush administration. Their use of torture was common, horrific, admitted and pointless. It both hurt captive human beings and hurt America. From Abu Ghraib to Guantanamo Bay, US torture was documented, much to their discredit and the discredit of human rights policy in general.

I don’t mind the police in Colombo lately. Since they’re not stretched thin by the war and VIP security they’re able to do some actual policing. They just don’t seem to police themselves. On the way back from work I saw, separately, a cop jeep just stopped in the middle of the road, a cop truck taking an illegal turn against the light and another cop crawling along and obstructing traffic. They’ve started to bust regular drivers for similar infractions, but it’s kinda hard to take them seriously when they break the law themselves.