South Asia Terrorism Portal
Cementing Reconciliation S. Binodkumar Singh Research Associate, Institute for Conflict Management
On September 5, 2018, the Office on Missing Persons (OMP) handed its interim report to President Maithripala Sirisena at the Parliament. OMP Chairman Saliya Peiris handed over the report to the President recommending that the Government provide urgent and immediate relief to the families of the involuntarily disappeared, as their current socio-economic situation was dire; the implementation of a financial aid programme to provide a monthly allowance of SLR 6000 to the surviving spouse, children and parents of these missing persons, who have no permanent income; introduction of a scholarship scheme under the Ministry of Education for the children of missing persons in the form of a monthly allowance of SLR 2000 to cover essential education expenses required for the completion of their primary and secondary education; and the introduction of an employment quota of one percent within the state sector for family members of the missing.
The OMP was operationalized on March 13, 2018, to determine the status of all persons who went 'missing' during the civil war against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). According to the Paranagama Commission Report, around 21,000 people went missing during the civil war. Accepting the fact that enforced disappearances had occurred in the country, on August 30, 2018, OMP Chairman Pieris, at an event to mark the International Day of the Enforced Disappearances at the J. R. Jayawardene Centre in Colombo, observed
Significantly, to expand national unity and reconciliation projects island-wide, and to create a discourse on reconciliation at the grass roots level, the Office for National Unity and Reconciliation (ONUR) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with 22 Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) on July 3, 2018. The ONUR Director General M.S Jayasinghe and respective officials of CSOs participated in the signing. The main objective of the MoU was to expand the "Heal the Past, Build the Future" project in 17 selected Districts. The chosen Districts are Jaffna, Anuradhapura, Ratnapura, Ampara, Mannar, Galle, Kalutara, Kilinochchi, Kurunegala, Matara, Monaragala, Nuwara, Eliya, Batticaloa, Trincomalee, Mullaitivu and Vavuniya.
Meanwhile, the Office for Reparations Bill ratified by the Cabinet on June 13, 2018, for the payment of reparations to war-affected and missing persons, was submitted to Parliament on July 17, 2018. However, on August 7, 2018, the Supreme Court shot down two clauses of the Bill on the grounds that they vested judicial powers in the Office for Reparations. According to the Court, Sections 27 (a) and 27 (A) (iii) of the Bill were inconsistent with Sections 4 (D) and Section 3 of the Constitution and therefore the Court stated that the Bill has to be approved by a two-thirds majority of the total number of members in the Parliament, in order to bring about a Constitutional amendment. The SC also recommended that the Bill should be approved by the people through a referendum and that the inconsistency could be removed if amendments were made in line with the directions it had given.
On the other hand, underlining the importance of the Office for Reparations, the OMP Interim Report noted
On July 30, 2018, in an effort to accelerate development projects launched in the war-affected North and East, President Maithripala Sirisena appointed a Presidential Task Force and convened its first meeting at his Office. The Task Force, chaired by the President, consists of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, 15 Cabinet Ministers, Governors, the Chief Ministers of the two provinces, together with the Tri Forces Commanders. At the meeting, the President emphasized that development programs should be implemented in a systematic and efficient manner to provide the people in the region with immediate benefits. Further, on August 27, 2018, President Sirisena convening the Presidential Task Force for the second time at the Presidential Secretariat, assured equal development in Northern and Eastern Provinces. During the meeting, the President instructed the officials to take measures to streamline and accelerate the infrastructure development programs of the North and the East and the programs implemented to uplift the livelihood of the people.
Separately, on July 11, 2018, the Government launched a long-term development plan for the Eastern port city of Trincomalee and surrounding cities in the island's Eastern Province. The long-term plan to develop the port city under the theme "Eastern gateway to Sri Lanka by 2050" was presented to the Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe at Temple Trees. Under this project, Trincomalee will be developed as the main export center for the Bay of Bengal region, with eco-friendly industrial zones, agricultural zones and tourism. Highways, transport, education, health and other facilities are planned to be built and it is envisaged to generate more than a million new jobs.
Meanwhile, encouraging entrepreneurs in North with tax concessions to help lift the local economy, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe noted, at an event held at Jaffna Municipal Grounds in Jaffna District of Northern Province on July 22, 2018, “We want local entrepreneurs to invest as well as bringing the enterprises to the region from outside. That money should be invested in Jaffna. We will give money if you start from inside the region." Further, Prime Minister Wickremesinghe, participating as the Chief Guest at the opening ceremony of several new buildings constructed at the Kilinochchi Campus of Jaffna University on August 4, 2018, declared, “Steps are being taken to provide a better life for the youth through a massive development program from Point Pedro in the North to Hambantota in the South. The accelerated development program has already been commenced from the Northern Province with the construction of an airport in Kilinochchi and the development of Kankasanthurai harbor.”
In keeping with the Government's policy to release more security forces-held lands to civilians, the Army released another 4.4 acres in the Valikamam North Divisional Secretariat area in Jaffna District on September 6, 2018, during a ceremony at Myliddy Town. The Army released a land patch of 2.75 acres, belonging to the Kalaimagal Vidyalayam, Myliddy North; a stretch of 1.19 acres, belonging to several families in Sandilipay area; another block of 0.5 acres, owned by Kurumbachetti Co-operative Shop; and the Community Hall to the Zonal Education Director and the District Secretary for Jaffna, N. Vethanayahan, enabling both of them to go ahead with onward arrangements for issue of their legitimate deeds, certificates, etc through the District Secretariat. As of December 2017, the Army had released a total of 55,643.92 acres of land in Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Mannar and Vavuniya Districts in the Northern Province. The Army commenced the gradual release of private property used by the armed forces after the conclusion of the Eelam War on May 17, 2009.
On September 7, 2018, a Select Committee was appointed to study and recommend ways and means of ensuring ethnic and religious harmony in Sri Lanka. The Committee, headed by Speaker Karu Jayasuriya, includes the Deputy Speaker Ananda Wijesiri, and Opposition Leader R. Sampathan, as well as sitting Members of Parliament Rauff Hakeem, D. M. Swaminathan, Susil Premajayantha, Dinesh Gunawardene, C. B. Ratnayake, Vijitha Herath, Douglas Devananda, Selvam Adekaranathan, Gamini Jayawickrama Perera, Gayantha Karunatilleke, Mano Ganesan, Wijedasa Rajapakshe, Ali Zahir Mawlana, John Amaratunga, Thalatha Athukorala and Ranjith Madduma Bandara. The Committee will also look at ways of preventing the propagation of defamatory views that undermine national harmony or the engagement in such activities, as well as the necessity of taking legal action against individuals who engage in such activities. It will also examine the suitability of including hate speech as a crime in the Penal Code; categorizing the schools system on non-racial or non-religious bases; establishing a parliamentary committee empowered to entertain complaints about the issues faced by minority ethnic groups in the North and the East; formulating relevant legal provisions required for general implementation of the law when establishing places of worship and erecting statues; and the possibility of banning news which disturb national amity.
Expressing satisfaction on the progress of Sri Lanka's reconciliation process and the measures taken by the Government, representatives of several donor agencies, during a meeting with President Maithripala at the President's Residence on September 5, 2018, expressed their readiness to extend their fullest support to Sri Lanka's efforts to achieve goals of development and reconciliation. The donor agencies include the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the World Bank (WB), the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). Earlier, Filippo Grandi, the head of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) while meeting with Ambassador A.L.A. Azeez, Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations (UN) at the UNHCR Headquarters in Geneva, on August 15, 2018, commended Sri Lanka for its significant progress in resettlement of returning refugees and Internally Displaced Persons and invited Sri Lanka to play a more proactive role in the organization. Meanwhile, newly-appointed UN Permanent Representative for Sri Lanka, Hanna Singer, while calling on President Sirisena at his official residence in Colombo on September 6, 2018, assured the President that, even as ongoing programmes continued, she would explore the possibility of widening assistance to Sri Lanka.
The National Unity Government, formed on August 20, 2015, has made remarkable efforts to press forward with the reconciliation process. The OMP Interim Report, to help the families of missing is another significant step in this direction. Challenges remain, of course, as the Government is yet to consider the recommendations listed in the comprehensive report and a special Cabinet sub-committee would be needed for this purpose.
Chhattisgarh: Narayanpur: Tightening Vice Deepak Kumar Nayak Research Assistant, Institute for Conflict Management
On September 2, 2018, at least four cadres of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist), including a Local Organization Squad (LOS) ‘commander’, were killed in an encounter with District Reserve Guard (DRG) personnel in a forest near the Gumiyabeda village under Maad Police Station limits in Narayanpur District. During a subsequent search of the spot, four bodies, including one of a woman cadre, were recovered, of which two were identified; one of the these as Somlu, the Nelnar ‘area committee member (ACM)’; the other, a woman cadre, identified as Ratti, the ‘commander’ of the Jhara LOS. DRG personnel recovered four weapons, including one INSAS (Indian Small Arms System) assault rifle, one .303 rifle and two 12-bore guns.
On August 26, 2018, a Maoist cadre was killed in an exchange of fire between Security Forces (SFs) and the Maoists in a forest near Kalepal village under Benoor Police Station limits in Narayanpur District. Acting on information about the presence of rebels between Chinari and Kalepal villages, around 350 kilometers from State capital Raipur, a team of DRG personnel had been sent to the spot, which came under fire from the Maoists near Kalepal leading to a gun battle, Superintendent of Police (SP), Jitendra Shukla disclosed. After a brief exchange of fire, the Maoists fled and the body of Soma Vadde, a member of the CPI-Maoist’s Bayanar LOS, was recovered from the spot, along with a country-made gun.
According to partial data collated by the South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP), at least seven Maoists have been killed in Narayanpur District thus far in 2018 (data till September 9). During the corresponding period in 2017, 15 Maoists had been eliminated; a total of 21 Maoists fatalities were recorded through 2017. 16 Maoists fatalities were recorded in 2016, while three were registered in 2015; five in 2014; five in 2013; three in 2012; 12 in 2011; and 15 in 2010.
In addition, operations launched against the rebels have resulted in the arrest of at least 57 Maoists in Narayanpur District in 2018, thus far (data till September 9). During the corresponding period in 2017, at least 25 Maoists were arrested, and a total of 42 were arrested through 2017. Another at least 32 Maoists were arrested in 2016; there were no arrests in 2015; 73 in 2014; 34 in 2013; 14 in 2012; 43 in 2011; and 25 in 2010. Some of the significant arrests this year include: a militia ‘commander’ identified as Guddu Ram Wadde (29), carrying a reward of INR 100,000 on his head, was arrested along with four other cadres from the forests of Balebeda village in the District on July 12, 2018; and two CPI-Maoist cadres identified as Sukhram Usendi (40), who was active as head of the Aderbeda Janatana Sarkar ('people's government') squad of CPI-Maoist, carrying a reward of INR 100,000 on his head, and Janila Mandavi (30), who was working as the head of the Toyameta Dandakaranya Adivasi Kisan Majdoor Sangathan (DAKMS), a frontal organisation of CPI-Maoist, also carrying a reward of INR 100,000 on her head, were arrested along with 14 other cadres at the villages of Musnar, Toyameta, Pugarpal and Irpanar in the Chhotedongar Police Station area in the District on June 13, 2018.
Besides, mounting SF pressure also led to the surrender of 75 Maoists in 2018 (till September 9), according to SATP data. During the corresponding period in 2017, 215 Maoists had surrendered, and a total of 218 through 2017. In the current year, importantly, on June 30, 2018, Santu Ram Vadde aka Karan (21), ‘deputy commander' of the CPI-Maoist Dandakaranya communication team, carrying a reward of INR 500,000 on his head, surrendered before Vivekanand Sinha, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Bastar range, and officials of the Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), along with nine other cadres in Narayanpur District; and on April 26, 2018, Sukhraj Kawachi (22), Sannu Ram Potai (18) and Jaisu Vadda (25), all Jan Militia (‘people’s army’) ‘commanders’, surrendered before IGP, Bastar Range, Vivekanand Sinha and ITBP officials at Narayanpur Police Station along with 57 other cadres, claiming that they were frustrated with exploitation, atrocities and violence at the hands of senior Maoist leaders, and wanted to see development reach their areas.
Meanwhile, according to SATP data, at least four SF personnel were killed in Narayanpur District in 2018 (till September 9), as against a single fatality, during the corresponding period, in 2017; the same lone fatality remained through 2017. Total SF fatalities in 2017 were the lowest recorded in this category in the District. Just one fatality in this category in the District was also recorded in 2007, 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2016. A high of 27 fatalities in this category was recorded in the District in 2010.
SFs have managed to secure a positive kill ratio over the Maoists, since 2011, when the SF:Maoist ratio was 1:2. In subsequent years, the ratio has been: 1:3 in 2012; 1:5 in 2013; 1:5 in 2014; 1:1.5 in 2015; 1:16 in 2016; 1:21 in 2017; and 1:1.75 in 2018 [till September 9]. The overall SF:Maoist ratio in Narayanpur, since its creation in May 11, 2007 averages out at 1:1.54.
Meanwhile, civilian fatalities, a crucial index of the security situation in an area, have dropped to just one in the current year, thus far (data till September 9, 2018). During the corresponding period in 2017, at least three civilians were killed in the District; and this remained the total number in this category through 2017. There has been a great improvement with regard to the civilian fatalities in the current year as compared to a peak of six fatalities in this category in 2007. Civilian fatalities have seen a cyclical trend in the District and the low of a single fatality was registered in the current year as well as in 2008, 2011, and 2014.
Year
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
Total
Narayanpur District, one of Chhattisgarh’s 27 Districts, was created on May 11, 2007, having been carved out from the erstwhile Bastar District. This District comprises of 366 villages, and has an area of 6,640 square kilometres. Narayanpur abuts Bijapur and Dantewada Districts in the south; Bastar in the East; Kanker District in the North; and the Gadchiroli District of Maharashtra in the west. Surrounded with dense forests, hills, streams, waterfalls and natural caves, the forest cover of 2,116.915 square kilometres accounts for 32.87 per cent of the Narayanpur’s total area. As a result of the difficult terrain and natural protection it offers, Narayanpur has immense ‘geo-strategic importance’ for the Maoists, and has long served as a major transit route for the rebels to cross into the Naxalite affected areas of the neighbouring State of Maharashtra, creating opportunities to orchestrate violence on both sides of the State borders.
On July 30, 2018, in an interview, DM Awasthi, Special Director General, anti-Naxal Operations, who also heads the Special Intelligence Branch (SIB) dealing with Left Wing Extremist (LWE), while sharing details on the present scenario, plans and strategy, for Chhattisgarh, thus discloses;
On the other hand, other parameters of violence suggest that the Maoists are struggling to recover in their previous area of dominance, with Maoists-related incidents recording a declining trend. The Maoists were involved in at least nine incidents of exchange of fire with SFs in 2018, as compared to 10 such incidents over the same period in 2017. Through 2017 the number totalled 12 such incidents. The Maoists engineered one incident of an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast in the current year, and one in the same period of 2017. However, there were three such incidents through 2017. SFs recovered arms on at least three occasions in 2018, whereas, at least seven incidents of recovery of arms are on record in the corresponding period of 2017; a total of eight such incidents were recorded through 2017.
The Maoists also were involved in incidents of arson on at least three occasions in 2017, and damaged at least one under-construction primary school in 2017. No such incidents have been recorded in the current year.
To fight the Maoists through development programmes in the region, Chief Minister Raman Singh announced during his visit to Narayanpur District on May 14, 2018, that a District and Sessions Court would soon be opened in Narayanpur. In addition, other developmental initiatives announced include;
Narayanpur, along with seven other Districts (Bastar, Bijapur, Dantewada, Kanker, Kondagaon, Rajnandgaon and Sukma) of Chhattisgarh, are worst Maoist-afflicted Districts, and are listed among the 30 Districts across seven States which the worst affected by LWE violence. These 30 Districts accounted for 88 per cent to all violent incidents and 94 per cent to all Maoist-linked deaths in 2017, according to the Union Home Ministry (UHM) on August 1, 2018. UHM further disclosed;
The Maoists are taking a beating in the State and across the country. It is imperative at this juncture, that the Maoist heartland areas of Abujhmaad in Narayanpur and beyond, have to be brought under control through augmenting SF pressure on the rebels, and effective, time-bound implementation of the developmental policies by the both the State and Union Governments.
Weekly Fatalities: Major Conflicts in South Asia September 3-9, 2018
Civilians
Security Force Personnel
Terrorists/Insurgents
BANGLADESH
Left-wing Extremism
INDIA
Jammu and Kashmir
Manipur
INDIA (Left-Wing Extremism)
Bihar
Chhattisgarh
INDIA (Total)
PAKISTAN
Balochistan
KP
Sindh
PAKISTAN (Total)
Afghanistan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani meets US Defence Secretary James Mattis and US Joint Chiefs of Staff General Joseph Dunford: Afghanistan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani met with a delegation of the United States (US) Department of Defence (DoD) led by the Defence Secretary James Mattis and the US Joint Chiefs of Staff General Joseph Dunford on September 7. The Office of the President, ARG Palace stated that US Secretary of Defence James Mattis expressed satisfaction regarding his visit to Afghanistan and praised the National Unity Government (NUG) for its efforts in the areas of reforms, fight against terrorism, and countering-corruption, besides hailing the Afghan Forces in the fight against terrorism. Khaama, September 8, 2018.
Jalaluddin Haqqani 'founder' of Haqqani Network dead, announces Taliban: Taliban announced in a statement on September 4 that Jalaluddin Haqqani 'founder' of Haqqani Network (HN) was dead. Taliban stated that "It is with great regret that we inform our believing Mujahid Afghan nation and the vast Islamic Ummah that the prominent Jihadi figure, religious scholar, exemplary warrior and pioneer of celebrated Jihads; the Minister of Frontiers during the reign of Islamic Emirate and member of the Leadership Council, the esteemed Al-Haj Mawlawi Jalaluddin Haqqani has passed away after a long battle with illness". Tolo News, September 4, 2018.
66 percent of citizens have declared their support for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, says IRI survey: 66 percent of citizens have declared their support for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said International Republican Institute (IRI) survey. Washington-based IRI conducted the survey between April 10 and May 21, 2018, a copy of which BSS obtained on September 3.The 33-page survey entitled "National Survey of Bangladesh Public Opinion" found that a staggering 62 percent of people believe the country is progressing on the right path and as many as 69 percent of people are satisfied with the current state of the economy. Dhaka Tribune, September 5, 2018.
Maoists spreading to more Districts, says Intelligence report: The Western Ghats Special Zonal Committee (WGSZC) of Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) has been increasing the strength of its armed wing People's Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) in five Districts of State of Kerala, said a report from the Intelligence wing of the anti-Naxal [Left Wing Extremism, LWE] squad of the State Police. The report submitted to the Government said there was alarming increase in the number of PLGA members trooping to these regions after the death of senior leaders of the party in an encounter in Nilambur forest two years ago. Times of India, September 8, 2018.
Army to step up anti-militancy operations ahead of polls in Jammu and Kashmir, says GOC Lieutenant General A K Bhatt: General Officer Commanding (GOC) 15 Corps of Army Lieutenant General A K Bhatt on September 7 said that Army will increase operations against militants in Jammu and Kashmir ahead of elections for their smooth conduct. Speaking to reporters in South Kashmir, he said that it is the duty of Army to maintain peace. "It is the duty of Army to have peace and prosperity so that elections will be conducted successfully", he said. Bhatt said that they will step up anti militancy operations ahead of elections for achieving peace. Daily Excelsior, September8, 2018.
Maoists building 'New Battle Zone' on Madhya Pradesh-Chhattisgarh-Maharashtra Border, says an Intelligence Report:: Fear of action on them has forced top Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) 'commanders' to build a 'new battlefield' in Madhya Pradesh-Chhattisgarh-Maharashtra (MMC) tri-junction border for a new guerilla zone. As per an Intelligence report, the Maoists plan to target Security Forces (SFs). The report says that Maoists wish to expand their battle zone towards north and then east to create a link corridor between Balaghat-Rajnandgaon-Kabirdham-Gondia. The decision of expansion of Maoist activities on a larger scale in the MMC area was taken long ago, said Intelligence inputs, and a division of Maoists has been found active in the bordering area of Balaghat in Madhya Pradesh, Rajnandgaon in Chhattisgarh and Gondia in Maharashtra Districts. India.com, September 6, 2018.
Separate Constitution for Jammu and Kashmir was aberration, says NSA Ajit Doval:Having a separate Constitution for Jammu and Kashmir was probably an 'aberration', National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval said on September 4 as he stressed that sovereignty can never be compromised. Doval's remarks on Kashmir come at a time the Supreme Court (SC) is hearing pleas challenging the Constitutional validity of Article 35-A of the Constitution, which provides special rights and privileges to permanent residents of Jammu and Kashmir. Doval said sovereignty 'cannot be a diluted and ill-defined', and added that when the 'British left, probably they did not want to leave India as a strong sovereign State.' Daily Excelsior, September 6, 2018.
US likely to ask India to join CIF group to counter Islamic State funding, says report:In '2+2' Dialogue between India and the United States (US), the US is likely to propose India to join the 'Counter Islamic State (IS) Finance Group (CIFG)-a broad international group established to 'degrade' and 'defeat' the IS. The CIF group was established in January 2015 with US, Italy, and Saudi Arabia as Co-Chair, and has 49-member nations, including Australia, Bahrain, Bulgaria, Canada, Denmark, France, Georgia, Germany, Iraq and China as observers. The 2+2 Dialogue is scheduled for September 6 this year, where the US Homeland Security officials and their Indian counterparts have worked on a draft plan for six years cooperation in anti-terror intelligence sharing, terror financing, and Cybersecurity, said an unnamed official. Indian Express, September 4, 2018.
Central Government alerts Punjab Government on the efforts to revive the Khalistan movement in Punjab, says report: During the meeting between the Union Home Minister (UHM) Rajnath Singh and Punjab's Chief Minister (CM) Capt. Amarinder Singh on August 31, the Central Government has conveyed an alert on the efforts of resurgence of the pro-Khalistan movement in the State of Punjab. Punjab's CM Capt. Amarinder Singh also met and had discussions with Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi on September 1 over National Security related concerns in Punjab and 'hope' for a positive response over their discussion. The Tibune, September 4, 2018.
US threats the Maldives for sanctions, says report: The United States government on September 7 "threatened" the Maldives government with sanctions against people in the Maldives who 'undermine democracy, the rule of law, and a fair electoral process'. The US was concerned about continued democratic back-sliding in the Maldives, particularly as the country prepared for a Presidential Election scheduled to be held on September 23, this year. If Maldives failed to return to a democratic path, the US will consider appropriate measures against those individuals who undermine democracy, the rule of law, and a free and fair electoral process, said an official at the US State Department-Heather Nauert. Maldives Independent, September 7, 2018.
Government removes top economist Dr Atif Rehman Mian from EAC over his Ahmadi faith: Government removes top economist Dr Atif Rehman Mian from EAC over his Ahmadi faith: Owing to mounting pressure from hardliners, Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Government on September 7 removed renowned economist Dr Atif Rehman Mian from the Economic Advisory Council (EAC) as he was Ahmadi by faith. Apart from a vicious online campaign against Dr Mian's appointment, opposition parties - including Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party and an alliance of several religious parties - had submitted a call-to-attention notice in the Senate, the upper house of Parliament, against his inclusion in the 18-member EAC. Times of India Express, September 3, 2018.
Pakistan will never fight anyone else's war, says Prime Minister Imran Khan: Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on September 6 said Pakistan will not fight anyone else's war, adding that all institutions were determined to work together to safeguard country's own interests. "Pakistan will never participate in anyone's war. We have a commitment to stand by our people and protect our interests," Imran Khan said in his address to the Defense and Martyrs Day ceremony on the lawns of the General Headquarters (GHQ) of the Pakistan Army. Rubbishing the myth of a civil-military divide in the country, the PM said the Pakistani nation was destined to rise as all state institutions were determined to work together. The Nation, September 7, 2018.
Select Committee appointed to study and recommend ways and means of ensuring ethnic and religious harmony in Sri Lanka: A Select Committee has been appointed to study and recommend ways and means of ensuring ethnic and religious harmony in Sri Lanka on September 7. Deputy Speaker Ananda Wijesiri who was in the Chair said the Select Committee would be headed by Speaker Karu Jayasuriya and include the Deputy Speaker, Opposition Leader R. Sampathan, Rauff Hakeem, D. M. Swaminathan, Susil Premajayantha, Dinesh Gunawardene, C. B. Ratnayake, Vijitha Herath, Douglas Devananda, Selvam Adekaranathan, Gamini Jayawickrama Perera, Gayantha Karunatilleke, Mano Ganesan, Wijedasa Rajapakshe, Ali Zahir Mawlana, John Amaratunga, Thalatha Athukorala and Ranjith Madduma Bandara. The committee will also look at ways of preventing the propagation of defamatory views that undermine national harmony or the engagement in such activities and the necessity of taking legal action against individuals who engage in such activities. Daily Mirror, September 8, 2018.
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