... war and Kumaratunga

Sri Lanka has landed fairly peaceful in the year 2006 despite the arrests of around 1.000 Tamils for no exact reason except that the Rajapaksa Government had shown some activities after the killing of 40 troops.

Nevertheless educated Sri Lankans rate the chances of "back to civil war" with 50:50 which leaves it more or less up to the few real leaders of the Tamil Tigers who could order for example an assault on the World Trade Center in Colombo, the Airport or any other spectacular target in Colombo with the slightest ease.

Sri Lankan authorities have proven, that they can not even provide security for government members at their own residence so that anything prestigious in Sri Lanka might already been perfectly scanned and surrounded by the Tigers.

At some point President Mahinda Rajapaksa would feel forced to go for retaliation to make it a perfect scenario for leaders at both sides.

Apart from that previous President Chandrika Kumaratunga has finally made it into the limelight again with now getting pulled to court for her spectacular luxury demands that were put on the public bill.

In fact her personal support from the taxpayers and international aid purses covers 2 acres of lands in most expensive Colombo 7 area, a personal staff of 60 people, 4 Jeeps, 6 bullet proof cars and 3 Million Rupees in Cash amongst several other goodies.

Not even the American President would receive a package of that size after retirement whist the completely on foreign donations depending national budget has remained at a ridiculous level of as little as $8 billion under her long leadership.

Even a tiny Island like Barbados is generating much higher revenues with 5 million tourists whilst Sri Lanka with much more nature and size to offer can`t even attract 500.000.

... no money in Germany

Constantly shrinking purchasing power is giving the German population a truly tough time by the end ofd 2005.

Already extremely profitable electricity providers have been invited to further increase their pricing of around 4% although they are cashing in the by far highest prices in the world.

Health insurance, the German Railroad and several other institutions are also demanding higher prices whilst reducing quality and services at the same time.

Meanwhile way over 6 million Germans have been registered as poor by now not to mention those, who are living in the streets without any rights to claim welfare or dole. In addition several industries are trying to reduce salaries and staff to further improve their profit situation.

With public debts at all-time record levels the new chancellor Angela Merkel has now felt encouraged to invest some 3 million Euro into print adverts that should convince citizens of her policy.

As one of her first decisions she had also canceled regular talks between IT industries and government institutions in which previously requirements and experiences had been exchanged and defined.

Another scam is, that German providers and telcos are now forced to store all E-mails, faxes and connection data for 24 months in order to combat privacy.

Also discrete banking has become history in Germany since ordinary government workers are now entitled to check any bank account without requiring any further authorization.

So far no figures have been released that could give an idea on how much capital has been shifted out of Germany.

Fact is, that already in 2004 more than 150.000 capable and wealthier Germans have emigrated and most likely 2005 has even seen a lot more making it a serious money and brain drain.

Happy new year ...

... the Sri Lankan shoot out continues

Another 10+ Sinhalese soldiers where killed by highly popular Claymore mines on Dec. 27 increasing recent victims of pre-civil war activities to 40.

Over the weekend the elderly Tamil politician Joseph Pararajasingham has been shot during a Christmas service by a group of gun men. Also several others were injured during a shoot out inside St Michael's Church in Batticaloa between his bodyguards and the assassins.

Opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe has been requested to resign and to accept the responsibility for the UNP defeat at the last election. Deputy Party leader Karu Jayasuriya and snr p.m. Rukman Senanayaka had assembled a meeting of influential members to organize internal changes.

... Christmas day in Sri Lanka

Around $3 billion have been raised for Tsunami victims in Sri Lanka and many places look like nothing has happened.

Why are there no international investigations taking place, looking at people living in tents even in the city of Galle and much more in other areas. Providing victims with a small house starts at $1.000 per unit and the island offers loads of unoccupied land.

Of course, some places have recovered nicely, but too many regions still look shambles.

Nevertheless, Sri Lankans have recently voted for Mahinda Rajapaksa whose party has been in charge of all that aid money and whose responsibility it was to look after his people.

Galle hospital had looked like hell a day after the waves and yes, it looks fine again apart from the tents alongside noisy and polluted Galle Road. Yes, that`s the South and not a Tamil region where depressions and frustration have multiplied since the Tsunami.

Today Tamil people may feel much more like driven to the edge and Rajapaksa would benefit politically from a return to civil war as it would strengthen his dubious coalition with Nationalists, Marxists and Monks.

Tourists are getting discouraged with higher prices for less services, volunteers, many investors and other expats receive ugliest treatments at government offices.

Now the economy and everything else is going down faster than ever with fewer jobs and increased taxes.

The future looks risky and certainly not as bright as it easily could. Today Mahinda`s National Defense Council has been assembled after 14 of his soldiers were reported to be killed by Tamil Tigers.

Nevertheless, merry Christmas from Sri Lanka and may peace shine bright!

... once again almost Christmas

Just 4 days away from the first Tsunami adversary International Media is again looking at Southern Asia where Sri Lanka has partly recovered from damages and pain except for some regions, where mainly the poorest live.

Some German "Focus" journalists wrote, that nothing at all has changed in Northern Mullaitivu, a Tamil location still suffering and now without hopes for any improvements.

Billions of Dollars had been donated some 11 months ago and building a house my cost as little as $1.000 with plenty of land unoccupied all over SL.

Tourism from Germany has gone down 50% for various reasons and instead of 60.000 just 30.000 have found their way to that "Indian Ocean Pearl" under pressure from every possible angle with jobs and businesses shrinking and most money invested into armament or getting shipped out of the country since Mahinda has gotten elected instead of Ranil.

Increased violence had triggered warnings in German media calling Sri Lanka "unstable" and considering only some parts stable and safe. At the same time prices had been increased asking for "quality tourists" regardless pollution, increased crime, poverty and other obstacles that made tourists prefer Thailand, India and other competitors.

In addition the German LTU Airline has also almost doubled their rates so that a multitude of basic reasons have kept occupancy rates at rock bottom despite the long awaited "high season".

Nevertheless life and regular craze go on in Sri Lanka with higher taxes, more government and hardly any substantial improvements.

Of course, some parts have done great in terms of Tsunami recovery and actually apart from much higher prices there aren`t any reasons that should discourage from visits.

But somehow German`s are different and flying MartinAir from Amsterdam is now a good deal compared to pricey LTU where the management had given orders to "make more money" from long distance flights.

At the same time Germany wonders about high unemployment, shrinking domestic consumption and why all others are doing much better.

In fact the +49 and the +94 are now much more two nations with superb chances but keep on struggling without concept what will make the future much tougher for everyone living there.

... dying in SL

The first 17 Sri Lankan soldiers have died in the North after blasts for which the Tamil Tigers have denied any responsibility.

Meanwhile many Sri Lankans are expecting a fast return back to grim civil war by which leaders at both sides may expect to strengthen their own personal positions as it will allow them to demand more solidarity from their followers.

Tamil Tiger leaders will intensify their demands for more donations from their followers that are scattered all over the world whilst President Mahinda Rajapaksa will receive a tighter support from his various coalition partners that include extreme Nationalists, Marxists and the Monk Party.

In addition the leaders of the Tamil Tigers will be able to channel the strong anger and rage about the fact, that their Northern regions had not received sufficient support from the vast tsunami donations that had flooded into Sri Lanka earlier this year.

The overall living conditions for most Tamils have remained utterly dismal though overall also most Sri Lankans suffer from the severe economic crisis caused by the previous Kumaratunga government.

The state that Sri Lankan Tamil schools are in can be observed on this real video 56k|256k though one has to quote, that also some Sinhalese look almost as sad as this one in Digana which is only equipped with two small bathroom shacks for 1500 pupils for whom also only 2 rusty old typewriters and hardly any books have been made available.

Meanwhile Sri Lanka`s upper class has stopped any investment as well as huge amounts of cash are getting shifted into foreign countries. Also the stock market has lost dramatically which is another indicator for the rapidly rising danger.

Apparently the Tamil Tigers seem to be ready for massive strikes with loads of military gear and a well structured organization so that the intensity of warfare may exceed previous levels by far.

Also the U.S. Government has raised it`s concern about the situation but putting traditionally the blame primarily on the rebel Tigers.

With 100 million Tamils in the Tamil Nadu state the also the Indian government feels trapped inside the conflict in particular since the Rajapaksa administration has forwarded a request to replace the Norwegian mediators that are supervising the current truce.

Tamil Tiger leader Velupillai Prabhakaran has addressed an ultimatum to President Mahinda Rajapaksa saying that his Tamil people have lost their patience and hope so that without any improvements a return to war might happen in 2006.

"Our people have lost patience, hope and reached the brink of utter frustration."

... post election activities

The new German chancellor Angela Merkel went to visit leaders in France and the UK whilst in Sri Lanka the new cabinet of Mahinda Rajapaksa will not contain any members from the Monks and Marxist parties.

Also PR activities were launched that aim at creating a non-hardliner image whilst many Sri Lankans fear, that another round of war could start soon.

... war in Sri Lanka ?

The appointment of hardliner Ratnasiri Wickremanayake as Prime Minister might be another move towards the return to civil war.

Previously the extreme Nationalist Ratnasiri Wickremanayake had expressed his desire for a military solution so that now the Tamil Tiger`s plan to gain internal strength and momentum by having "ideal enemies" seems to have worked out.

Now it might only take one incident, perhaps similar to the assassination of the former foreign minister to trigger the next round of butchery between the two ethnical groups, who both had become infamous for most bizarre atrocities.

With Rajapaksa and Wickremanayake now in charge of the country another blast or killing might trigger some immediate retaliation in form of military attacks, what would then be the start of uncontrolled incidents.

The LTTE has already sent warnings to further heat up the tension whilst Ratnasiri Wickremanayake would like to see the Norwegian mediators leave the Island instantly.

Meanwhile the Tamil Tigers are exceptionally well equipped so that the LTTE might feel, that it could be the right time to go for war not giving the Sinhalese army any time to gear up.

In response to the appointment of Ratnasiri Wickremanayake and the new policy the Sri Lankan stockmarket took another sharp dive following the previous 7% fall what might be another indicator for a dismal future.

... the aftermath ...

Depressions among the Sri Lankan business people are huge about the result of the presidential election last week as well as the enforced Tamil voters boycott of the poll by the LTTE is receiving vast criticism in Europe and the U.S.

With now Marxist elements inside the new Rajapaksa government any further financial support for Sri Lanka will get reviewed very closely and certainly also no further International investment will become available that could help to improve the critical situation of the Island`s shrinking economy.

Overall only the LTTE leaders seem to benefit from the result with a return to civil war becoming much more likely what could indeed justify their existence and strengthen their revenue streams from Tamils in the foreign.

A recognized peacekeeper like Ranil could have made their military ambitions more or less redundant whilst Mahinda Rajapaksa projects himself as a perfect enemy, who is even partly responsible for the absence of tsunami aid funds in badly hit northern Tamil regions.

... the decline speeds up ...

Sri Lanka has a new government and just like in Germany an unusual coalition is more than unlikely to bring any improvements for the pressured societies.

A destructive boycott of the Tamil voters enforced by the Tigers had given Mahinda Rajapaksa a thin lead of only 200.000 votes out of a 9,7 million voters bringing his controversial coalition of Marxists, Buddhists and military hardliners to the nation`s top position.

Domestic and in particular foreign investors feel now widely discouraged and the stock market had instantly dropped 7%. In particular the badly needed tourism can now expected to go down even faster as well as the threat of a return to civil war has become much more imminent with the announced hardline policy towards the Tamil minority, which had already been cut off from tsunami aid at some large extent.

Mahinda Rajapaksa`s Freedom Party party had been ruling for a long time and the Island`s economy has been driven to shambles with high inflation, huge unemployment and zero concepts for improvements.

Furthermore the Marxist members of the new administration are strong enemies of privatization what will lead to severe conflicts with the World Bank, which is still one of the main income sources for Sri Lanka, where meanwhile "please help!" has grown to one of the most popular phrases.

Pollution and damages to the environment are growing at full speed as a result of no exhaust controls for the countless smelly busses, which are the No.1 in public transports due to a fully outdated and run down railroad system.

Now the overall income situation is bound to become worse with the expected reduction of tourism and western influences whilst already most of the national budget is spend on armament and the rapidly growing petrol bill.

Also Germany is seeing further damages to growth and the economy caused by an unusual coalition which had agreed upon higher taxes and a further reduction of income and general purchasing power at all levels.

In particular a new tax for "rich people" will drive more capital and investors out of the country as well as highly qualified experts are leaving the country at growing figures just like in Sri Lanka, where the average income has remained way below $100 per month and where modern key industries like for example IT and computers have a tough standing caused by high monopoly pricing.

Now both countries had their chance for changes, but both have decided to continue with their old devastating concepts.

Germany has a new government, whose first initiatives had been dedicated to the creation of higher taxation, such as 3% more VAT taking it as high as 19%. At the same time prices for railroad, public Television, electricity, gas and so on are climbing as fast as jobs are getting exported to other countries.

Lined up next are shrinking pensions with a later entry date and more monthly working hours to make more regular jobs redundant. Overall, the mood and atmosphere in Germany have gone down much further and the criticism on the new coalition deal is absolutely huge, in particular another massive attack on the general purchasing power.

Sri Lanka is in it`s final week before election day and tourism has come to almost a complete standstill since violent outbreaks are feared by tourists and authorities, who have imposed a curfew for the final two days alongside a total ban of soft and hard liquor for the final 4 days.

The race between "Mahinda" and "Ranil" is still widely open and here`s an exclusive new story with many pictures from a big election meeting in Kandy.

All inside the Sri Lanka Channel

... another government

Elections in Germany are over and the two largest parties have received almost equal results at around 35% each.

Angela Merkel and the conservative CDU claim leadership as well as current Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder since both are not able to create a new government on their own, so that everything points at a so called "big coalition" which might bring Germany to a complete standstill.

Only one time such a coalition had taken place for a short period and the results had been extremely poor with both parties servicing much different clienteles based on their opposite party programs and heritage.

Angela Merkel as a person had only convinced as little as 31% of the voters whilst a large German majority would prefer Gerhard Schroeder as the future Chancellor for various personal and intellectual reasons since the CDU leader does not come across as any bright or convincing.

Her first plan is to increase the VAT what will instantly reduce the general purchasing power despite the overall shrinking income situation which has been doing serious damage to the economy already. Highest unemployment in recent decades, huge deficits and a weak domestic market are unlikely to recover now and Germany can be expected to fall even further and faster.

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