The capture of the Tamil Tigers’ northern stronghold of Kilinochchi has led Sri Lankans to wonder if their civil war is nearing its end. Some politicians think not and that the island must brace itself for a prolonged conflict with guerillas pushed deep into the jungle. One former Tamil commander says exiles will now think twice about raising money for the LTTE – the Tamils’ official name – because they’re politically a spent force.
This pro-Sri Lankan military editorial castigates the “armchair military experts, fifth columnists and ambassadorial pundits” for their circumspection. “The LTTE has dug its own grave and is about to lie in it.”
Sri Lanka’s neighbour suggests Colombo needs to reach out to the Tamil people, who’ve endured months of airstrikes. It reminds ministers that the LTTE started life representing the often-legitimate grievances of Tamils before turning militant. “Colombo should initiate constitutional reforms and implement them. A political solution is necessary if the military gains are to translate into a permanent peace.”
Jimmy Carter turned up only the day before his inauguration as president, but the Obamas are due to arrive on Sunday, more than a fortnight before they become America’s new first family. They’re due to stay at one of Washington’s plushest hotels. But it’s no conceit on Obama’s part: his two daughters are due to start school on Monday. Obama’s request to stay at one of President Bush’s guest houses was rebuffed by Bush because the guest house is supposedly full, though correspondents have struggled to discover the identity of the mystery guests.
Back in Chicago, meanwhile, everyone from the chief historian at the city’s museum to the man who runs Manny’s Deli – a former Obama haunt – has been weighing in on what Washington can expect. With so many of the incoming president’s inner circle from the WindyCity, Chicagoans are expecting Washington to receive some rough and tough reform.
Burundi, a country wracked by ethnic cleansing, has a new victim: albino children. Six of them have been murdered in the past four months, including an eight-year-old boy whose limbs were amputated by machete. Witch doctors claim the blood of albino children is magical, capable of helping treasure-hunters find gold. While albinos are shunned in many communities, they’re also being hunted by those keen to exploit myths surrounding so-called “sun children”.
A 43-year-old woman giving birth to her first child shouldn’t be a big deal in this day and age, even when she’s France’s justice minister. But the arrival of Rachida Dati’s daughter, Zohra, has set chattering tongues wagging afresh over the identity of the father. Dati has refused to name him. The flamboyant single mother has been linked with a string of millionaires and politicians, including Spain’s former Prime Minister and the ex-coach of the French rugby team. Dati plans to spend just a week on maternity leave. She’s become a mother at a crucial time in her career: once the protégé of President Nicolas Sarkozy, there’s speculation Dati could lose her job in a government reshuffle at the end of January after coming under fire over court reform and the state of French prisons.
