What is going on in Sri Lanka, in Ramallah and with Ronaldo?
64 people have been killed, and a further 80 wounded when a mine blast ripped through a bus in Sri Lanka. The government has blamed the Tamil Tigers, but they deny the attack, blaming a paramilitary group linked to the government instead. We'll be talking to Dr. Chris Smith, an expert on the Sri Lanka conflict, as well as hearing from Sri Lankans all over the world. How serious is the violence? Is Sri Lanka on the brink?
Then for Ramallah where tensions between Fatah and Hamas supporters have led to infighting and protests. Fatah supporters have shot at and entered the parliament building. They are calling on the government to pay them. "We are hungry," some of them said. Meanwhile Hamas supporters marched outside parliament calling for an end to inter-factional violence. We'll be talking to Palestinians in both camps and asking: What's it like there? And, who do you blame for these problems?
Brazilian papers have called it 'the ghost of '98', Brazilian fans have called it 'the end of his career'. Some have said he's too fat, his too slow, or simply he's too old. Others feel he is such a genie that he can always pull it off. So we'll be asking Brazilain fans: what is going wrong with Ronaldo?
First though, Sri Lanka...
It was bound to happen,Chan in London
Hannan, a Sri Lankan in London, says he was very dissappointed, and the mine attack was unacceptable.
Chris Smith says, denial is a part of their strategy.
We've had a comment from Thuri in London:
The conflict in Sri Lanka is obviously between the Singhala hawk leadership and Tamils, until these hawks understand that Tamils have every right as them, there will be NO end to this conflict.
The government of Sri Lanka will have to contain the LTT (Tamil Tigers) to the best of their ability.Arjuna
Is there anything left to talk about?Chris Smith
There has to be a dialogue between the Senalhese, the tamils, the government and all sides.Arjuna
Is there the political and emotional will to make peace?Chris
There's a lack of good governance. We need a new political order. That will give everyone the feeling that Sri Lanka belongs to Sri Lankans.Arjuna
Chris feels that there is plenty of backing from the international community. Arjuna feels they still need guidance to work towards a solution.
Is the basic problem for Tamils that there is discrimination against them?
Chris feels it isn't like that. Although he understands that some people may see young Tamil men as cadres for the Tamil Tigers.
To resort to war, is a signal that Prabhakaran, the leader of the Tamil Tigers, thinks he can win the war.Stephen
Chris feels that this is an Intifada type situation.
I think the LTT are looking at this as a final move to end the conflict.
We have moved on to Ramallah. Hatem says he feels pressure from the outside world, then from the Israelis:
I am very sad that it moved to Ramallah, the West bank. The problem is getting worse, and everything is getting more complicated. The problems started in the outside world so I expect the solution to come from the outside world aswell.
Randa is a physician in Nablus:
So many innocent people are suffering. They are going to die. Their only fault is that they are Palestinians.
Khalil feels we cannot always blame the Israelis:
The two factions are using the lawlessness in order to gain political power. It's time to face reality as Palestinians. We have to stop this. We can not let them destroy the country.
Now what's gone wrong for Ronaldo? Has he lost his sparkle?
Marcos Uchoa is a Brazilian journalist and a friend of Ronaldo. He says he has not been well. He even threw up on Saturday.
I think he should not play against Australia.
Unfortunately we didn't have time hear from any more Ronaldo fans. But please leave a comment on this blog if you have an answer for any of today's questions, or you'd like to comment on the topics discussed in the program.
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