SRI LANKA BRIEF: May 2014

Saturday, May 31, 2014

Shocker: Brazen attack on traffic policeman by politico’s goons

His vehicle on fire ( Lankadeepa)

A traffic policeman assigned to the Southern Expressway was attacked by goons of a local politician because he had booked him for an offence, police say.
A police constable attached to the Southern Highway Traffic Surveillance Unit was hospitalized after being beaten up by a gang near his house in Bombuwala area in Dodangoda, may have been attacked because he booked a local government politician for speeding on the highway a few days earlier.

Ministers Siripala & Swaraj

''Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva has been in politics long enough to know that after 1983, the internal and the external in Sri Lanka have become inextricable. If anyone is interfering in Sri Lanka’s internal affairs, it is because the Sri Lankan government has externalized its internal affairs. It will not be nice for India to say it, but any Sri Lankan politician with a head on his shoulders must know that India does not need Sri Lanka’s co-operation on anything but it is Sri Lanka who needs India’s co-operation to address its own internal as well as external affairs.''

Rajan Philips

Sri Lanka: President Rajapaksa's vehicles collection has increased 1005% times since former President CBK time

Driving my car ....

Craving for vehicles has no bounds!

The Presidential vehicle collection that was worth Rs.30,900,000 when President Chandrika Kumaratunga relinquished her position has been increased to Rs. 3,400,600,000 by the end of last year.

At a time when terrorism has been defeated and it is not necessary to buy bullet proof cars, Rs.315,354,000 has been spent to buy such vehicles during last year. Accordingly, the cost of vehicles bought for the presidential collection during the eight year term of President Mahinda Rajapaksa is Rs. 3,400,600,000. This is an increase of 1005%.This is revealed in the annual report of the Ministry of Finance for 2013.

TNA appeals to CM Jayalalitha: Help us to achieve peace based on justice and equality

TNA leader Sampanthan ( The Hindu)

TNA leader Sampanthan writes to TN Chief Minister Jayalalitha

Dear Chief Minister,

I write to you as the leader of the Tamil National Alliance , democratically elected to substantially representate the Tamil People, particularly in the North East of SriLanka, for instance in the last election held in the Northern Provincial Council (NPC), despite the election being held under the intimidatory presence and involvement of the armed forces as concluded by both international and local observers, the TNA secure 30 out of 38 seats in the NPC.

Military personals rounded up the house of Northern Provincial Councilor S.Pasubathipillai located at Thirunagar in Killinochchie 4.00 am today.

Military personals remained at the house till 8.30 am and inspected all family documents.

During wee hours military personals regularly enter in to houses at Killinochchie district and cause disturbances to villagers.

Lankashri

Sri Lanka: Buddhist extremist ‘Bodu Bala Sena ’ thugs batter a Muslim boy

The boy is slapped and shouted at; See
Video (at 2.50) to see visibly frightened child

Once again proving their religious extremist face, the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) organization repeatedly assaulted a small child accusing him to be a Muslim during one of their "Rallying Sinhalese" marches held in Badulla. Heavily drunk organizers of the BBS scolded the boy with obscene words and assaulted him repeatedly. (See Video here form 2.50 minutes)

Afterward a policeman intervened and freed the child form his assailants. It was later revealed that the child had come to see the parade and had gone into the crowd to listen to the speeches.

SSP Ajith : living in a fool's paradise

Editorial - Ceylon Today

Yesterday, our lead story, quoting Police Spokesman SSP Ajith Rohana said that hereafter police would use 'necessary force' as opposed to 'minimum force' in dealing with troublemakers.He said this to seemingly justify the recent killings of suspects in police custody and the police assault on protesting undergraduates.

Extra judicial killings by the police and the country's armed forces first came into focus during the April 1971 insurgency, where it is estimated that 13,000 Sinhala youth, both men and women, from the South, lost their lives, many of whom, ipso facto, were victims of extra-judicial killings.

Sri Lanka rejects Indian PM's request: 13 A will not be implementd in full

Govt. sticks to PSC despite Indian pressure; . ready to cooperate with India in all fields except internal issues

Close on the heels of a meeting between newly elected Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Mahinda Rajapaksa in New Delhi, where the former called for early and full implementation of the 13th Amendment and to go beyond, the government yesterday said that it was only the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) that could decide on the matter.

Cartoon by Mykaia - Tunisia

Press Release/29.05.2014

The Free Media Movement (FMM) expresses its serious concern and indignation regarding the recent prohibitions imposed and obstacles placed by the Police and security forces on media freedom in Sri Lanka.

On May 27 high ranking police officers warned media personal not to film the Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa arriving at the Mount Lavinia District Court. As captured by a journalist's video camera the officer threatened that the journalists will have to be in detention for moths if they dare to film the Defence Secretary.

After the complaint was made

Editor of theindependent.lk website, Subhash Jayawardhana, lodged a complaint with the Human Rights Commission today (29) that the website has been blocked from access from all local viewers by all local internet service providing companies.

He says in the complaint that it is a violation of fundamental rights granted by 14(1)(a) of the constitution with regard to freedom of expression, and also the right to engage in a profession to one’s liking and the freedom from unlawful arrest.

Rajapaksa in India (file photo)

''If the TNA leaders also place their demands outside this ‘Indian scale’, they will be seen by Delhi as part of the problem and not as part of the solution. Plus they will be giving the Rajapaksas an excellent card to subvert a political solution and maintain status quo. The Rajapaksas’ addictive dependence on China means that someday Modi-India will have to focus on Sri Lanka. If democratic Tamils succumb to the malaise of maximalism, they may miss that historic opportunity. The path to a just and equitable peace will close.
And the Rajapaksas will win.''

Tangled Webs by Tisaranee Gunasekara

French far-right leader Marine
Le Pen (Chesnot/Getty Image)

Simon Baptist, Chief Economist and Asia Regional Director

Voters in the European Union sent a strong message last week, with populist and eurosceptic parties topping the polls in a number of countries, most notably the Front National in France and the UK Independence Party in the UK. It is important to keep this in perspective, though. While the elections will bring domestic political instability to France and the UK, in many countries mainstream parties dominated, for example in Germany and - encouragingly - in Italy.

Sri Lanka: Good governance deteriorating - The Inter University Alumni Federation

(peoplesgoals.org)

The Inter University Alumni Federation said that although sovereignty was in the people, the norms of good governance, rule of law, social justice and civil rights have been systematically eroded over the past few decades. Hence, a better Sri Lanka had only become a distant goal. The Inter University Alumni Federation National Organizer, Ranjith Iddamalgoda, said this has been the constant socio-political phenomenon since the independence of our country, and as a result, the aspirations of all the segments of our society for a better Sri Lanka had only become a distanct goal.

Censored by GoSL

The statement issued by the Government of Sri Lanka on the meeting between Prime Minister Modi and President Rajapaksa has completely ignored request made by the Indian PM on devolution of powers in Sri Lanka: “Early and full implementation of the 13th Amendment and going beyond would contribute to this process,” Foreign Secretary Sujata Singh quoted Mr. Modi as telling the Sri Lankan President (The Hindu).

The statement issued by the GoSL is follows:

President Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Modi Meet in New Delhi

Azad Sally, leader of National Unity Front, has alleged that a policeman was made to kneel on a highway.

He made this statement at a media briefing held Wednesday in Colombo.

“A deputy minister had been speeding on the highway. He was travelling at 140 kilometres per hour. He was stopped at the Kottawa interchange and the police had given him a ticket. What happened there? He made the policeman who gave him the ticket sit on the pavement and, within two hours, they had transferred him.”

Sri Lanka: Implement 13 A in full and go beyond - Modi tells Rajapaksa

Deliver your promises to devolve wide powers
to Tamil-majority regions. Photo: R.V. Moorthy

PM wants more devolution in Sri Lanka

Narendra Modi pushed Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa to deliver on his promises to devolve wide powers to the country’s Tamil-majority regions.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi pushed Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa hard, asking for him to deliver on his promises to devolve wide powers to the country’s Tamil-majority regions — a formula called ‘Thirteen-Plus’ that was promised during diplomatic negotiations with former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon in 2010.

Editorial - Daily Mirror

While we need to be concerned about the human rights of convicted prisoners and of those in remand custody we need to give as much if not more concern to the victims of crime and the witnesses who testify to it. Three weeks before the Commonwealth Summit in Sri Lanka last year, the Cabinet approved draft legislation to protect victims and witnesses of crime, a key recommendation of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission and repeatedly called for by rights activists and the United Nations.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is committed to protect the rights of Sri Lankan Tamils, Union minister Pon. Radhakrishnan today said. "Modi is committed to save the life and rights of Tamils in Sri Lanka," Radhakrishnan, who was inducted as a Minister of State in the new government said.
Replying to a query on the opposition of Tamil parties to the invitation of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa to Modi's swearing-in ceremony, he said the government is concerned about the problems of Tamils and there is no need to fear.
BS

Army conducts workshop for Kilinochchi schoolchildren

(Photo: Army.lk)

The Sri Lankan Army held a workshop for schoolchildren in Kilinochchi on Saturday, to “enlighten students” on telecommunication, according to their website.

Troops from the 9 Sri Lanka Signal Corps organised the event, which was attended by senior military commanders, including Major General Sudantha Ranasinghe, Commander of the Sri Lankan Security Forces in Kilinochchi.

(screen shot , CG video)

Two senior police officers today warned a video journalist who had attempted to take video footage from outside the Mount Lavinia District Court of those arriving for a case involving The Sunday Leader newspaper, including Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa.

Both officers told the video journalist not to take video footage of the Defence Secretary or his motorcade when they arrive at the Court premises.

Tamils demonstrate against the
deportations in Bern (keystone)

Sri Lankan asylum seekers wrongly expelled

The Federal Migration Office has come under fire for wrongly rejecting asylum applications from two Sri Lankans who were arrested on their return to their home country and are still in prison. Following reevaluation, deportations are to resume. A report released on Monday referred to a series of blunders resulting from “systemic conditions”, which led to the wrong decision being made in 2011. An external investigation into the matter was ordered after the Federal Administrative Court found the asylum applications to be valid, but only after the two men had been deported.

A climate of fear and intimidation has been re-imposed and has now escalated in the North - C.V. Wigneswaran

C.V. Wigneswaran (photo: Nation.lk)

Wiggie wants Mahinda to walk the talk

“Going as part of President Rajapaksa’s entourage would give the impression that all is fine between the Northern Provincial Council and the Government of Sri Lanka, when in fact it is not,” said Chief Minister of the Northern Province, C.V. Wigneswaran.

Wigneswaran, who hit headlines last week following his refusal to join a Presidential delegation to New Delhi to attend Narendra Modi’s swearing-in ceremony, pointed out: “It is unfortunate that public affairs have become an exercise in tokenism. We act for world consumption but not with sincerity. I declined the invitation because I did not want to become a party to tokenism.”

It is a Rajapaksa initiative

‘S. African mediation will make NFF leave UPFA’- Wimal warns govt:

Having presented a set of proposals reforms to President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees on Saturday, National Freedom Front (NFF) leader, Wimal Weerawansa said yesterday that it would quit the ruling coalition if the government involved foreign powers to facilitate talks with the five-party Tamil National Alliance (TNA).

The NFF leader was responding to a query raised by The Island at a media briefing at the party headquarters at Pelawatte.

Celebration of the War Victory and Suppression of the Remembrance

Sri Lanka Briefing note, May 25 2014
Sunanda Deshapriya
Celebration of the War Victory Day

The May 18 this year marked the fifth anniversary of war victory by the government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) over the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The day is celebrated as the annual War Victory Day by the GoSL with a military parade and remembering the 'War Heroes' (solders died in the war). Usually all diplomatic missions too are invited to the celebration making it a state event. Further the month of May is designated as the 'War Heroes Commemoration Month ' by the GoSL.

Excessively disproportionate, oppressive
presence of the military (File photo)

R. Sampanthan

I write to you as the leader of the Tamil National Alliance, the political formation in Sri Lanka democratically elected at different levels of government, to substantially represent the Tamil people particularly of the North East in Sri Lanka. We extend to you on behalf of the Tamil People is Sri Lanka our warmest congratulations on your resounding victory at the recently concluded elections to the Loke Sbha and on your appointment to the high office of the Prime Minister of Bharat – India. We extend to you and to your government our very sincere best wishes for the successful discharge if your onerous responsibilities.

IDPs, Sri Lanka

''The Special Rapporteur reiterates the importance of establishing accountability mechanisms and strengthening reconciliation processes to ensure that those alleged to have perpetrated human rights violations against internally displaced persons are brought to justice, and that the communities affected by conflict and internal displacement can move towards peace.''

- Chaloka Beyani SP on HR of IDPs

The Government has issued an order to freeze all funds, other financial assets and economic resources of persons, groups and entities designated and listed in March on suspicion of terrorist financing. The 39-page list was promulgated in terms of UN Security Council Resolution (UNSRC) 1373 and contains the names of 424 persons and 16 entities, nearly all of them Tamil. The Government claims they are responsible for the continued financing of terrorism.

Left overs of the Final Battle (ST)

Jaffna University Teachers Association (JUTA) President, Dr A. Rasakumaran who was questioned by the Terrorism Investigation Department (TID) for his involvement in organising a commemoration ceremony in remembrance of those who lost their lives in the war’s final phase, says he did not do anything illegal.

“I did not do anything against the law. We have the right to remember our lost ones. There are no such rules in the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) that says we cannot commemorate those who died in the final battle,” he said.

IGP Ilangakoon: Murder suspect?

The Standing Committee of the Rule of Law of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka has issued a strong statement condemning the death of criminal suspects in police custody saying that the ``acceptance of such blatant manifest untruths has made a mockery of the administration of justice in the country.’’

Commenting on the series of deaths of persons in police custody as suspects over the commission of criminal offences, the statement says: ``It is an insult to the intelligence of our people if the police expect the people to believe these fantasy stories about attacks on them (the police) by suspects while in custody and handcuffed.’’

Sri Lanka: Brigadier who ordered shooting at Weliweriya protestors given a Diplomatic Post

Weliweriya killings

Brigadier Deshapriya Gunawardhana who commanded the Army battalion which murdered two school students and a youth employed in Colombo while firing at the Rathupaswala residents demanding for drinking water, has been appointed as the Military Attaché for Sri Lankan Embassy in Turkey.

Following the objections rose regarding the Rathupaswala murder the government had publicized that Brigadier Deshapriya was interdicted.

''The Minister of Women’s Affairs and Child Development, whose Ministry is expected to help to eliminate discrimination against women, has himself, in several public statements, humiliated Sri Lankan women. He has stated that they are incapable of holding public office, and that gender equality is pursued by westernised women who are not faithful to their husbands (pathivate rakinne nethi kanthavan). He is quoted as having stated in Parliament that gender equality is an alien western value that we must reject, even changing the present commitment to implement the UN Women’s Convention''

RECENT POLICY INITIATIVES AFFECTING WOMEN; Friday Forum expresses concern

Picking numbers from thin air: The government’s lies around reconciliation by Groundviews

A tweet from the government’s official Twitter account around the LLRC National Action Plan noted the following on 22nd ,

Lawrence Mushwana, Chair of the
South African HRC

The working session held in Colombo on 22 – 23 May, brought together the Chairman, Justice Priyantha R.P. Perera, Commissioners Dr. Mahanamahewa, Mr. Anandarajah, and Ms. Ismail and the staff of the Commission, with 14 of the 44 HRCSL participants traveling from the regional offices outside of Colombo.

Over the course of two days the HRCSL drafted an Action Plan on Reconciliation, outlining concrete action points; partnership opportunities; timelines and outcomes for the HRCSL to undertake to contribute to on-going national reconciliation processes.

Brett Mason

The Australian Government has said it will push Sri Lanka to implement the recommendations of the Lessons Learned and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) and to engage with domestic and international stakeholders to advance an effective and transparent reconciliation agenda.
Mason was responding to queries raised by the Australian Tamil Congress on Australia’s policy on engagement with Sri Lanka.

Swiss Cabinet adopts law for freezing dictators’ assets

As a follow up to the events of the Arab spring, the Swiss cabinet has adopted a draft law on the freezing and restitution of illicitly acquired assets of politically exposed persons (PEPs).

The draft law is designed to be applied in cases where leading political figures enrich themselves through corruption or other criminal means and deposit these illicitly acquired assets in Switzerland's financial centre. It will now be debated by parliament.

''In the past five years, other groups have also been relegated to the ranks of ‘the conquered’. The long arm of State oppression has struck at the heart of dissent, pushing student activists, human rights campaigners, journalists and academics to the fringes of Sri Lanka’s post-war politics. Religious hate groups are threatening renewed and devastating conflict between communities. What the marginalisation of political, religious and ethnic minorities really means is that Sri Lankans are essentially living in a period between wars''

Dharisha Bastians

''For Lanka, the important issue is whether the Modi government will increase pressure for the Thirteenth Amendment and more devolution to the North and East. The Manhoman Singh state was weak-kneed and ineffective. True, the Modi-BJP outfit is unlikely to be much concerned about Lankan Tamils on its own, but it will be interesting watch Jayalalitha play her hand, having swept Tamil Nadu. It is unlikely that the government will antagonise Tamil Nadu given its ‘minority’ character. I do not expect Modi to make substantial change to core policy on Lanka which will continue to be run by the mandarins.''

The view from Lanka: A landslide in the bovine-belt by Dr Kumar David

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding a young man of the age of 17 who was illegally arrested by officers from the Kandaketiya police and severely tortured along with his brother and another family member. Despite appeals by his parents and lawyers the Magistrate who heard the case presented by the police ignored face that he had been tortured. Denied of medical treatment, P.H. Sadun Mallinga died in the remand prison while his brother held him in his arms.

Sri Lanka - BASL to AG: Take punitive action against BBS fast; ‘... impunity must end in the larger interest of people of this country.’

BBS thuggery at a Press con

Alleging that the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) has brought the country and Buddhism into disrepute, the Bar Association of Sri Lanka has urged Attorney General Palitha Fernando, PC to take remedial measures immediately.

President of the Bar Association, Upul Jayasuriya said that law enforcement authorities had failed in their duty, therefore the AG should intervene without further delay.

Policein Jaffna ( file photo)

If EU can why cant we asks military

Hitler ltteThe Ministry of Defence (MOD) and military says if countries like those in Europe can ban even the salute of former dictator Adolf Hitler then there is nothing wrong in Sri Lanka banning commemorating the LTTE.

Military and MOD spokesman, Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasooriya said that last weekend the authorities had prevented events being staged in the north which could be seen as glorifying the LTTE.

Tamil nation remembers Mullivaikal massacre 5 years on, amidst military ban
Students at University of Jaffna commemorate Mullivaikkal massacre 5 years on, amidst death threats and military ban. In commemorative events across the North-East and the world, the Tamil nation marked 5 years since the massacre of tens of thousands at the end of the armed conflict on May 18th 2009.

Political leaders and journalists
leaving the NHRC after the complaint

A petition was handed over to the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRC) yesterday (21), against illegal blocking of websites in Sri Lanka that being unofficially conducted by the Government.
The petition was handed over to the NHRC by the Professional Web Journalists Association and the editor of Sri Lanka Mirror website in the presence of media rights groups and opposition politicians.
The petition had named the Media Minister, the secretary of the Media Ministry, Internet Service Provider companies and the Telecommunication Regulations Authority (TRC) as respondents.

Sri Lanka war zone: 'The Scene at First Light Was Devastating' - UN

Frances Harrison

New photographs have emerged five years after the end of the civil war in Sri Lanka showing the aftermath of government attacks on a United Nations food distribution centre inside the war zone. The pictures, shot by a Tamil working for the media unit of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), show corpses, destroyed tents and damaged UN vehicles inside the "no fire zone" declared by the government supposedly to protect civilians.

The US House of Representatives has urged the State Department to "place restrictions on entry to the United States for anyone it identifies as responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity" in Sri Lanka, in a resolution passed on Monday. Highlighting the "numerous unaddressed allegations of arbitrary detention, sexual violence, torture, and abuse of detainees by police and security forces in Sri Lanka’s north and east during the end of the war", the House of Representatives stated that such crimes were "on-going and have increased after the war."

Upul Jayasuriya

''Since 2000 you have been at the private Bar. You have been a visiting Lecture at the University of Moratuwa. You have been a consultant to Sri Lanka Insurance and several government institutes. You have also been appointed a Member on several Government statutory boards.
It is with this environment, that your Lordship has been appointed to the Supreme Court from the Private Bar.''

Upul Jayasuriya, the President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka

The heading of the warning

A death threat has been issued to staff and students at the University of Jaffna, as well as journalists over their attempts to commemorate the 5th anniversary of the Mullivaikal massacre despite the military banning any public events. In a flyer distributed around Jaffna today, the staff, students and journalists were given a "final warning" against those "encouraging or resurrecting terrorism".

Erasing Identities: Tracing Sri Lanka’s Post-war Journey through the Changing Realities of Trincomalee

Trinco by sunset (photo : Asia rooms)

''The experience of minorities in the beautiful eastern district of Trincomalee perfectly encapsulates the dark and depressing reality facing minority communities across Sri Lanka. Trincomalee’s remaking is part of a larger national-level project. The new Trincomalee is a microcosm of the post-war Sri Lanka. At the expense of minorities, the Rajapaksa government is building a Sinhalese-Buddhist nation that is intolerant, illiberal, and regressive. Five years on, any possibility of national reconciliation seems entirely distant and improbable. ''

Elijah Hoole

Gotabhaya on a inspection tour

Sri Lanka’s Greatest War Criminal (Gotabaya) is a US Citizen: It’s Time to Hold Him Accountable by Ryan Goodman

Monday, May 19th marks the five-year anniversary of the end of Sri Lanka’s civil war, which claimed the lives of 40,000 to 70,000 civilians in its “catastrophic” final phase. In 2009, Congress asked the State Department to report on the humanitarian law violations during the war, and those reports make for gruesome reading. If history is a guide, this week congressional representatives will publicly call for accountability for war crimes in Sri Lanka—as members of Congress have done on the past four anniversaries.

Internet Service Providers - Dialog and Etisalat has imposed an access control over the news website www.theindependent.lk within the country. The block has been imposed in the same manner in which our website - Sri Lanka Mirror was blocked by these two ISPs before a complete access control was imposed within the island.

5 years on: The White Flags Incident 2009 — 2014

Isaipriya in military custody( later killed)

International Truth & Justice Project, Sri Lanka

Yasmin Sooka

New evidence on the “white flag” surrenders by members of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and their families at the end of the civil war requires an independent international investigation, says human rights lawyer Yasmin Sooka, who has served as an expert adviser on Sri Lanka to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

Read full report here

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