Sri Lanka: The Road Ahead

Sri Lanka: The Road Ahead

February 11, 2011

Since the end of Sri Lanka's brutal twenty-six-year-old civil war in 2009, the country has largely been under the radar for Washington's policy community. This panel discussion will look at all aspects of the current situation--including geopolitics, peace building, and accountability--with a view to determining how US engagement can promote a more positive postconflict environment in Sri Lanka. [Read more]

Sri Lanka: The Road Ahead

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Saturday, February 12, 2011

Seek pragmatic changes, not focus entirely on war-crimes accountability, says Donald Camp

[Sat, 12 Feb 2011, 16:39 GMT]

Former Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Donald Camp, in a seminar held at the US think-tank, American Enterprise Institute, said while everyone was appalled at the events during the final stages of war, focusing entirely on accountability and prosecution will not be pragmatic, as the Rajapakse Government will not allow any investigations to take place. Instead, Camp advocates helping Rajapakse to "do the right thing." Camp, without saying how, mentioned "decentralization of powers," "co-ordinating with the UN Panel," and "reducing security presence in Jaffna," as possible actions that Rajapakse should be assisted to take to capitalize on the post war environment. Full story >>

SRI LANKA: Fighting together against unlawful acts of lawful authorities

Asian Human Rights Commission
For any suggestions, please email to support@ahrchk.net.Human Rights Commission - Statement

SRI LANKA: Fighting together against unlawful acts of lawful authorities

 FOR PUBLICATION AHRC-ART-014-2011
February 11, 2011
An Article by the Asian Human Rights Commission
SRI LANKA: Fighting together against unlawful acts of lawful authorities
Basil Fernando
For the last 20 years I have been living in Hong Kong. Here over 98% of the population is Chinese. I belong to the small minority which includes many other races and will try to illustrate some issues by using this experience.

In any country there is a formal legal system and an operational one. The Formal system consists of laws -- statutes -- customary laws -- judicial precedents and in the modern context obligations under the international law -- and an operational system, meaning the way lawful authorities implement the law. A good or functional legal system is one where the formal system and the operational system are consistent with each other. This does not mean that there are no violations of the formal system by the operational system. It means that violations are very limited and there are systems in place to correct the violations and to sanction the violators. The legal system in Hong Kong belongs to that category. It is not perfect, but there is a high degree of conformity between the law and its implementation Full Story.>>>
SRI LANKA: Fighting together against unlawful acts of lawful authorities - 2011-02-11

Egypt's Mubarak resigns as leader

Hosni Mubarak has decided to step down as president of Egypt.

In an announcement on state TV, Vice-President Omar Suleiman said Mr Mubarak

Mr Mubarak has ruled Egypt for 30 years

had handed power to the military.
It came as thousands massed in Cairo and other Egyptian cities for an 18th day of protest to demand Mr Mubarak's resignation.
Protesters responded by cheering, waving flags, embracing and sounding car horns. "The people have brought down the regime," they chanted.
Mr Suleiman said Mr Mubarak had handed power to the high command of the armed forces.

Egypt's Mubarak resigns

Genocidal Colombo unleashes new war on unarmed Tamils

[Wed, 09 Feb 2011, 07:49 GMT]

Sri Lanka is now waging a new genocidal war on unarmed and demographically weakened Tamils after converting their country imperceptibly into an open concentration camp. The new war is focussed on the Jaffna Peninsula. Many Tamils believe that by stressing on the negation of their independence, India and USA continue to encourage Colombo, smokescreen the current war by projecting it ‘reconciliation’ cum post-war ‘development’ and thus actually play a party to the war and genocide. All these decades India and USA competitively negotiating the national question by upholding the integrity of a fundamentally flawed state has brought in only untold misery. At least now, why shouldn’t they try in unison, a genuine reconciliation by the option of secession? Further delays will convert the island a bleeding spot of the region for ages, cautions a Jaffna university academic. Full story >>

Aung San Suu Kyi addresses World Economic Forum

South Sudan model – ‘Independent Tamil Eelam - The Final Destination’– A REVIEW

The Ground Report India

 A REVIEWby Vssubramaniam    February 07, 2011 

This piece by Usha S Sri-Skanda-Rajah eminently serves as an inspiring message for Eelam Tamils, one and all committed to the Tamil cause. To those Tamils dejected by the events of the last two years viewing Mullivaykkal as a defeat for the Tamils; historians teach that defeat in a battle(s) is not a defeat in a war (for the Tamils and the Tamil cause). Usha’s proven intellect is bound to correct the defeatist message that a few parley further damaging the Tamil cause. Usha’s ‘Response to D B S Jeyaraj’s pedestrian piece ‘Sri Lankan Tamil Nationalism: Past, Present and Future’ rebuts the hypocrisy of the logic that D B S uses in his piece. Usha needs to be applauded for her polite critique that debunks this defeatist protagonist’s propaganda for the Buddhist Sinhala supremists.iaull Story>>>
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Monday, February 7, 2011

Reporter: vssubramaniam - Related News of Sri Lanka

Reporter:by Vssubramaniam

Sri Lanka grapples with floods - Asia - Al Jazeera English.flv

Sri Lanka grapples with floods - Asia - Al Jazeera English

In Egypt, wave of anti-press assaults, arrests

Reuters

Mubarak supporters wage systematic attacks on news media. CPJ documents more than 100 anti-press attacks. Mubarak is "personally responsible," CPJ says as it urges an immediate reversal. At right, an injured journalist in Cairo.
• An unprecedented assault
• Egypt rejoins the Internet
• Thwarting censorship
• More on Egypt •

In Tunisia, press freedom is still frail

Reuters

The new government's closure of a TV station, however brief, signals that press freedom gains are not secure. Authorities also say they will block websites seen as being "against decency." Right, protesters celebrate Ben Ali's ouster.






• Internet Channel: Is the revolution over?
• Journalists freed
• French photographer killed
• More on Tunisia

'Wish and reality of Sri Lanka's Independence'

[Sat, 05 Feb 2011, 03:08 GMT]

“I wish all Sri Lankans around the world a happy celebration and continued peace and prosperity in the coming year," said a statement harping on "post-war reconciliation" released from the office of the US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, on the eve of the independence day of Sri Lanka on 4th February. But the imposed celebration was largely ignored inside the island and outside, the day drew protests across the world by Eezham Tamils. “Sri Lankan High Commission has invited the Sri Lankan community for a reception to celebrate their independence. We will assemble outside the embassy to condemn the Sri Lankans celebrating while denying the Tamils their right to independence,” the call for protest in London said. Demonstrations were held in London, Toronto and in Oslo. Addressing protesters in Oslo, Conservative Party (Høyre) leader Erna Solberg called for war-crimes investigations. Full story >>

Tamils take their plight to Toronto's streets

 Toronto Sun

By VICTORIA GRAY , Toronto Sun

Last Updated: February 4, 2011 6:29pm

Toronto’s Tamil community have taken it to the streets again.
About 200 people marched outside the Sri Lankan Embassy on St. Clair Ave. W. between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Friday protesting the treatment of their fellow Tamils in their homeland.
“Our people are still in a very bad situation,” said Prab Alliah, 50, Ontario chairman of the National Council of Canadian Tamils. “In Sri Lnaka (Tamils) are not living as humans, they live as animals,”
Tamil protesters brought the city streets to a halt many times in the spring of 2009 in an effort to convince the Canadian government to stop the war in Sri Lanka.
Friday marked the 63rd anniversary of Sri Lankan independence but Tamils say that is the day they lost their freedom.
Tamils in Sri Lanka are subject to constant oppression, violence and murder, said one protester.
Kandiah, who didn’t want to give his last name, went so far as to call it a “genocide.”
“Last war, in 2009, they massacred over 100,000 people, they have used chemical weapons, they have killed innocent people (and) they have raped,” Kandiah alleged.
He wants the British, who put the Sri Lankan and Tamil people together to answer for what is happening now.
Many of the protesters want their people to have basic human rights guaranteed. The NCCT wants Canada’s help to get those rights.
“Here right now we are trying to explain our government, the Canada government to try to help Tamil people back home,” Alliah. “We need freedom.”
Uniformed Toronto Police were on scene but the protest remained subdued.
“So far they have been very cooperative and very accommodating to our wishes, its a peaceful demonstration, no problems today,” Sgt. Dan McDermott said.

WikiLeaks.flv

Wikileaks: Enough Evidences to Extradite US Ambassador Sri Lanka Patricia Butenis

SRI LANKA: DELIVERY OF FATF GUIDANCE REGARDING IRAN

Nuclear WikiLeaks CablesNuclear WikiLeaks Cables 1.(C) Summary: The Ambassador and DCM told the Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka and the Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, respectively, that Sri Lanka should be cautious about deepening its trade relationship with Iran, in light of the recent ref A Financial Action Task Force (FATF) advisory. The Ambassador and DCM reiterated that weapons procurement from Iran would be illegal under UN Security Council Resolution 1747, and would have serious negative consequences for U.S.-Sri Lanka relations. Both Governor Cabraal and Secretary Kohona replied that Sri Lanka does not intend to purchase arms from Iran. Both asserted that President Rajapaksa's trip to Iran in late November would be focused on trade and investment, but a well-connected embassy source quoted to us a government minister saying that Sri Lanka would try to negotiate a contract for $200 million worth of oil from Iran at below-market prices, in exchange for which Sri Lanka would order a significant quantity of arms. End summary.
GOVERNMENT: NO FURTHER ARMS PURCHASES FROM IRAN Full Story

Clinton backs 'just, democratic' Sri Lanka

–

Wed Feb 2, 11:27 am ET

 

WASHINGTON (AFP) – US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton voiced hope for a "just and democratic" Sri Lanka as she offered congratulations ahead of the war-torn island's Independence Day on Friday.
Clinton said in a statement Wednesday that the United States and Sri Lanka have historically enjoyed "a strong relationship based on mutual interests and a shared commitment to the ideals of democratic governance."
"We hope to continue our efforts to strengthen this relationship by assisting in post-war reconciliation to bring about a peaceful, prosperous, just and democratic future for all its citizens," Clinton said.

[ For complete coverage of politics and policy, go to Yahoo! Politics ]

Sri Lanka's relations with the United States were strained in 2009 when Washington voiced concern about human rights as the army killed the top leadership of the Tamil Tiger rebels, ending decades of insurgency.
After urgings by the Tamil diaspora, a number of US lawmakers have pushed President Barack Obama's administration to take a harder line on Sri Lanka, such as supporting an international probe into the 2009 violence.
The United Nations has said that at least 7,000 civilians perished in the final months of fighting, while international rights groups have put the toll at more than 30,000.
Sri Lanka has denied any civilian deaths and has rejected calls for an international probe. The Tigers were known for devastating suicide bombings during their decades-long campaign for a separate Tamil homeland.

TVPA: US's legal gift to victims of war-crimes, torture

[Wed, 02 Feb 2011, 03:47 GMT]

For new immigrants, America is the face of liberty, palladium of justice and the embodiment of the ideal of government under law, not under men. In this deliberative democracy, where the nation is perpetually arguing with its own conscience, debates spawn statutes that afford redress to victims who have suffered under despotic states around the world. The Torture Victims Protection Act (TVPA) is one such statute enacted in 1992 that enables U.S. citizens and non-citizens, whose relatives have suffered torture or extra-judicial killings, to assert a civil claim for damages. The recent legal action in the US by three Tamil plaintiffs in the US Federal Court against Sri Lanka's President Rajapakse is based on the provisions in the TVPA. Full story >>

Canadian professor exposes cosiness of Clinton with Colombo, Cairo

[Wed, 02 Feb 2011, 03:55 GMT]

“I observe Hillary Rodham Clinton careening about in response to events in Sri Lanka and now Egypt – bouncing from (realpolitik) wall to (humanitarian) wall to (pragmatism) wall, in a kind of foreign policy funhouse of mirrors,” writes Canadian Professor of Law, Craig Scott, exposing the hoodwink game played by the US State Department having close personal relationship with the oppressive regimes in Colombo and Cairo. In an article appeared in Open Democracy Monday, Prof. Scott exposes how the protection of Rajapaksa regime is smoothly carried out by the family connections of SL foreign minister G L Peiris with Hillary Clinton. Full story >>

Sinhala colonization threatens fishermen of Vanni

[Tue, 01 Feb 2011, 23:47 GMT]

The number of Sinhala fishermen from South, camping close to Sri Lanka Army and Sri Lanka Navy camps in the SL occupied Vadamaraadchi East and Mullaiththeevu, has doubled within a short period in the recent weeks, causing alarm among the fishermen associations of resettled Tamil fishermen. Commanders of the occupying Sri Lankan military have become brokers bringing in hundreds of fishermen from south and allowing them to operate from coastal areas where Tamil civilians are denied resettlement, complained representatives of fishermen societies in Vadamaraadchi East told media Tuesday. Full story >>

‘Tamils in Lanka will be wiped out in 2 years’

S J Michael Collins

Express News Service

First Published : 02 Feb 2011 03:31:19 AM IST

Last Updated : 02 Feb 2011 08:11:01 AM IST

 

TIRUCHY: Despite the claim of the Sri Lankan government that rehabilitation work is in full swing in the regions where Tamils live, the real condition is worse. To say the least, it is non-livable and within two years, all the Tamils and everything about them will be destroyed and obliterated from memory if the present squalid condition persists, I Kayal alias Angayarkanni, who was detained in Sri Lanka recently for visiting the northern part of the island nation, said here on Tuesday.Angayarkanni, an advocate by profession, along with her associate M Thirumalai, had visited the Tamil regions in Sri Lanka, including Vavunia, Mattakalappu, Omandai, Kilinochi, Jafna and Valvettithurai and got to know firsthand the condition of the Tamils in various camps.‘In a camp at Kattariankulam in Vavunia there live about 1600 persons making up from 746 families and most of them are women and children. Men who are fewer live without either leg or hand and we even hear that the women are subjected to sexual harassment’, she said.Though the government claims that rehabilitation work is in progress, only 30 per cent of relief materials reach the people at the camps. Still the people lead a life with their hands tied up and undergo torture at the ‘concentration camps’ and ‘torture centres’, she said. About 16,000 young men and 9,000 women in the 18-35 age group who were once LTTE sympathisers are lodged in separate camps and their condition is worse, Thirumalai said.‘When the UN officials visited the camps, the women inmates petitioned to them to know about these displaced young people and most of the parents were not in a position to know whether their sons were alive’, she said. Those who are healthy are kept in torture centres and those who are not are kept in camps for internally displaced persons.If this condition persists the whole of Tamil race would be rooted out of the island nation, Angayarkanni said. She also pointed out that the agricultural tools distributed to the Tamils were used by the Sinhalese. That shows the failure of the authorities to reach the welfare measures to the affected Tamils, she added.

‘Tamils in Lanka will be wiped out in 2 year

Sri Lanka website's office torched after government criticism

By Iqbal Athas, For CNN

January 31, 2011 6:49 a.m. EST

January 31, 2011 6:49 a.m. EST

A Sri Lankan police officer examines the torched office of Lanka-e-News, a website critical of the government.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Computers and the library of Lanka-e-News are "completely destroyed," the website says
• Its news editor accuses the government of corruption
• Journalists have suffered unprecedented intimidation and violence lately, he says
• The president orders police to investigate the attack

Colombo, Sri Lanka (CNN) -- Unknown assailants torched the offices of a Sri Lankan website critical of the government Monday.
"The main office of the website comprising the computer hall and the most precious and valuable library have been completely destroyed," Lanka-e-News said in its own report on the attack.
"For many days now, we learnt from neighbors, unknown men have been carrying out surveillance outside and making inquiries about staff. Last night a caller threatened me that I would be killed," said Bennet Rupasinghe, news editor of the widely read website.
"All this is because we have been posting stories critical of the government," he said.Full Story>>>

United Nations must intervene to protect Sri Lanka's media

The offices of Sri Lankan website Lanka eNews were completely

destroyed in an arson attack today. (Lanka eNews)

New York, January 31, 2011--Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon must press the United Nations to address the string of uninvestigated and unprosecuted attacks on journalists and media houses under the government of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. CPJ responded after an early Monday morning arson attack on the offices of the independent Sri Lankan website Lanka eNews in the Malabe suburb of the capital, Colombo. Staff members told CPJ that everything in the offices had been destroyed, although no one was injured in the 2 a.m. raid. The outspoken website posted pictures of the destruction. 

"The litany of arson attacks, assaults, disappearances, and outright killing of journalists that have gone unaddressed under President Mahinda Rajapaksa make it necessary for the international community to act," said Bob Dietz, CPJ's Asia program coordinator.  "The responsibility falls to the United Nations to lead an effective international response to a government that has failed to protect journalists, and is itself a viable suspect in many of these acts."Continue reading »

US legal effort to seek justice for son's killing - Dr Manoharan

[TamilNet, Sunday, 30 January 2011, 00:17 GMT]In an interview with the BBC Tamil service, Dr Kasippillai Manoharan, father of Ragihar, one of the five students extra-judicially executed by Sri Lanka's military at the Trincomalee beach on January 2nd, 2006, said that Sri Lanka's judicial system is not capable and unwilling to provide justice and bring closure to his son's death, hence his initiating a civil suit in the U.S. He further told the BBC, five years have passed since his son's brutal killing, and he will use all judicial instruments now available to him outside Sri Lanka to bring his son's killers to justice. Dr Manoharan said he is convinced that Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapaksa has information on the killers but the President is unwilling to allow prosecution of military officers. Both Mr and Mrs Manoharan are prominent physicians who earlier practiced in Trincomalee.
A translation of the interview given in Tamil to the BBC Tamil Service Saturday (1/29/2011) follows:
BBC: What is the objective of the case filed in US?

Dr Kasippillai Manoharan

Dr. Manoharan: Sri Lanka Government has not investigated my son's killing; it has failed to serve justice to us. While I don't have any personal animosity against Sri Lanka's President, he was the head of the State when my son was killed. He was the Commander-in-Chief for the armed forces who we believe killed our son.
BBC: What is your main complaint in the pleading?
Dr. Manoharan: We filed the civil case to seek a judgment on the murder of our son. We have been cheated repeatedly by the Sri Lankan authorities responsible for investigating the killing. First Commission of Inquiries (CoI) was formed by Colombo to investigate 15 different cases of human rights violations, including the Trincomalee killing of 5 students. The International Group that was monitoring the Commission quit in mid-stream accusing the CoI of conflict of interest and failing in its mandate. Now Sri Lanka has appointed the LLRC (Lesson Learnt and Reconciliation Commission). I have no faith in this new commission and have not given evidence before it. The case in US was triggered by these setbacks.

• TAG Report: Trincomalee executions

BBC: What is status of the criminal proceedings in Sri Lanka?
Dr. Manoharan: Every month during the last five years, the Court calls for hearings on my son's case, and postpones it for the following month citing that investigations have not been completed by the Sri Lanka police. In several cases Sri Lanka's President has taken initiative to move the case forward. In my son's case, I am absolutely certain Mr Rajapakse knows who the killers are. But he is hesitant to publicly admit his knowlege as he is reluctant to incriminate Sri Lanka security forces in the extra-judicial killings.

Post-Trinco-massacre photo album

BBC: What redress are you seeking in the US case?
Dr. Manoharan: Since this is a civil case, we are seeking damages. But the case will also determine who the guilty parties are.
BBC: How much are you asking?
Dr. Manoharan: All three plaintiffs together are asking the court for US$30m award.
BBC: Why did you have to file the case in the US?
Dr. Manoharan: Since Mr Rajapakse was visiting, it was considered prudent to file the case while Rajapakse was in the US soil. I kept quiet while Rajapakse was visiting earlier to Britain. One reason was a mark of respect for the title of the President. But I have taken this action now since I feel that Mr Rajapakse has the power to bring justice to my son.

Direct Link (mp3)

BBC: You are domiciled in Britain. When Rajapakse was visiting Britain you didn't take any action, but why you have moved now to take action in the US?
Dr. Manoharan: Only on 2nd of January, we had the fifth anniversary of my son's brutal killing. I was prepared to wait for 5 years to see if Sri lanka can deliver justice to me. Only having firmly established that Sri Lanka is neither capable nor willing to deliver justice, I was forced to take this action in the US.

Funeral home of slain student Manoharan Rajeehar

BBC: In Colombo the Presidential spokesperson has said that the case is a propaganda effort by the LTTE fronts; Can you comment?
Dr. Manoharan: Comments from Colombo has no constraints. They can say anything they want. Let's go back five years. When my son was murdered, the Sri Lanka Government insisted that the youths killed were members of the LTTE. We had to struggle to establish that they were unarmed students. Only after there was public outcry, the Government admitted there was violation of human rights and included the Trinco massacre as one of the cases for the Commission of Inquiries. Even when International experts [International Independent Group of Eminent Persons (IIGEP)] were assigned to monitor the CoI, we did not get justice. Five years have passed. I am now prepared and ready to bring legal action anywhere outside Sri Lanka.

30.01.11  US legal effort to seek justice for son's killing ..

02.01.11  Fifth Anniversary of Trincomalee Students executio..

17.10.10  Amnesty to begin campaign on SLA execution of Trin..

19.01.10  Trinco executions added to Sri Lanka's war crimes ..

02.01.10  Fourth Anniversary of Trinco Students' extra-judic..

13.09.08  A family's search for justice

.

International Authors Boycott Galle Literary Festival

• Among many other attacks on the freedom of expression
• Festival participants take a stand on the disappearance of cartoonist Prageeth
  Ekneligoda and the unsolved murder of The Sunday Leader Editor Lasantha Wickrematunge

By Raisa Wickrematunge

Shyam Selvadurai

The Galle Literary Festival hit another low when Damon Galgut, an award-winning South African playwright and novelist also decided to pull out after arriving in Sri Lanka to attend the festival, based on an appeal by two media rights organisations, Reporters Without Borders and Journalists for Democracy in Sri Lanka (JDS), calling for writers to boycott the festival in the backdrop of serious freedom of expression issues in the country and attacks on journalists.
Galgut followed Nobel prizewinning Turkish author Orhan Pamuk, and Man Booker Prize winner Kiran Desai when they too cancelled their appearances amidst rumours of external pressure. Curator of the Galle Literary Festival, Shyam Selvadurai  himself an author whose first novel, Funny Boy, established him as a new talent capable of earning a place next to some of his more well-known expatriates spoke to The Sunday Leader about the issue.
Excerpts:

Lasantha Wickrematunge and Prageeth Ekneligoda

Q: Damon Galgut pulled out of the festival last week. What are your comments on the issue, and is it true he did so because of the RSF petition?
A: Yes, Damon Galgut pulled out because of the RSF release. I respect his right to have an opinion. I’m not saying that I disagree with what RSF says, but I disagree with the method of using the festival as a platform to voice disapproval. Galgut writes beautifully on Apartheid South Africa. So it is a loss and I am sad about it. There will be a void left by what he could have contributed.Full Story>>>

S Lankans search for missing kin

S Lankans search for missing kin Tamils keep up hunt for relatives who disappeared during final days of war against rebels. Last Modified: 27 Jan 2011 06:35 GMT

t has been a year since Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Sri Lankan president, returned to power after defeating his one-time military general in a presidential vote. The Tamil Tiger rebels had just been defeated and Rajapaksa promised reconciliation between the country's Sinhalese majority and Tamil minority. But as Al Jazeera's Prerna Suri reports, one year on, many Tamils are still looking for relatives that disappeared during the final days of the civil war -Full Story Source: Al Jazeera Email Article Print Article Share Article Send Feedbac

US lawsuit filed against S.Lanka leader

US lawsuit filed against S.Lanka leader

US lawsuit filed against S.Lanka leader

AFP/File – Members of Sri Lanka's Tamil minority on Friday filed a lawsuit in the United States against the … 

 – Fri Jan 28, 5:38 pm ET WASHINGTON (AFP) – Members of Sri Lanka's Tamil minority on Friday filed a lawsuit in the United States against the island's president, seeking $30 million in damages over alleged extrajudicial killings.
Activists from the Tamil diaspora spearheaded legal action after President Mahinda Rajapakse quietly traveled to the United States, in a test of how much deference US authorities show to visiting heads of state.
Bruce Fein, a prominent Washington lawyer, said he filed the suit on behalf of three plaintiffs under a 1991 act that allows for action in the United States against foreign officials over torture and extrajudicial killings.
"President Rajapakse will not escape the long arm of justice secured by the Torture Victims Protection Act by hiding in Sri Lanka," Fein said after the filing in the US District Court in Washington.
Fein said he wanted a reply from Rajapakse and otherwise would seek a ruling without himUS lawsuit filed against S.Lanka leaade_-Full Story.

 

At UN, Ban Ki-moon in Turbulence Blames Roth for Human Rights Critique, Puts Orr on DC Despite History

At UN, Ban Ki-moon in Turbulence Blames Roth for Human Rights Critique, Puts Orr on DC Despite History

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, January 27 -- Some troubles have hit Ban Ki-moon after four years and a month as UN Secretary General.

As he seeks a second term he has been accused of being weak on human rights, while the UN and its Human Rights Council have been pilloried in the US House of Representatives.

Ban has been portrayed as a bad manager and even corrupt by former UN investigator Inga Britt Ahlenius, in response to which Ban claimed that 99% of his officials publicly disclose their finances.

At UN, Ban in Turbulence Blames Roth for Human Rights Critique, Orr to Dc-Full STORY

Author Damon Galgut boycotts Sri Lanka book fair

27 January 2011 Last updated at 12:39 ET

Organisers say that Mr Galgut's withdrawal has left a void

 

The festival attracts attention from writers around the world

A book festival in Sri Lanka has been marred by a South African writer's withdrawal because of concerns over the country's human rights record.

Damon Galgut heeded a boycott call against the Galle Literary Festival that was issued last week by a Paris-based campaign group.
Reporters without Borders - a group campaigning for journalists' rights - made the call.
It has been supported by lobby groups and well-known international writers.Author boycotts S Lanka book fairFull Story>>>

Pamuk, other writers 'legitimising S. Lanka suppression'

AFP/Getty Images/File – Leading media freedom group Reporters Without Borders on Thursday accused Nobel-winning author Orhan …

 – Thu Jan 20, 10:21 am ET PARIS (AFP) – Leading media freedom group Reporters Without Borders on Thursday accused Nobel-winning author Orhan Pamuk and other writers of legitimising repression in Sri Lanka by attending a literary festival there.
Paris-based Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said it was "disturbing" that Sri Lanka should celebrate literature while suppressing freedom of expression and attacking independent journalists and writers.
Dozens of foreign writers, including Turkey's Pamuk -- a free speech campaigner once charged with "insulting Turkishness" -- are due in Sri Lanka for the festival in the southern town of Galle from January 26.

• Pamuk, other writers 'legitimising S. Lanka suppression' AFP Full Story>>>

Parliamentary debate on deterioration of human security in the North of Sri Lanka

by Centre for Policy Alternatives plus
3 days ago 3 days ago: Fri, Jan 21, 2011 3:23am EST (Eastern Standard Time)
 
Parliamentary debate on deterioration of human security in the North from Centre for Policy Alternatives on Vimeo.

Friday, December 31, 2010

Happy New Year in SriLanka

Killed Tamil youth of postal department was an

environmentalist

2-Youth abducted in Jaffna Thursday is a teacher[Fri, 31 Dec 2010, 16:30 GMT]

3-Jaffna marred with killings, abductions on New Year eve

4-Terror campaign in Jaffna: abducted youth tortured and beheaded[Wed, 29 Dec 2010, 21:27 GMT]

5-‘Sri Lankan forces planned education officer’s assassination in Jaffna’[Tue, 28 Dec 2010, 21:56 GMT]

WikiLeaks To Reveal Swiss Bank A/Cs Of SL Politicians

By Vimukthi Yapa

In a startling revelation Reuters and the BBC have announced that they will reveal information unearthed by WikiLeaks of secret bank accounts held in Swiss banks operated by prominent politicians and business magnates from across  the world. Though unconfirmed by the Swiss banks, it is reported through findings of WikiLeaks that amongst those who have such accounts, names of some prominent Sri Lankan politicians too appear.
So far it is not known whether these politicians from Sri Lanka are from the governing party or otherwise.  However the concerned politicians  have panicked having got wind that this WikiLeaks report would be released shortly.
It is reported that a high ranking employee from the Swiss bank named Radolf Elmer has released two compact discs with the names of all such politicians and businessmen from across the globe to Julian Assange, the head of WikiLeaks on January 17 in London. These compact discs reveal the names of over 40 politicians and businessmen numbering over 200 spread across the globe. Julian Assange is to publish this information on his web site shortly. The Swiss bank in question has already dismissed Radolf Elmer for releasing this information to Julian Assange.

U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing by Assistant Secretary Philip J. Crowley.

SRI LANKA
	SRI LANKA Private Visit by President Rajapaksa International Humanitarian Law / National Reconciliation / Assistance / Ongoing Process / Engaged with Government Daily Press Briefing Jan. 21, 2011 U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing by Assistant Secretary Philip J. Crowley.

  

                                                                                                                             

TAG to file civil case against Rajapakse in Texas Federal Court

[Sun, 23 Jan 2011, 02:37 GMT]

Tamils Against Genocide (TAG), a US-based activist group advocating criminal legal action worldwide against Sri Lanka's alleged war-criminals, said in a press release issued today, that TAG's attorney is filing civil action against visiting Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapakse for damages under the Alien Tort Claims Act (ATCA/TVPA) on behalf of three plaintiffs for the killings of 40,000 civilians in Mullaiththeevu in 2009, killing of 5 Trincomalee students in January 2006, and for the killing of 17 Action contre la faim (ACF) workers in August 2006. As calls to apprehend, investigate and prosecute Mahinda Rajapakse by rights organizations, US Congresspersons and diaspora Tamils have escalated, European Tamil diaspora youth are mobilizing protests in front of US embassies against Rajapakse's visit to the U.S.

• TAG's release: Civil case and diaspora action

A civil complaint is to be filed in the 5th Circuit Southern District Court in Texas, latest Tuesday, according to TAG's attorney, Bruce Fein. TAG's media release issued today also called upon the diaspora Tamils to pressure the US Justice Department to initiate investigations and prosecute the visiting Rajapakse for war-crimes.Full story >>

Protest at US embassy in London
against Rajapakse US visit
 Full story >>

Rajapakse, a war-criminal in hiding

[Fri, 21 Jan 2011, 00:47 GMT]

Sri Lanka's President, Mahinda Rajapakse, purportedly on a private visit to the U.S. is likely to remain in hiding with his physical whereabouts kept secret from the public to avoid another embarrassing battle with diaspora Tamils. While, as a matter of jurisprudential fairness, US Ambassador Butenis's acknowledgment that Rajapaksas have committed possible war-crimes in Sri Lanka should trigger a Justice Department investigation, Rajapakse would not have attempted to enter U.S. absent assurance from the State Department that he will not be subjected to any legal procedures. Rajapakse will also be aware that, unlike in the UK, in the US private citizens cannot apply for an arrest warrant.
Professor Boyle of University of Illinois has called "liberal" Obama administration's conduct in allowing Rajapakase into the US as"Machiavellian Realpolitik at its worst."

• Arrest warrants - Universal Jurisdiction

In Britain any private individual to bring what is called a ‘private prosecution’ by applying to a magistrate. Normally the application would be for a summons to the defendant to attend court, but there is the alternative of issuing an arrest warrant if the offence is serious, or if the suspect might not answer to a summons.
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Admitting Rajapakse into US criminally similar to allowing-in genocidaire Karadzic, says Boyle

[Thu, 20 Jan 2011, 02:30 GMT]

Comparing alleged war-criminal and Sri Lanka's current President Rajapakse's reported admission into the United States to the Clinton administration's providing entry visa to genocidaire Radovan Karadzic to enter the U.S in order to attend the Vance-Owen Peace Negotiations in New York City, Professor Francis Boyle, expert in international law at the College of Law, University of Illinois, told TamilNet that Obama administration is obligated to apprehend, investigate and prosecute alleged genocidares for violating Geneva Convention and Genocide convention. Obama administration giving Rajapakse visa to enter US and allowing him free movement is "Machiavellian Realpolitik at its worst," said Boyle. Full story >>

On Sri Lanka White Flag Murders, Nambiar Raised by Magazine, Dodged by UN

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, January 19 -- The role of the “UN's special envoy to Sri Lanka” Vijay Nambiar was described in a detailed article in The New Yorker magazine published nine days ago.

  On January 19, Inner City Press asked UN spokesman Martin Nesirky to respond to the article, in particular the description of Mr. Nambiar as one of only two negotiators who urged surrendering fighters to come out with white flags -- after which they were shot to death.

  The other of the two negotiators, Marie Colvin, is quoted as saying that these murders were “not the chaos of battle. It was a negotiated surrender. Promises were made and they were broken.”

  Inner City Press asked Nesirky for the UN's, and Mr. Nambiar's, position on the murders. Video here, from Minute 12:40.
UN's Ban and Nambiar, answers from Nesirky not shown
On Sri Lanka White Flag Murders, Nambiar Raised by Magazine, Dodged by UN
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