Sri Lanka: Basil is corrupt, limited educated and expelled from school

Viewing cable 

07COLOMBO698,

 PRESIDENT RELIES ON BROTHERS FOR POLICY ADVICE AND

"Mr. Ten Percent" 

 

 Basil worked for the Ministry of Mahaweli Development, where he earned the nickname "Mr. Ten Percent" for demanding a ten percent commission on every project.

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Sri Lanka: Basil is corrupt, limited educated and expelled from school

The Official WikiLeaks Forum

Sri Lanka: Basil is corrupt, limited educated and expelled from school

« on: January 06, 2012, 10:15:31 AM »

WikiLeaks: Basil is corrupt, limited educated and expelled from school

Posted by Colombo Telegraph ⋅ January 5, 2012

“Embassy contacts say Basil has no close advisors and more enemies than friends in Sri Lanka because he makes a habit of trying to ‘buy people.’” the US Embassy Colombo informed Washington.

“Basil worked for the Ministry of Mahaweli Development, where he earned the nickname “Mr. Ten Percent” for demanding a ten percent commission on every project. Basil continues to be accused of significant corruption in his current position.” the Embassy further wrote.

The Colombo Telegraph found the related leaked cable from the WikiLeaks database. The cable is classified as “CONFIDENTIAL” details biographic data related to the Presidend Rajapaksa’s brother  minister Basil Rajapaksa. The cable was written on May 15, 2007 by the US Ambassador to Colombo Robert O. Blake.

Ambassador Blake wrote “The President consults Basil on most political matters. Basil’s influence can be seen in the alleged deal with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam to suppress Tamil votes in the North and East in the November 2005 Presidential election and the January 2007 Cabinet reshuffle and luring of “crossover” opposition members of Parliament. According to Embassy contacts, Basil advises the President on an array of topics despite his limited education and lack of relevant work experience (see paragraph 12).”

Under the relevant paragraph 12 Blake wrote “Basil was also educated in Matara and Galle. According to his school friends, he was expelled a couple of times from his college in Galle. He joined the SLFP at a young age and supported his brother Mahinda in 1970 when he contested the Beliatta electorate in the Hambantota District Parliamentary elections. In 1977, however, he joined the UNP and worked against his brother. Basil worked for the Ministry of Mahaweli Development, where he earned the nickname “Mr. Ten Percent” for demanding a ten percent commission on every project. Basil continues to be accused of significant corruption in his current position. Basil rejoined the SLFP for a few years, but then crossed back to the UNP in the 1990s. Former President Chandrika Kumaratunga refused to allow him to rejoin the SLFP during her tenure. He then moved to the U.S., but returned in 2005 to support Mahinda’s bid for the Presidency.”

Below we give the relevant part of the confidential cable;

INDIA: To end BSF violence what more does it require?

January 19, 2011
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) and its partner organisation, the Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM), have been documenting and reporting cases of extreme forms of brutality committed by the Border Security Force (BSF) stationed along the Indo-Bangladesh border in West Bengal state. The latest is a video of extreme torture by the BSF of a civilian that reportedly happened on 16 January 2012. The video shows blood-chilling torture, committed by the BSF. The incident is a shame and the brutality documented alarming, suggesting that the officers require psychiatric assistance, a condition that challenges their very legitimacy to guard the country's border. 

Full story>>>

Protests banned : entering Jaffna forbidden ; ‘go to Mulaitivu if you wish.’

 
(Lanka-e-News -18.Jan.2012, 9.30PM) A distribution of leaflets campaign was organized on the 17th in Jaffna by ‘Joint Organizations against abductions and disappearances’ opposing the abductions and disappearances of persons raging these days . A large number of representatives and members belonging to 17 Organizations left for Jaffna today in view of this campaign.
These representatives however had been stopped at Puliyankulam by the security division. The officers have told these prospective participants in the campaign that they cannot go to Jaffna , and they can , if they wish go to Mulaitivu.
Consequent upon this refusal , a tense situation had arisen between the security division officers and the members of the Organizations leading to protests by the Organizations which had not dispersed even in the evening . The security divisions , at any rate had been unrelentingly obstructing the protestors.

Those who joined in this jointly organized campaign were , representatives of 17 political parties and Organizations including people’s revolutionary campaign, United Socialist party, Nava sama samaja party ,Mao Lanka communist party , Lanka sama samaja alternative group, Samajawadhi party , Samajawadhi Organization , Proxies united, Peoples March Organization , We are Sri Lankans, Janatha Lawyers Organization , Lawyers Organization for Democracy, Media Organization for Democracy, Students Organization for Human rights protection ,Inter Company workers Association , Samastha Lanka telecom service Association , Samastha Lanka suva sewa Association.

The photographs herein reveal the protests staged when they were obstructed. 

Hereunder is a report released by Udul Premaratne , the convener of ‘We are Sri Lankans’ :

1. Our Organizations arrived here today to demonstrate our opposition and protests against the abductions and disappearances of persons , and to notify the public in this regard. The Govt. and the Forces have uninterruptedly hindered us in our efforts.
2. Initially , at ‘Punawa’ district , about 4 kms. from Vavuniya , the police STF stopped the bus we were traveling and told us that the ‘Murukandi’ bridge is broken down , and cannot allow us to proceed further.
3. Thereafter , about 2 kms from Vavuniya, in front of the Joseph camp , and again 1 km. from Vavuniya, in front of the police headquarters , we were subject to a search for one hour ,without any reason .
4. Not enough the harassment , again at Nandikulam , Vavuniya, the bus was stopped , and a three hour search was conducted on the bus on the ground that they had information of a bomb being transported .
5. Then, after the bus has traveled 5 kms. passing Vavuniya , the bus was stopped alleging that , on a search 4 bombs were found in a lorry that went before us. Hence , as the bombs in the lorry are being defused by the Forces, we cannot be permitted to go any further on security grounds.

6. Later , at Murapola security post we were delayed for two hours , and every nook and corner of the bus was searched .

It became very clear to all that the conduct of the police and the forces was most ridiculous and calculated . Subsequently , when we passed all these points , we noticed no damaged bridge , no bomb carrying lorry or bomb disposal operations . On top of all these dastardly and obstructive actions of the police and the forces, at about 1.30 p.m., a group of marauders and thugs broke into the ‘Thinakural Rest’ Hotel which was reserved for a media meeting with our participation , and caused damage to the equipments in the Hotel and three vehicles in the vicinity . In the midst of all these impediments and hooliganism , about 950 of us distributed handbills in Kilinochchi to the public to enlighten them on the dire crises we are facing ,and the criminal sinister activities of the Govt.

Await new-film directed by MaRa –Weerawansa setting fire to himself while Champika shaving his head –Lalkantha

(Lanka-e-News-20.Jan.2012, 11.30PM) National trade union Headquarters Chairman Lalkantha told the people to await a new film that is going to be screened shortly , which has been produced to oppose the devolution of powers. Mahinda Rajapakse has directed the new film with Weerawansa and Champika Ranawake as the chief actors . 

The role of Weerawansa in the film is setting fire to himself while Champika Ranawake’s role is to shave his head with a view to becoming a monk in protest against the devolution of powers. Lalkantha related this when he addressed the 14th anniversary of the Samastha Lanka transport Association held at the Shalika Hall yesterday (19)

Lalkantha speaking further challenged the President to disclose to the people directly and overtly as to whether the Govt . agreed or not to the devolution of powers under the 13th amendment during he discussions with Indian Foreign Minister Krishna who is now in the Island.

At the moment , the President Mahinda Rajapkse is dumbfounded. Nobody in the Govt. has talked. But in a few days two individuals will talk on this. One individual is Wimal Weerawansa , and the other is Champika Ranawake. Mahinda Rajapkse has given them a permit to both to begin protesting in public against this. Now, the President himself is directing the ‘film’. He directs them to scream that the Govt. has agreed to grant the power devolution under the 13th amendment .
Therefore we tell the people that a new film is going to be screened against the power devolution with key roles being played by Weerawansa and Champika under the direction of Mahinda Rajapakse. What ‘Mahinda Mahathaya’ wants to do is to say ‘right I am agreeing, but in a few days to retract and say , the leaders of my ruling party are against it. Dinesh Gunawardena , Wimal Weerwansa and Champika Ranawake are opposing , and the people too are against it.’

So, now get ready to enjoy this coming ‘film’ which portrays Weerawansa self immolating and Champika shaving his head and wearing a robe or taking sil , Lalkantha stated

Berman Calls on Sri Lankan Government to Hold Accountable Human Rights Abusers

 

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Howard Berman, Ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, made the following statement on the recent release of Sri Lanka’s Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission Report.

“I welcome the public release of the report of Sri Lanka’s Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC), and I urge the Government of Sri Lanka to expeditiously implement the Commission’s recommendations on a wide range of issues, including on devolution of power, language policy, rule of law and governance, and media freedom,” said Rep. Berman. “Such steps would help foster reconciliation and strengthen democracy in Sri Lanka.”

“At the same time, I remain concerned that credible allegations against the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE, as described by the UN Panel of Experts report, continue to go uninvestigated, and I call upon the Sri Lankan government to allow for an independent international mechanism to investigate alleged war crimes and violations of international human rights law during the nearly 30 year conflict,” continued Rep. Berman. “Only a credible investigation and process that holds those guilty accountable for their crimes can ensure that reconciliation in Sri Lanka is long lasting “ 

An Open Letter to Dr. Abdul Kalam by WTO

Dear and Respected Dr. Abdul Kalam, 

World Thamil Organization is a Registered, Non-Profit organization, incorporated in the United States of America. Since its inception in the year 1991, World Thamil Organization (WTO) has been promoting Tamil language and particularly espousing the cause of Tamil people’s rights and liberty.

We are deeply shocked and dismayed to learn that you are planning to visit Sri Lanka on January 21-st at the invitation of its Government. The recent past experiences have proved that Sri Lanka has become the world class expert in deceiving the visiting international dignitaries by carefully choreographing its conducted tour by showing only one side and hiding its ugly, murderous side. In spite of this, we would welcome your visit to Lanka if you can, at your own free will, meet and discuss with all the students and faculty of the University of Jaffna at your own choice and not be taken on a “conducted tour” by the Sri Lankan government authorities to meet with only selected students and faculty members of the Government’s choice. Also, you must make sure that you have a private, detailed discussion with the Members of Parliament belonging to Tamil National Alliance, the elected representatives of Tamil people.

We strongly urge you not to participate in any programs sponsored by the Sri Lankan government or meet with Sri Lankan government officials or any Tamil Para-military groups colluding with the Sinhalese government which has always been anti-Tamil. You must also publicly announce, with no interference whatsoever from the Sri Lankan Government, the aspirations and legitimate rights of the Tamil people in their ancestral homeland.

As you know very well, the chauvinistic, fascist, anti-Tamil Sri Lankan Government (which is a Government of the Sinhalese, by the Sinhalese and for the Sinhalese) stands accused of committing genocide against the Tamil people and it is trying to use prominent Tamils like you to hide its horrendous crimes against the Tamils. We would like to bring to your attention that the Tamils all over the world are boycotting Sri Lanka. The reasons for boycotting Sri Lanka are too many to list here; some are shown below:

1. Sri Lanka is one of the Top Red Alert Countries identified for Genocide.
2. Approximately, 216,000+ innocent Thamil civilians have been killed by the Sri Lankan Government during Military Operations. A study reported in the British Medical Journal on June 19, 2008 by the University of Washington, Seattle and Harvard Medical School (BMJ [2008]; Vol:336: p.1482-1486, doi:10.1136/bmj.a137 (published 19 June 2008) states that realistic estimate of the number of people died due to the conflict in Sri Lanka between 1975 – 2002 alone is 124,000 - 229,000. An overwhelming of these dead are Tamil people at the hands of the Sri Lankan military.
3. About 80,000 innocent Tamil civilians including elderly and children were killed by Sri Lankan government during the last days of the military operation in May 2009 alone and over 100,000 people are still missing. ( http://asiasociety.org/video/policy/sri-lankas-civil-war-complete )
4. During the conflict, Sri Lanka did shelling and aerial bombardments on Safety Zones, hospitals, schools and places of worship. A published UN report says that there are credible evidence of Sri Lankan government’s involvement in war crimes and crimes against humanity.
5. Sri Lanka tortured and killed 500+ Indian fishermen from Tamil Nadu.
6. Sri Lanka gained its reputation as the Number One Human Rights Violator in South Asia.
7. Sri Lanka is listed as the 2nd worst in the world in disappearances of people.
8. Sri Lanka is the 8th Worst in press freedom out of 173 free nations.
9. Sri Lanka is voted off United Nations Humans Rights Council.
10. The Tamil Nadu Assembly has passed a unanimous resolution requesting the Government of India to apply economic sanctions against Sri Lanka.
11. It is alleged that during tsunami, Sri Lanka received $US 2.2 billion. Out of this, Sri Lanka spent $US 603.4 million on projects unrelated to the disaster and $US 471.9 million is missing.
12. After an unduly long delay, Sri Lanka finally came out with its flawed Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) report. It failed to address the serious and pertinent issues raised in the UN Secretary-General’s Panel of Experts Report. Amnesty International (AI) has said: “The report’s major shortcoming is in addressing alleged violations of the laws of war, wheres the LLRC appears to have taken the government’s responses uncritically.”

As you know, academic boycott, economic sanctions and boycott of Sri Lankan products are among the tools used by international governments to make the rogue Governments like Sri Lanka to follow the international law.

We echo the voice of the Tamils all over the world to boycott any program organized either directly by the Sri Lankan government or by organizations sponsored by the Sri Lankan government.

We urge you to use your influence to protect the life and well-being of the Tamils who are undergoing untold sufferings at the brutal hands of the Sri Lankan Government and also in restoring to them the freedom, liberty and self-determination that they rightfully deserve in their ancestral homeland. Towards achieving these goals and objectives, we earnestly urge you to do the following:

•  
  i) realize that the Tamils in the North and East of the island of Lanka possess their inalienable rights to establish their own Nation on their ancestral homeland, much like the Bangladesh people have in their homeland, and ii) actively support Tamil people’s quest for freedom and dignity.
1. Lead the campaign in India and elsewhere by exposing the atrocities committed by Sri Lanka against the Tamil people.
2. Tell all the Indian political leaders that they are supporting the persecution and genocide of Tamils by helping Sri Lanka which has always been anti- India and anti-Tamil and always pursued anti-Tamil pogroms since the island gained independence in 1948.
3. Tell the Indian government that its wrong policy of supporting Sri Lanka against the Tamils is bad not only for the Tamils but also for India’s self-interests.
4. Make the Indian leaders

Sincerely,
Selvan Patchamuthu
President, World Thamil Organization, Inc. Courtesy: WTO

Published on: Jan 20, 2012 20:09:55 GMT

WikiLeaks: Indians and Americans watched the last phase of war via satellites

Colombo Telegraph 

IN JOURNALISM TRUTH IS A PROCESSPOSTED 

BY COLOMBO TELEGRAPH ⋅ JANUARY 20, 2012

By Colombo Telegraph -

“The President remarked at lunch before this meeting that India had satellites and was monitoring the ground situation in Sri Lanka. It will now be equally clear to the Sri Lankan government that we are watching, too.” the US Embassy Colombo informed Washington.

The Colombo Telegraph found the related leaked cable from the WikiLeaks database. The cable is classified as “CONFIDENTIAL” and recounts details of meetings the US Embassy official Charge d’Affaires James R. Moore has had with Presidend Rajapaksa and his officials. The cable was written on May 5, 2009 by the Charge d’Affaires James R. Moore.

Charge d’Affaires Moore wrote “On May 4, Charge met with Foreign Minister Bogollagama to discuss reports that Government forces were shelling into the Government-designated ‘safe zone’ even after the President’s April 27 declaration of the end of combat operations. Charge presented two declassified satellite images taken on April 26 and 28 of the civilian ‘no-fire zone’ showing probable artillery impact craters. Referring to widely-circulated but unofficial UN estimates of thousands of civilian deaths and injuries since late January (which have elicited strongly-worded refutations by Government officials), Charge noted that the U.S. is not in position independently to verify numbers of civilian casualties, but that it is clear there have been many. Bogollagama replied (implying the LTTE had shelled its own positions) that the satellite images did not provide enough information to indicate the source of fire.”

“On May 5, President Mahinda Rajapaksa held a meeting of Co-Chair Ambassadors. Charge took the opportunity afterwards to pull aside President Rajapaksa and Foreign Secretary Palitha Kohona to share privately satellite images released for this purpose by Department. The President noted he had already seen the images Charge provided to the Foreign Minister the previous day. Charge informed the President and Foreign Secretary that he had been instructed to share these satellite images with the Sri Lankan government. These ‘before and after’ satellite images dated April 27 through May 3 document apparent shelling damage in the “safe zone” even after the April 27 declaration by President Rajapaksa, he noted. Charge stated that we were sharing the satellite images in the hope the shelling would stop.” Moore further wrote.

Placing a comment Charge d’Affaires wrote “At the beginning of the preceding meeting with Co-Chair Ambassadors (septel), the President asked Charge for an assessment of the current situation, noting wryly, “you are probably better informed than I am.” Post considers it possible that individual field commanders or the Army command might have resorted to the use of heavy weapons while protecting the Commander-in-Chief from this information. Rajapaksa has been known to call individual battlefield commanders in the past to ask for frank assessments when he feels out of touch with ground realities. While the senior officials we spoke with concerning the satellite images conceded nothing, our effort still could lead to the President conducting his own inquiries and a possible change of the Sri Lankan Army’s conduct of the battle in progress. The President remarked at lunch before this meeting that India had satellites and was monitoring the ground situation in Sri Lanka. It will now be equally clear to the Sri Lankan government that we are watching, too.”

Read the cable below for further details;

SOUND ADVICE

Thursday , January 19 , 2012

The recent visit of the minister of external affairs, S.M. Krishna, to Sri Lanka falls into the set-pattern of bilateral behaviour which has been apparent for a while now. Yet, there is an unmistakable heightening of the pitch with which India, once again, pressed upon Sri Lanka the importance of working out a political solution to its ethnic problem. This is perhaps because India understands Sri Lanka’s predilections well. With the United Nations Human Rights Council scheduled to start its session later next month, Sri Lanka would need India’s support to ward off international pressure to begin investigations into war crimes. Unlike before, Sri Lanka now has the report of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission to brandish before the council. But given its rejection by the Tamil National Alliance, the umbrella organization of Tamil political parties in Sri Lanka, the Mahinda Rajapaksa government seems unwilling to leave anything to chance. It has tried its best to shore up relations with India over the past year, and India, on its part, has obliged. Apart from taking up a large share of the post-war reconstruction through house-building and rail and road construction activities, India has seized the chance to increase its diplomatic presence in Sri Lanka through the opening of new consulates. Mr Krishna’s recent visit was a continuation of that effort. India has taken on fresh responsibilities to rehabilitate the internally displaced people in Sri Lanka, besides stepping up commercial ties with the country. India has also taken the opportunity to stress on the devolution of powers to the north as a major task before the Rajapaksa government. The Sri Lanka administration, as before, fully concurs with India on it, but that is where the matter rests. The Rajapaksa government insists that it is committed to implementing the “13th Amendment plus”, but does not seem to be in a hurry to promote the consensus that it believes is essential for the plan to work. The government’s negotiations with the TNA, which has the mandate of the Tamil population given its landslide victory in the recent local body polls, are deadlocked over trivialities. Meanwhile, the sense of betrayal among Tamils and Muslims seems to be deepening. India has always been a good judge of this mood. Perhaps Sri Lanka should heed the urgency in India’s advice.

Cartoon of the day

Attempts at Peace Through Political Discussion With No Foreign Help

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Systematic Genocide of Tamils1956.. 1958.. 1961.. 1974.. 1977.. 1979.. 1981.. 1983.. .. 2008 State-sponsored anti-Tamil violence in 1956, 1958, 1961, 1974

Thiranjala Weerasinghe sj.- One Island Two aNtions

Above the law--It’s December 2010, and two young law students are sitting for their exam.

It’s December 2010, and two young law students are sitting for their exam.

The one is in a hall full of students, who are being monitored closely by the examiner to make sure they’re following the rules:  no phones, no electronic devices, no cheating.
The other, meanwhile is taken to a private air conditioned room with a computer with internet access, and is allowed to keep his phone.  As an added bonus, he has two teachers from the college sitting by his side perhaps simply for moral support, or perhaps for slightly more.

It’s an unthinkable scenario in Europe where recently a couple of high profile cheating and plagarizing scandals have destroyed hitherto illustrious careers, but not so for Sri Lanka, a country pulled increasingly into the international spotlight for an ever widening smorgasbord of human rights abuses.

A prince above the law
The student of the second scenario is Namal Rajapakse, scion of the country’s ruling family, and a prince in the making.  The other student is one D.M.Thushara Jayarathna who was one examination paper away from his law degree from the Sri Lankan Law College when he filed a complaint against Namal Rajapakse for examination violations.  Within days he was receiving death threats and being ordered to keep silent. But Thushara didn’t choose to keep silent.  He pressed the complaint to the college, sent petitions out to human rights commissions, NGO’s and the press.  After he gave an interview to the BBC Singhala service, the mood turned really nasty.

Since then he’s received threatening phone calls which he’s managed to trace back to various police owned landlines and mobiles.  He’s tried to officially file his case with the police, but they’ve refused to write it up. Police have come to his house with sheafs of documents they won’t allow him to read but want him to sign and uniformed officers have told him to put up a white flag outside his house – a traditional sign that there’s been a death in the family.
He’s been abducted twice.  The first time he was detained for 11 hours and though there was no physical roughing up, the stress left him with enough mental trauma for him to go on medication.  The second time he was picked up they weren’t so polite.  He was beaten up, his sarong was pulled off him and he was so frightened that he hasn’t been able to sleep properly since. 

Meanwhile Thushara’s father has had two brain hemorrhages that have left him unable to speak.  His mother was already a Parkinson’s patient, so Thushara decided it was best if he left home.  He’s been living in hiding since last April.  His neighbours and friends have been threatened and he says “everyone is so scared in Sri Lanka of this government, they don’t dare go against them.”

A half life in hiding
Thushara now lives a weird half life, neither graduate nor job candidate, with a family he can’t visit, a college that doesn’t want him back.  He depends on NGO’s and human rights activists for a safe place to sleep, and meals to keep him going.  “I’m a beggar” he says matter of factly.
He tells his story again and again to media in the hope of stirring enough of an outcry for the persecution to stop, but it’s hard not to think of him as a skinny unarmed David, spitting in the wind against a Goliath that’s almost too big to grant him much notice besides a casual smack when he pipes up too loudly.

The Rajapakses' Sri Lanka: a family concern

President Mahinda Rajapakse has made Sri Lanka a family concern.  His brothers and sons occupy top positions in the Ministeries of Defence and Economic Management, a Rajapakse is the Speaker of the House, others are high ups in the army and navy.  His relatives are ambassadors and provincial politicians, and very rich businessmen with controlling shares in industry and aviation.  Namal, the eldest son, and above mentioned character in the exam scenario is an MP.

But Thushara has another title for them:  “they’re criminals and gangsters” he says.  “And I won’t leave this country because I want to bring democracy back to Sri Lanka.”

He adds, “the president has immunity, not his son, yet what’s happened in my case has given immunity to Namal Rajapakse too but he’s nothing more than a gangster.”

Army to build 1000 National Schools?

The Ministry of Education made a request to the Ministry of Defence on the possibility of the security forces playing a in building 1,000 National Schools at a cost of Rs.3.5 Billion.

A letter to this effect had been sent by Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena to Defence Ministry Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa recently. 

The government came up with the plan last year to develop 1,000 National Schools equipped with modern facilities, while developing 5,000 primary schools in the country. 

It plans to develop 1,000 National Schools with a minimum of three schools in each of the Divisional Secretariat Divisions. The programme will provide a solution to many of the problems in the education system.

The government plans to upgrade 5,000 primary schools island wide parallel to the 1,000 National Schools programme.

The Army is in the process of forming a separate company within its management to carryout development and construction projects at low cost. 

Meanwhile the Army had been selected as a possible sub-contractor to build an oil pipeline to Kolonnawa by an American Company. 

The Army has also been able to save more than Rs.300 million to the government by carrying out such projects ranging from constructing houses to road construction projects. These are carried out by Army Engineers supported by a large number of soldiers from every regiment. 

A large number of bridges, buildings, playgrounds and parks are also being built by the Army. The Army was also involved in certain aspects in the construction of the Suriyawewa International Cricket Stadium. (Supun Dias)

SRI LANKA: An innocent man is illegally arrested, tortured and laid with a false charge by the Wattala Police

January 19, 2012

ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION-URGENT APPEAL PROGRAMME

Urgent Appeal Case: AHRC-UAC-003-2012



19 January 2012
———————————————————————————
SRI LANKA: An innocent man is illegally arrested, tortured and laid with a false charge by the Wattala Police

ISSUES: Illegal arrest; arbitrary detention; torture; impunity; rule of law
———————————————————————————

Dear friends,

Mr. Narahenpita Gamage Sisil Weerasinghe (48), a retired soldier was illegally arrested, detained and severely tortured by officers attached to the Wattala Police Station. Sisil had been waiting for a bus to take him home at around 10 pm when the officers accused him of planning to rob a house in the area. When he denied that they started beating him. They then took him to the Wattala Police Station where they continued to torture him. The ill-treatment resulted in his hospitalisation for a broken hand. He was falsely charged with indecent behaviour and fined Rs. 1,500/=.

Mr. Narahenpita Gamage Sisil Weerasinghe
  Sisil at no time obstructed or threatened the officers but instead voluntarily gave them all the information they requested. Their illegal action was no doubt the result of their desire to boost their standing with the OIC of the station. This case is yet another illustration of the exceptional collapse of the rule of law in the country.

Read More…

Sri Lankan book begins in southern town of Galle

By Charles Haviland 19 January 2012

The festival attracts attention from writers around the world

An annual Sri Lankan festival of books has officially begun, featuring authors from 10 countries and an enthusiastic audience of book-lovers.

Last year the Galle Literary Festival was the subject of a boycott call from some prominent writers. There has been no repeat call this year.

But campaigners are eager to highlight what they say is the patchy human rights situation in post-war Sri Lanka.

Critics say the festival is elitist and takes place in a “bubble” of unreality.

But organisers are relieved that there has been no new call to boycott the event.

Last year one writer pulled out at the last moment.

Sri Lankan novelist and festival curator Shyam Selvadurai says this year’s programme counters critics who last year said that the event legitimised the government’s suppression of free speech.

Mr Selvadurai said that a roster of authors at the festival specialised in troublespots like the Gaza Strip or Sierra Leone and included British playwright Tom Stoppard who he described as an “exponent of human rights and freedom of expression”.

Also attending is Palestinian doctor Izzeldin Abeluaish, whose three daughters were killed in Israeli shelling in Gaza three years ago.

English Pen, a charity that promotes literature and human rights, said that the festival offers rare space for an open debate on rights issues in Sri Lanka, but also highlighted concerns about the rights situation in the country.

There has recently been a spate of unexplained disappearances in this country.

At Christmas time a British tourist was murdered in a resort not far from Galle and his girlfriend was allegedly raped.

Witnesses have identified a local politician from the governing party as a 

Cartoon of the day

19 January, 2012 

Thirteen Plus means 'setting up a senate'

"The president assured me that he stands by his commitment to pursuing the Thirteen Plus approach" SM Krishna

Government Spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella told journalists in Colombo on Thursday that the government expects to establish a senate to 'represent minority groups and for consultation'.

"This will create a meaningful link between the central government and the provinces," he said.

The minister said that India has also been briefed on the government's intentions by Sri Lanka's president.

'Assurance by Rajapaksa'

Indian Foreign Minister SM Krishna while in Colombo on a four day visit said President Mahinda Rajapaksa had assured him of his commitment to devolve more powers to the provinces beyond what has been proposed by the 13th amendment to the constitution.

Land and police rights  They will neither be taken away nor fully implemented Minister Keheliya Rambukwella

"The president assured me that he stands by his commitment to pursuing the Thirteen Plus approach," Minister Krishna told journalists in Colombo on Tuesday.

Tamils have been calling for more devolution to the provinces including police and land powers as a step towards finding a solution to the national problem.

Land and police powers

However, Minister Rambukwella said that Thirteen Plus does not include devolving land and police rights.

"There are issues with police and land rights. However, they will neither be taken away nor fully implemented," was his reply to a question by journalists.

These issues, the minister said, should be discussed in the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) and outside.

TNA and PSC

"That is why the government insists the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) to nominate their representatives to the PSC," the Minister said.

TNA leader R Sampanthan said that TNA has never declined to participate in the parliamentary select committee process.

However, Mr. Sampanthan said that talks with the government which was planned for Tuesday did not take place as agreed due to government representatives failing to turn up.

Tamil sovereignty alone can check protracted genocide: Jose Maria Sison

[TamilNet, Thursday, 19 January 2012, 13:28 GMT] 
“The Eezham people have a very direct obligation of fighting for their own sovereignty against a state that presumes to have a unitary power over them,” stressed veteran Filipino left ideologue, Prof. Jose Maria Sison. In an exclusive interview to TamilNet on Sunday, Prof. Sison spoke on the questions of sovereignty of the Eezham Tamil nation, the protracted nature of genocide that Sri Lanka imposes on Tamils in their homelands, the principled position of leftists on the national question, and on the imperative to look beyond both the human rights and reconciliation paradigm. Prof. Sison, a long standing activist of the left movement in Philippines, criticised the Sri Lankan government’s military strategy as ‘barbaric’ and western governments for supporting this, and welcomed the Tamil Sovereignty Cognition declaration that aims to build solidarity among progressive forces.  



The 72-year-old Marxist-Leninist also spoke positively of the way in which the LTTE handled the peace-process facilitated by the West despite various pressures, while also pointing out the consequences when the aggressor state adamantly refuses to recognize the legitimate demands of the people in the context of such agreements.

In the case of the conflict between the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and the Philippines government, the National Democratic Front of Philippines (NDFP), a coalition of far left parties, churches and trade unions, was representing the CPP. The last peace talks between the two sides were held in Oslo in February 2011. The CPP has an armed wing called New People’s Army (NPA).

The earlier peace talks, also facilitated by Norway in 2001, were stalled soon after the US designated the NPA and CPP as terrorist organizations in 2002, a move that was quickly followed in the EU. 

In a similar move to curb the activities of the NDF, Sison was designated as a “person supporting terrorism” by the USA in 2002 and subsequent attempts were made in the Netherlands to crack down on his movements, allegedly with influence from the pro-US Philippines government. Prof Sison was also arrested by the Dutch authorities in August 2007 and detained for about two weeks. 

After almost seven years of legal battles, Prof. Sison was removed from this so-called blacklist by judgement of the European Court of First instance on 30th September, 2009. A press release by DEFEND on 11th December 2009 said “The 30 September judgment of the European court in favor of Prof. Sison is a brilliant landmark decision. It is a standard for preventing the arbitrariness of European governments in blacklisting individuals, organizations and other entities as terrorists and for upholding and respecting their human rights.”

Wikileaks cables from 2009 revealed that the USA opposed the delisting of Sison by the EU, even if there was no proof to continue having him on the blacklist. Full story »

Kadirgamar murder suspect 'tortured'

 19 January, 2012 

The main suspect in the murder of Sri Lankan Former Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar informed courts that he was tortured while in police custody to extract a confession.

Muththiah Sagayadevan told the high court in Colombo on Thursday that police officers assaulted him demanding to 'tell the truth'.

The suspect named two police officers.

One policeman beat the suspect's head with poles and his ear drum was burst following assault by the other, the suspect claimed.

As a result, he told court that his hearing is partially impaired.

He told the judge that information about his torment has already been conveyed to the Colombo magistrate and the judicial medical officer.

Muththiah Sagayadevan and Isinoor Arokyanadan who were arrested in July 2005 on suspicion of plotting the assassination of Minister Kadiragamar were later charged with murder.

Minister Kadigamar's killing in a gun attack in Colombo in August 2005 was blamed on the Tamil Tigers.