Declaration of the Human Rights Conference 2012Canada held on February 18th at Pearson Convention Centre

21st Century UN Human Rights Mechanisms And The Tamils In Ceylon (Island of Sri Lanka)

Colombo TelegraphFEBRUARY 21, 2012

IN JOURNALISM TRUTH IS A PROCESS

By Deirdre McConnell -

Deirdre McConnell

During my University time, I supported the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa, which was an important issue during the 70s and 80s. My involvement on human rights in Sri Lanka started during the time of widespread disappearances in the South, of Singhalese youth summarily executed in their tens of thousands in the late 80s. Through this, I learnt about the discrimination and oppression of the Tamil people and the long struggle in exercise of their right to self-determination and the approach throughout of the ruling Sinhala political leaders.

Concerning the Tamils’ perspective and hopes for peace, some years back I spoke at a conference in Ottawa, in this beautiful country. Three of those speakers, all human rights defenders, are no more with us. They were killed in Sri Lanka, in cold blood, in broad daylight, within a few years.

Kumar Ponnambalam, an eminent barrister and Joseph Pararajasingham, Member of Sri Lankan Parliament and Taraki Sivaram, well-known senior journalist, all advocated for the rights of Tamils.

I dedicate my talk to these people with whom we worked, and to all those who have died because they chose to defend the human rights of others.

To start, I would like to read you a paragraph from a letter written by Member of Parliament and Cabinet Minister, University professor and tutor of Queen Elizabeth II, C. Suntharalingam. He writes to then Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike, in May 1957:

“I have just studied the press report of your statement to the House on the ‘reasonable use of Tamil’. That statement reminded me of a case of a peculiar criminal. He had inflicted a serious injury on his enemy with a view to murdering him. The victim, fortunately, survived. The criminal, thereupon, invited his victim for a conference to devise a formula about reasonable terms on which the victim should be permitted to live! You have done, and are doing to the Tamils precisely what the criminal sought to do and did with his victim!”

Toronto, Canada.

18 February 2012

*Deirdre McConnell:Director – International Programme -Tamil Centre for Human Rights – TCHR

Above paper given by Deirdre McConnell of the Tamil Centre for Human Rights. She is also author of “The Tamil People’s Right to Self Determination”, published in the Cambridge Review of International Affairs, March 2008.

On 18^th February 2012, a conference organised by the Centre for War Victims and Human Rights (CWVHR) took place in Toronto, Canada. It was attended by 400 participants. The conference title was: “International Protection of Human Rights in the 21^st Century and its challenges – Case Study on Sri Lanka”. Papers were presented by professionals, lawyers and intellectuals, followed by questions to the panel and discussion. Five Canadian Members of Parliament, from three political parties participated in the conference.

The speakers were: Ali Beydoun (Director of UNROW Human Rights Impact Litigation Clinic, working on a lawsuit against Major General Shavendra Silva in USA), Theodore Orlin (International Human Rights Lawyer, who has worked in many parts of the world, including the Balkans),John Argue (Amnesty International), Deirdre McConnell (Director – International Programme, TCHR -Tamil Centre for Human Rights), Rev. Dr S J Emmanuel (Priest, Author and President of the Global Tamil Forum),Danilo Reyes (Asian Human Rights Commission), David Matas(International Human Rights lawyer and specialist in Refugee Law) andProfessor R. Sri Ranjan.

Mr. Anton Philip, founder-President of CWVHR, chaired the conference.

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SRI LANKA: Calls mount for government action on war inquiry

Photo: Contributor/IRIN

Witness provides LLRC testimony

COLOMBO, 21 February 2012 (IRIN) - As the government of Sri Lanka comes under increasing international pressure to implement recommendations submitted by a presidentially appointed war commission, IRIN asked national analysts which recommendations were most easily achievable. 

International human rights groups and, until recently, several governments, including the UK, US and Australia, widely criticized the lack of accountability in the report by the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC). 

The commission set out in May 2010 to investigate the final phase of fighting between 2002 and May 2009, when the government declared victory over the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. 

Critics called for an independent inquiry, denouncing the report for ignoring alleged human rights abuses, an issue also raised in the Report of the UN Secretary-General's Panel of Experts on Accountability in Sri Lanka. 

But weeks before the next UN Human Rights Council session in Geneva and nearly three months after the LLRC submitted its final report to the president on 20 November 2011, the US is calling for a resolution to prod Sri Lanka's government to act on the recommendations. 

"While it has shortcomings on accountability, the commission addressed a number of crucial areas of concern to Sri Lankans and made substantive recommendations on reconciliation," said US Assistant Secretary Robert Blake at a recent meeting in Colombo. [ read more ]

Students protest

The Student's Union of the Buddhist and Pali University of Sri Lanka staged a protest today from the Sri Jayewardenepura University to the University Grants Commission, against student suppression and the authorities’ failure to address the crises in the university education system.Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Monk sentenced to death after 50 years

A Buddhist monk has been sentenced to death by the Tangalle Magistrate over the murder of a farmer.

Another suspect was also given the death sentence over the murder of the farmer by the Tangalle Magistrate today.

This is the first time that a monk has been sentenced to death since 1962, the Magistrate had said.

In 1962 a monk was sentenced to death over the assassination of former Prime Minister S.W.R.D Bandaranaike.

Bandaranaike’s assassin Talduwe Ratugama Rallage Weris Singho better known as Talduwe Somarama openly converted to Christianity, just weeks prior to being hanged in the Welikada gallows.

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Child abuse hearing in April

Chief Buddhist monk of Thames Buddhist temple Ven. Pahalagama Somaratana Thera

The child abuse case against Chief Buddhist monk of Thames Buddhist temple Ven. Pahalagama Somaratana is to begin on 10th April at Feltham crown court.

The monk who was intially charged with one count of rape of a female under 16 and three counts of indecent assault during his tenure at Chiswick temple

Further charges

Subsequently on Friday, 11 November he was further charged with 8 counts of Indecent assault on a female under 14 between 01/01/1985 - 31/12/1986 at an address in Croydon.

65 year old Somaratana thero appeared at Isleworth Crown Court on Wednesday for an initial hearing.

Court sources told the BBC that both cases involving two different alleged victims would be heard together.

Monk had pleaded not guilty to all charges against him.

--------------------------------------- Buddhist Pali university 'most corrupt' 'Instead of taking steps to resolve student's issues, thugs were sent to beat up Buddhist monks during the night' Students of the Buddhist Pali University in Sri Lanka have accused university authorities of failing to take action against corrupt officials despite parliament damning the university. Panama Ananda Thero, president of the student union, told BBC Sandeshaya that 26 student monks and seven lay students were suspended from the university following student campaigns against "corrupt practises" by the university authorities. A recent report by the parliamentary Committee on Public Enterprises (CoPE) has described the Buddhist and Pali University as the "most corrupt government institution," he said. CoPE report Around 300 students, monks and laymen, who marched to the higher education ministry on Tuesday also accused the officials as well as the university authorities of engaging in a witch hunt against student activists. It has been the practice for years that many who first enter the university later leaves for other universities University Chancellor, Ittademaliye Indasara Nayake Thera Ananda Thero said none of the authorities were available at the ministry to discuss the concerns of the protesters. "Instead of taking steps to resolve student's issues, thugs were sent to beat up Buddhist monks during the night and abusive language was used again monk-students," said student leader, Ananda Thero. The university authorities, on their part, accused the students of organising protests without prior discussion with the university. Ittademaliye Indasara Nayake Thero, the chancellor of the university also dismissed some of the allegations made by the student monks, including the delaying of holding entrance exams. "It has been the practice for years that many who first enter the university later leaves for other universities," the Nayake Thera told BBC Sinhala service, Sandeshaya.

Underworld leader King’s Park Rohana secretly released

Well known underworld leader Rohana Kumara also known as King’s Park Rohana and Wewa Rohana has been released without any charges being leveled against him following a directive by the Defence Secretary, it is reliably learnt.

This underworld leader was arrested when he tried to give forged documents to the US embassy in Colombo to flee to America and was later remanded.

Sri Lanka’s Deputy Permanent Representative in New York, Major General Shavendra Silva has worked hard to secure underworld leader King’s Park Rohana’s release.

The Defence Secretary has asked the Attorney General to release the underworld leader without any charges following a request made by Silva.

Chairman of the Hilton Hotel and racketeer businessman Thirukumar Nadesan had allocated four rooms for King’s Park Rohana and his security personnel on the 19th floor, which is the executive floor, of the hotel on a request made by the Defence Secretary. Ten private security personnel had been provided by the Defence Secretary to King’s Park Rohana.

King’s Park Rohana’s brother, Navy Saman has been in remand prison for a long time for allegedly murdering well known sugar manufacturer and owner of Kala Traders.

King’s Park Rohana is trying to intimidate the Attorney General’s Department through the Defence Secretary to secure the release of Navy Saman. Sources said that Navy Saman with the full knowledge of prison authorities visited the Hilton Hotel on certain nights and even spent nights at the hotel.

Former Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva continues to support King’s Park Rohana’s actions and Rohana also states before carrying out any task that he needed to first ask “Sir.” The sir referred to by King’s Park Rohana is the former chief justice.

King’s Park Rohana was one of the most powerful individuals during Sarath N Silva’s tenure as the chief justice.

Tamara can undo all the professor's diplomacy at UNHRC

 by Pearl Thevanayagam

(February 21, London, Sri Lanka Guardian) As the Hon. Minister of External Affairs, Prof. G.L.Peiris departs to Geneva for the 19th special sessions of the UNHRC, he should send a memo to the UNHRC to correct his designation among the list of speakers scheduled for the afternoon session on February 27, 2012 along with Kevin Rudd, the Australian Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Telling Lies Can Affect Your Health

No matter what, the minister deserves his well earned professorship but the UNHRC clerks have given him the title of Mr. This is a serious insult to a senior cabinet minister of our country. GLP is not Dr Mervyn De Silva or President Dr Mahinda Rajapaksa whose doctorates were bestowed on them in a day. He is a learned and much esteemed professor of Law and former Vice Chancellor of one of the oldest universities in the whole of Asia.

This is just a small observation and does not preclude the more serious matters which will be raised at the sessions. Interestingly UK State Minister for Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Jeremy Browne will take the floor during the morning session on February 27. What Browne would say will be keenly watched by observers and he will have his say long before our minister has a chance. With 10 countries scheduled for this session in the afternoon one can safely assume Sri Lanka would get less than 45 minutes to put forward its case.

Then we have Ms Tamara Kunanayakam, Sri Lanka's permanent representative to the UN? UNHRC? (She does not clearly state) sent a very sharply worded rebuke to the President of UNHRC Laura Dupuy Lassere on September 14, 2011. One would have thought she at least would have a legitimate seal. But then this is Sri Lanka and her position is bound to change with the change of regime so why waste precious metal or rubber on a passing permanent representative.

Ms Kunanaykam's bold rebuttal to the UNSG sent to UNHRC President who hails from Uruguay, South America and the fact she served as ambassador for Cuba probably gave her the ammo to point her finger at the UNHRC President since she truly believes she is on par with Ms Lassere as can be seen in the following missive. It marks her as a very brash and a person lacking diplomacy for a diplomatic posting. She must be eating her own words now that the government had admitted wrongdoings albeit inadvertently and President Rajapaksa must be thinking twice before letting her set a foot into the sessions.

UNSG Ban Ki Moon is the highest authority in the UN and the UNHRC comes under his purview. But Ms Kunanayakam is warning the president of the UNHRC, the UNSG commissioned report could be prejudicial to the future effectiveness of the Council.

This is once again the tale of the elephant and the mouse where the mouse asks the elephant if it hurt him.

Would eminent diplomats such as Jayantha Dhanapala, Vernon Mendis, Bernard Tillekeratne, Neville Kanakaratne et al of the old school use such crude language on a very senior UN diplomat? More to the point is it not a serious faux pas to have even let her admonish UNSG Ban Ki Moon who has the power to send her packing?

(The writer is Asia Pacific Journalism Fellow at UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism, California and a print journalist for 21 years. She can be reached at pearltheva@hotmail.com)