Nigeria: Boko Haram kidnappings used to justify US military build-up in Africa

By Jean Shaoul 
10 May 2014

The United States has sent military and security “advisers” to Nigeria to help President Goodluck Jonathan’s government rescue more than 200 schoolgirls kidnapped by the Islamist group Boko Haram.

Britain has also sent security forces, with the former colonial power stating Thursday that it will be working closely with Washington.

Nigeria Boko Haram Kidnappings Used to Justify US Military Build-up in Africa by Thavam Ratna

AG of Rajapakses orders suspects who raped deaf and dumb girl to be freed

(Lanka-e-News- 10.May.2014, 3.15PM) Sarath Palitha Fernando the attorney general (AG) who has been appointed by the brutal lawless Mademulana beasts not to dispense justice but to stoke lawlessness in the country had given instructions to the Kuliyapitiya magistrate Bandula Gunarathne to allow two suspects to go scott free who raped a deaf and dumb young girl, even without hearing a trial.

The magistrate acting on the instructions given by the AG via an undated letter , has released the two suspects despite the fact that the DNA report has clearly stated that the father of the child born to the victim is one of the suspects , Susantha Vijitha Bandara. In other words in keeping with the raging lawlessness in the country under the MaRa regime , the magistrate had acted following an AG who is there solely and wholly not to dispense justice but to make it a mockery to solely and wholly to please the MaRa regime.

In 2010, based on a complaint lodged with the Narammala police by the brother of the victim , the two suspects were taken into custody and produced before court following investigations.

When the AG of the State instructs not to pursue the case , there is no law for the magistrate or the police to continue with the case.

In other words , while this poor innocent handicapped girl clearly had been proved as has been a victim of two ruthless rapists who had taken advantage of her physical weakness and committed the crime within the court premises , it has also been proved a heartless beast of an AG had ‘raped’ (mentally tortured ) her using the court taking advantage of the weakness of the bestial laws of the MaRa regime.

In the circumstances , if this is a country where the women do not rise against these brutalities and injustices of this demonic AG and the regime, this must be a country of women sans life or honor. If this is a country where there is a legal profession that does not protest , the latter must be manned by professionals who are deaf and dumb.

Meanwhile this same shameless AG had yesterday summoned Thusitha Mudalige , the state counsel of the AG’s department to his official cubicle and outrageously instructed him not to press the case that is now being heard relating to the murder of Khurram Sheikh , the British national , and the gang rape committed on his fiancée by the suspects , Tangalla local body chairman and his friends. The AG had also told Thusitha who is appearing on behalf of the prosecution ( the AG’s department) not to cross examine in a manner that would incriminate the accused.

5 years today - Chemical burns and phosphorous injuries seen on fleeing civilians report doctors at French field hospital10 May 2014-10 May 2009 - Chemical burns and phosphorous injuries seen on fleeing civilians report doctors at French field hospital, Toronto brought to stand-still as Tamils protest against ensuing massacre Doctors at a French field hospital described seeing injuries consistent with chemical burnson civilians fleeing the No Fire Zone Civilians and "some with white hands, possibly caused by burns from phosphorus", AFP reported.

5 Years Today - Chemical Burns and Phosphorous Injuries Seen on Fleeing Civilians Report Doctors at French... by Thavam Ratna

More About Wiggie As “National” Common Candidate

By Kusal Perera -May 10, 2014

Kusal Perera

“There is a proposal from certain sections in society to nominate Northern Province Chief Minister Wigneswaran as the Common Presidential Candidate at the next presidential polls. We would like to know what the UNP, JVP and DP think about this proposal.” - M.A. Sumanthiran, TNA National List MP

“I believe the opposition parties would not reject this proposal because Wigneswaran is a Tamil.” - Mano Ganeshan, DPF Councillor, WPC

These remarks made at a media briefing held in Colombo on Wednesday 07^thMay, was in response to my Sinhala article that appeared in the “Ravaya”newspaper of 04^th May and posted in CT Sinhala site, titled, “Wignes as Common Candidate – Challenge To The  Opposition”. Extracts from the article on the proposal were immediately carried as news reports in web media too. Since then, during the last few days, I have been thrust into many political scrums. Interestingly, none so far from the Sinhala lobby accused me, but some from the “Leftist” fringe and some “liberalists” did, for (01) creating confusion in the Opposition, in support of President Rajapaksa (02) creating a new platform for “separatism” the Tamil Diaspora would use and (03), helping further division in society by proposing a candidate, the South will not accept.

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Jaffna Uni lecturers protest against closure and govt interference

Tamil Guardian 10 May 2014     Lecturers at the University of Jaffna protested yesterday, condemning the order to close the university during the time of May 18th and posters that accused students and staff of reviving terrorism, Uthayan reported.  Photographs Uthayan The lecturers, part of the University of Jaffna Teachers' Association, demonstrated outside the university grounds holding banners reading: "Aren't death threats and harassment, terrorism?", "Ensure the independence of the university", "Is university an educational institution or a killing field?", "Jaffna university's greatest weapon is the tip of pen not a gun point", "Is closing the university whenever you wish the student centric education?", and "Asia's wonder - killing university teachers?".  Last week students at the University of Jaffna were told that the university will be closed from May 16 to May 20. In previous years, the university has often become a focal point of clashes between students and state forces, as Tamils commemorate the massacre of 2009, on May 18th. Meanwhile posters appeared in Jaffna, accusing some students and academics of supporting a revival of the LTTE, warning them that this was their last chance to cease such activities. The Commander of the Sri Lankan army in Jaffna, General Udaya Perera warned student leaders and members of Jaffna University’s faculty on May 7, that anyone involved in public commemoration of those who died in 2009 would be arrested. Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasooriya also warned that events organised to commemorate dead LTTE fighters will not be allowed in any part of the country, speaking at a weekly press briefing. Families who had lost relatives due to the “terrorist insurgency” have the freedom to mourn their loved ones in private, he added.

Ready for Everything Except International Probe: Rajapaksa

 

May 10, 2014 
President Mahinda Rajapaksa has said that Sri Lanka is in the process of implementing all demands made by the sponsors of the UNHRC resolution against it, except for allowing an international probe into alleged human rights violations during the last phase of the war with the LTTE.

The assertion was made by the Sri Lankan president during a meeting yesterday with Japan’s Parliamentary Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Seiji Kihara.

Rajapaka told the Japanese minister, “Please tell this truth to rest of the world. Except for an international inquiry we are in the process of implementing all other demands made by sponsors of the Resolution.”
 
The president’s office quoted Kihara as saying that the UNHRC resolution was unhelpful to Sri Lanka.
"We considered whether the resolution on Sri Lanka moved in the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva would help Sri Lanka. We decided it will not. That is why we abstained when the vote was taken," Kihara was quoted as saying.

"We are not ready to accept biased reports prepared by international bodies. We are confident that Sri Lanka is capable of solving its problems one by one. What is needed is to engage the international community," he said.

Japan along with India was one of the 12 countries which abstained in the UNHRC vote in Geneva in March.
The US-sponsored resolution was adopted, with 24 countries voting in favour.

The resolution demanded the setting up of an international investigation into alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka during the last phase of the nearly three decade-long conflict with the LTTE.
Sri Lanka has vowed not to cooperate in the investigation.

Meanwhile, a nationalist organisation demanded that Sri Lanka should not allow officials of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights headed by Navi Pillay into the country to carry out the international investigation.
"We ask the government what their stand on this. They must never be allowed into the country," Dr Gunadasa Amarasekera of the Nationalist Organisation Collective, said. (PTI)

Why Human Rights Has Not Worked

By Sajeeva Samaranayake -May 10, 2014

Sajeeva Samaranayake

Why Human Rights Has Not Worked – And What Needs To Be Done To Make Them Work

We have done ‘human rights’ a disservice by failing to question them, probe their meaning and relevance for us here and now in this country.  I am not against human rights but against the blind imitation of all forms – be they foreign or local. In their marketing, human rights are rich in conclusions but poor in methodology. They promise much but deliver little. They are also trapped in formalism. When formal procedures fail in this country we are expected to catch the next flight to Geneva and invoke the formal procedures there. All this has served a particular class of people very well; but not the intended beneficiaries. It is high time the human rights activists in this country realized that they are fighting a well armed adversary with a blunt weapon which commands little respect – from anyone. Thus the time has come to start thinking. And as we start there will be a lot of conflicting thought processes. This is good and preferable to what Walter Lippman said about the unthinking, uncritical society: “when all think alike, no one thinks very much.”

Ten years of contemplation

Like ‘development’ the term ‘human rights’ has lost its meaning. This is due to over – use, especially by people who have not questioned and grappled with its real situational meaning. This includes many glib talkers in development organizations (both local and foreign) whose superficiality is plain to see.

I began my career as a development practitioner in 2003 with broader frameworks in mind (like the ethics of justice and care) to avoid getting enslaved to ‘rights.’ the term has not been easy to crack – much like a zen riddle. Only sustained reflection over a decade has helped me to place it in context in a way that is helpful for all of us.

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The failure of the media, civil society and the ‘moderates’

Photo by AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena via The Star

by Hejaaz Hizbullah 

 

- on 05/09/2014 

SC [FR] 97/2014 is a Fundamental Rights application currently pending before the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka. FH the Petitioner is an 11 year old Muslim girl who has named amongst others her school Principal as a Respondent for violating her Fundamental Rights by preventing her from attending school attired in a ‘punjabi’ kit. Long before the war, in 1980 Mr M D D Peiris the then Secretary to the Ministry of Education issued a circular permitting Muslim girls to attend school attired in this way. As a school uniform the punjabi dress comprises of a white frock, a white trouser and a cloth shawl pinned on either side onto the lapels. It is considered traditional attire for Muslim girls.

The Failure of the Media, Civil Society and the ‘Moderates’ by Thavam Ratna

Inside Story Of The Torching Aluthgama Muslim Owned Shop

By Rifai Naleemi -May 10, 2014

Dr. Rifai Naleemi

A group of nearly three hundred radical Buddhist extremists have burned down a Muslim owned shop in Aluthgama town on 8/5/14.  This was not coincidently happened attack on the shop of this innocent Muslim businessman rather this was a premeditated racist attack to destroy the livelihood of this man. There is no shadow doubt that this attack was initiated and carried out with the support of Police, BBS and some Buddhist radicals of this area. This was the only Muslim shop in Aluthgama town. This shop has been set on fire last night (8/5/2014). It is believed that some extremist Buddhist people under the leadership of some radical Buddhist monks set fire to this Muslim shop. We should listen to the owner of this shop to know what exactly happened to his shop and why his shop was set on fire.

The owner of this is Mr. Ahmad khan. He has been living in this town since his childhood and he has been running this family business for many years. With his dedication and hard works he managed to build this shop and developed his business. He and his brother managed to develop their business with years of hard works and dedications: yet, some Sinhalese people in the town become jealous of this growing business and they did not want see one and only Muslim shop in that town. He has been doing business among Sinhalese people in that town.

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Sri Lankan Muslims at a cross-roads - 1

By Izeth Hussain-May 9, 2014

My last two articles in The Island were under the title Making sense of the Bodu Bala Sena, focusing in both of them on the anti-Muslim campaign of the BBS. There is now a view, still at the incipient stage but which can soon gain wide currency, that the BBS is on the way out. The argument is that extremist movements such as the BBS have no staying power in Sri Lanka, and that the forces of Buddhist moderation are now working to bring about the quick demise of the BBS and related extremist groups. But I began the first of my last two articles by pointing out that the conventional wisdom for well over a year – shared by the President himself - had it that if the BBS were ignored it would evaporate after some time. It did not, and in recent times it showed a renewed virulence.

Sri Lankan Muslims at a Cross-roads - 1 by Thavam Ratna

Fair skinned foreigners attending youth conference in SL face sexual harassment from SL perverts

(Lanka-e-News- 09.May.2014, 10.30PM) A Sri Lankan officer (female) who is in charge of the foreign youths (females) who have arrived in Sri Lanka (SL) to attend the world youth conference that is now being held in SL ,told Lanka e news that these foreign girls are thoroughly disillusioned since they are facing sexual molestations at the hands of perverts and sex starved Sri Lankans. 

These foreign youths have complained that they are facing this harassment mostly in Hambantota ,the home town of SL President Mahinda Rajapakse. Incidentally, some time ago British national Khurram Sheikh was murdered in cold blood and his fiancée was brutally gang raped at a hotel in Tangalle , also near Hambantota by a group led by President’s close crony , the local body chairman of Tangalle.

This lady officer went on to say , a majority of the frustrated youths in SL think after seeing internet ‘blue films’ (obscene films) every foreign girl who is fair skinned is in the ready to lift her frock . Consequently , these foreigners are unable to peacefully attend to their tasks in SL and this has brought disgrace to the country , she lamented with profound concern.

The world youth conference that commenced at Ruhunupura conference hall ,Hambantota on the 6 th is to conclude on the 10th. Youths of 169 countries are participating in this conference. The inauguration ceremony was at Hambantota while the other discussions are held at the BMICH , Colombo. This conference is based on the theme ‘Century’s development beyond 2015.’

UK Shadow Foreign Sec questions Rajapaksa's role at Commonwealth Games

10 May 2014


The UK's Shadow Foreign Secretary, Douglas Alexander has raised concerns over the presence of the Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Commonwealth Games set to take place later this year in Glasgow. 

In a letter addressed to Foreign Secretary William Hague on Thursday, Mr. Alexander warned the "world-class sporting celebration risks being overshadowed by questions raised by the possible attendance of Sri Lanka's president in his capacity as Chairperson-in-office of the Commonwealth."

President Rajapaksa was appointed Chairperson of the Commonwealth following Sri Lanka's hosting of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting at the end of last year. 

Reiterating Sri Lanka's failure to meet the demands of the British government to investigate allegations of human rights abuses and its subsequent rejection of the international investigation mandated by the UN Human Rights Council, Mr. Alexander called on the British Foreign Secretary to clarify President Rajapaksa's possible attendance and role in the games. 

Mr. Alexander wrote: 

"I would like to ask what steps you are able to take to work constructively with the Games organisers to help ensure that this world-class sporting celebration is not overshadowed by questions raised by the possible attendance of Sri Lanka's President. 

In addition I would ask you what formal advice you have given to the Commonwealth Secretariat, Glasgow 2014 Ltd and the Commonwealth Games Federation, regarding any possible role that President Rajapaksa may play at the Gamers in his capacity as Chairperson-in-office of the Commonwealth?"

See full letter here.

Highlighting Sri Lanka's repeated rejection of international obligations and the UK government's prominent role in the UN Human Rights Council's resolution seeking an international inquiry, the Chairman of Tamils for Labour, Mr. Sen Kandiah, called on the government to make clear that President Rajapaksa would not be welcome in the UK until he complies with international demands. 

"Now is the time for the Prime Minister to take the advise from Douglas Alexander's letter and very clearly tell President Rajapaksa that until he satisfies his international obligations such as assisting the implementation of  the UN resolution, he will not be welcome to the UK," said Mr. Kandiah. 

Shadow FM Letter to UK FM by Thavam Ratna

A systems approach based on a rights framework for the governance of Sri Lanka

Photo via FT.lk

by Dr. Siri Gamage 

- on 05/10/2014 

I read the article titled Re-visiting the Rajapaksa Hegemonic Project(Groundviews 05/09/2014) by Dayapala Thiranagama with interest. It looks at the construction of Sinhalese Buddhist supremacy model, strengths and weaknesses of RHP, and the weaknesses of the opposition and the TNA. The points made are interesting as the article is using ideas of Gramsci in a theoretical sense. One weakness in the argument presented is that the RHP is conceived as an all powerful, unified entity while the opposition is conceived as disjointed, lacking a coherent appeal to the Sinhalese Buddhist electorate, and even a vision of governance. In the conclusion, the author states

A Systems Approach Based on a Rights Framework for the Governance of Sri Lanka by Thavam Ratna

HRCSL warns UDA, not to forcibly remove residents

 Saturday, 10 May 2014 

The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) has ordered the Urban Development Authority (UDA) not to forcibly remove residents of the Bakery Watta, Colombage Mawatha and 188 Watta areas and refrain from intimidating them to evict their homes. 

The Commission has also said that if the residents are removed, it must be done in accordance to prevailing laws of the country.

The HRCSL has made the above ruling yesterday (May 10) after taking up a petition which cited that the UDA had violated Human Rights of residents in the above areas.

Ven. Ulapane Sumangala Thero, Attoneys-At-Law Sunil Watagala and Thushara Ranatunga as well as a group of residents appeared on behalf of prosecution while an UDA project Director and a military officer appeared as respondents.

Prosecution handed in a CD which contained threats uttered by a group of military personnel on behalf of the UDA as well as statements against the authority of the HRCSL. The group had threatened the residents to evict their homes.

It was proved that the residents in the above areas possessed Grama Niladhari records certifying that they were permanent residents of the areas.

HRCSL legal officer Ranil Abeynayake also attended the proceedings.

The UDA falls under the Ministry of Defence & Urban Development, where Gotabhaya Rajapaksa is the ministry secretary.

5th anniversary of May 2009: Blocked transition to sustainable peace

Saturday 10th May 2014

I write from a particular standpoint (derivative and illustrative of a distinct worldview), best delineated by a critical observer rather than by myself.
Izeth Hussein, literary critic and former Ambassador wrote in ‘After Geneva, What?’: “Between 1995 and 2000, and even more during the years of the peace process, the widespread assumption was that the LTTE could never be defeated militarily. There were very few dissentient voices against that conventional wisdom outside the armed forces and those identifiable as Sinhala Buddhist chauvinists. One dissentient voice was that of Dayan Jayatilleka, who consistently maintained that there was no reason at all why the LTTE could not be defeated militarily.” (‘After Geneva, What?’ Izeth Hussein, Colombo Telegraph, 29 March 2014)

5th Anniversary of May 2009 Blocked Transition to Sustainable Peace by Thavam Ratna

Sri Lanka: Comments on Tamils seeking refuge in Tamil Nadu

Col R Hariharan, C3S Paper No.2095 dated May 9, 2014

Ten Sri Lankan Tamils, including two women and five children, from Sri Lanka who landed Aricha Munai off the Dhanushkodi coast (Tamil Nadu) on May 5 2014, have been arrested by police for entering the country without passports. After preliminary questioning, they are now lodged in Puzhal jail near Chennai. The media has questioned the decision to arrest them as they had fled from Mullaitivu fearing for their personal safety and sought refuge in India. Previously such refugees used to be screened at Mandapam refugee camp.

Sri Lanka Comments on Tamils Seeking Refuge in Tamil Nadu by Thavam Ratna

DEW calls for immediate presidential intervention

*Crisis in parliamentary oversight committees

By Shamindra Ferdinando-May 9, 2014

Chairman of the parliamentary oversight committee on public finance, Senior Minister Dew Gunasekara, MP, yesterday warned of dire consequences unless the ruling coalition ensured the proper functioning of COPE (Committee on Public Enterprises).

Further deterioration of parliamentary supervision would lead to disaster, the veteran parliamentarian said, accusing some COPE members of brazenly neglecting their parliamentary duties.

The Communist Party Chief was responding to a query by The Island yesterday. An irate Gunasekara said that there were some members who had attended just one or two sittings during the past three years.

The last parliamentary election was held in April 2010.

Having failed to convince UPFA members of their responsibility to attend COPE sittings, Minister Gunasekara has sought President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s intervention. Responding to a query, the minister said that he had brought the pathetic situation to the attention of Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa recently. National List MP Gunasekara asserted that there was no option other than to replace those who had disregarded their responsibility. MP Gunasekara said that he was both shocked and embarrassed by the deteriorating situation.

MP Gunasekara said that the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) too faced a similar situation. According to him, COPE attendance lists were made available to both the President and the Speaker to underscore the seriousness of the crisis. The CP leader emphasized that unless the President and the Speaker resorted to tough measures those irresponsible members would never mend their ways.

A mocking Gunasekara alleged that parliamentarians would rush to attend live talk shows on state and private television channels, but ignored their parliamentary duties. MP Gunasekara said: "Just imagine the food waste. Food is prepared for 225 members, though many don’t often turn up. Those who attend sittings leave half way and others don’t come at all. Even if they attend, many members of oversight committees miss sittings. It cannot be worse than this. In a way the situation in parliament reflects the pathetic situation in the country."

The CP General Secretary pointed out that Speaker Rajapaksa’s outburst in parliament was evidence of deterioration of parliamentary standards. All political parties, particularly the SLFP, the dominant constituent of the UPFA should examine the situation. It would be the responsibility of seniors to take remedial measures to prevent collapse of parliamentary standings as well as traditions, the MP said.

Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa lost his temper in Parliament last Wednesday and threatened to walk out of the House if both government and Opposition MPs did not abide by Standing Orders during question time. Could anything be as bad as that, MP Gunasekara said. The Speaker wouldn’t have resorted to such a threat if he was not really angry about the situation, the COPE chief said.

Asked whether he was satisfied with the role played by Opposition members in the COPE, MP Gunasekara admitted the Opposition functioned better than the government group.

Commenting on the UPFA’s failure to ensure the presence of all its members and their support for three orders the government moved recently under the Strategic Development Projects Act, Minister Gunasekara said that among those who missed parliament on two consecutive days were ten members who left for South Korea. The minister pointed out that over 40 coalition members skipped parliament on those days in spite of specific instructions from the top leadership to be present. Whatever the reasons for their absence, a political party or any type of organisation couldn’t afford to allow members to behave as they wished, the MP said.

Namal boycotted WCY?

 Saturday, 10 May 2014 

Political circles have been buzzing with the fact that MP Namal Rajapaksa has not attended the World Conference on Youth (WCY) which was inaugurated on May 06 at the Magam Ruhunupura international Convention Centre under the auspices of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The opposition has charged that the WCY was being hosted for the first time in Sri Lanka at a massive financial cost with the intention of  boosting MP Namal Rajapaksa's image.

However, he had not even attended the WCY sessions at the BMICH, Colombo.

It is  leadrns that this was due to a opinion clash with Ministry of Youth Affairs Dullas Alahapperuma, which had reportedly taken place during the organising stage of the event.

It is also reported that MP Namal Rajapaksa had expected the Chairman portfolio of the WCY but Minister Dullas has been appointed to the position instead.

Namal Rajapakse changes international rules on the sly to win rugby games

(Lanka-e-News- 09.May.2014, 10.30PM) While there is a surfeit of rugby players in Sri Lanka (SL) , and they ought to be given opportunities , the sons of Medamuna MaRa , have even made the rugby game their plaything . In the Five nation tournament game played against Hongkong , the SL team led by the synthetic lawyer Lakshman Namal Rajapakse , SL team suffered a most humiliating defeat securing only ten points to 41 earned by the winning team.

This game was played on Saturday the 3 rd at the Race course which is the latest rugby ground in SL. What is more disgraceful than the defeat is the trickery and treachery that was resorted to by Namal ( faithfully following in the footsteps of Papa, the Alibaba ) to win the game. 

Based on informed sources from within , the boundary line of the race course for the game was changed secretly . The Rajapakses have on the sly without anybody’s knowledge reduced the internationally accepted ground distance between the two sets of goal posts . We have evidence to substantiate this allegation.

Although the treacherous aim of changing the boundary line was successfully achieved clandestinely by the moronic Rajapakses , even an ordinary man in the street would have known that this trick will be unsuccessful as it would affect both sides. The futility of this trick and their tomfoolery dawned on these Rajapakse buffoons only after the SL rugby team was trounced . These buffoons who never accept defeat honorably have found solace by proudly claiming “we too got ten points.” 

On the other hand Rugby analysts say , if this deceit was not resorted to , Namal ‘s team might not have got even a single point. 

It is a pity that the sons of Rajapakses are not governed by any laws – even stray dogs are not governed ! That is why they are running amok. The youngest son ‘Rocket Rohitha’ driving a super luxury motor vehicle and trying to go at jet speed into space orbit hit a three wheeler causing grievous injuries to the driver and damaged the vehicle. Laws were not enforced against him. The STF officers who appeared on the scene in double quick time did a cover up operation . The vehicle was taken away , and another driver was substituted for Rocket Rohitha.

The other son Namal Rajapakse too passed the law exam finals by racketing . Now , even to win a sporting event they indulge in rackets . 

The lawless brutal nature of the Rajapakse sons came to light when one of Rajapakse sons assaulted a Rugby referee. Their rackets are so monumental, and what great racketeers are was demonstrated when even in an international game of rugby they could not curb their racketing habits .It will not be a surprise therefore if a ban is imposed on international rugby games being played in SL because of the three racketeers who have become more famous ( infamously in their case ) than the three musketeers of fiction.