Drunken Police Officers Gun Down 24-Year-Old

June 13, 2014 
On the night of June 11, officers attached to the Nittambuwa police station gunned down Subash Indika Jayasinghe, a 24-year-old man, for no reason. A friend named Saveen Chathuranga, 18-years-old, was accompanying Indika. Saveen describes the incident as follows:

Inspector General of Police

Indika and Saveen were travelling on Indika’s motorcycle. As there was significant traffic, they were moving slowly. Some police officers stopped their motorcycle. There were four policemen. They seemed to be drunk. After Indika stopped, both the riders got off the bike. One police officer then put his pistol to Indika’s upper torso and shot him point blank.

The police officers did not make any attempt to take Indika for medical treatment. Saveen had to stop a passing vehicle to take Indika to the hospital. The officers threatened Saveen and told him not to reveal what happened. Indika did not survive.

After the incident, a police spokesman stated that the motorcycle was being driven very fast, and as the riders did not stop after the police signaled them to do so, the police shot at the vehicle. The generation of such excuses is common when wrongdoings of the police are exposed. In any case, shooting people to stop traffic violations is a ludicrous explanation.

Police officers have been given pistols quite recently. The justification for the move was that there are constant clashes between civilians and the police, and that the police officers could use their pistols to defend themselves. Given this policy, and given the reputation of the Sri Lankan police as one poorly disciplined and poorly trained, this murder comes as no surprise.

In monitoring torture in Sri Lanka, the Asian Human Rights Commission has observed that in the evenings many police officers are drunk during their shifts. One of the well-known cases of murder of suspects in custody by drunken police officers occurred in Angulana. This murder led to massive protests and the conviction of two officers. Giving such undisciplined officers lethal weapons and authorizing shooting is one of the most dangerous and anti-people policies adopted by the Ministry of Defence.

The officers involved in this shooting should be charged for murder and a competent and independent investigatory team should conduct criminal investigations. However, what is more likely is that, under various pretexts, investigations will be delayed, paving the way for these officers to escape responsibility and, in most likelihood, they will continue their work with impunity.

In a separate incident, near the Katunayake area, police recently shot at a moving three-wheeler. The police missed their target and instead shot a bystander.

The Sri Lankan police are lawless and lack discipline; this needs addressing. It is such indiscipline and lawlessness against which the public is protesting, all over the country.

Instead of addressing the virtual collapse of the policing system, the Ministry of Defence has issued pistols to all police officers. The Ministry of Defence should be held responsible for the violence being caused by police officers with these weapons. And, the Sri Lankan public should protest against the policy of allowing police officers to carry dangerous weapons.

A statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission

Kathleen Wynne's Liberals win majority government

After an election campaign in which they were demonized as “corrupt” nearly every day, Kathleen Wynne's Liberals cruised to victory in the Ontario election Thursday.

Liberal Leader Kathleen Wynne addresses her supporters after the party's majority win.

By: Robert Benzie Queen's Park Bureau Chief, Published on Thu Jun 12 2014

She’s the boss.

Premier Kathleen Wynne made history Thursday, outrunning her opponents and leaving predecessor Dalton McGuinty’s controversial legacy in the dust with a stunning majority victory.

Kathleen Wynne's Liberals Win Majority Government by nelvely

"Start Accountability With KP & Karuna"- UNP Tells Govt

The Thursday, 12 June 2014

United National Party has urged the government to start the accountability process by taking action against Kumaran Pathmanathan, who was at one time the main arms procurer of the LTTE, and Vinayagamoorthi Muralitharan, who was technically the second in command of the terrorist organization. 

Both of them have shifted their allegiance to the government and Muralitharan alias Karuna Amman holds a ministerial position in the government while being a 'Vice Chairman' of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party. 

The UNP said both KP and Karuna Amman have been accused of being involved in the attempted assassination of former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumartunga in December, 1999. 

"The UNP calls on the government to cooperate with the UNHRC. The mandate of the team also involves investigating the atrocities carried out by the LTTE. The Government should at least present to the investigators the crimes committed by the Tigers. It is in an opportune place to do so. In their midst the Government have the main weapons procurer of the LTTE and the self proclaimed leader of the group after the demise of Prabhakaran, KP, the LTTE’s one time deputy leader Hon. 

Vinayagamoorthu Muralidaran alias Karuna Amman who sits in Parliament as a member of the government and is also the Vice President of the SLFP. These individuals have been responsible for heinous crimes including the attempted assassination of a sitting President, Ms. Chandrika Kumaratunga and the massacre of hundreds of policemen in the eastern province who had surrendered to the LTTE. Accountability can start here. Yet with all the Tigers in their ranks, the Government persists in labelling all other progressive forces in the country as terrorists and traitors," the main opposition party said today. 

"The hour is not yet too late. International challenges can still be effectively addressed. All it would require from the regime is the political will. The resolution passed in March this year at the Human Rights Council allows for a window of opportunity for the Sri Lankan government to carry out a credible internal investigation. This would prove that we are capable of handling our own issues. In the meantime by blanket refusal to engage with the team of investigators appointed by the UN Human Rights Commissioner, Sri Lanka is admitting guilt and depriving itself of an opportunity to make its case. This would not only be an injustice to the valiant soldiers who sacrificed so much for this country but a betrayal of all our people who will have to suffer the consequences of international action," the United National Party also said.

Jaffna Hospital short of doctors 
By Our Jaffna Correspondent-June 13, 2014 
 
The Jaffna Teaching Hospital (JTH) is short of doctors, as a result patients are unable to obtain treatment from the OPD.
According to which Acting Director of the JTH, Dr. S. Sribavanantharaja, the OPD requires the services of more than 20 doctors. However, at the moment it has only 12, and they too are expected to be transferred to the 'outstations' shortly.
He said that due to the shortage of doctors, the OPD closes its doors at 4 p.m., whereas previously it used to function till 8 p.m. "Therefore, people who come to the OPD after working hours are unable to consult doctors," Sribavanantharaja said.

He said previously doctors were transferred on an exchange basis, but now the system was not being applied to the Northern Province. The Health Ministry has just ordered the transfers without providing replacements.
Since the Hospital faces a shortage of medical practitioners, including specialists, patients who arrive at JTH are facing a severe problem with regard to the services they expect, he said.
PC commits suicide 
June 13, 2014
A police constable has committed suicide in Matara area by jumping in front to a speeding train.
 
The victim has jumped in front of Maradana bound Matara train Sagarika this morning near the Vishuddarama Viharaya at Ahangama.
 

He is a 52 years old constable attached to Weligama Police.

Kin of Sri Lankan refugee who committed suicide in Australia seek Jayalalithaa's help to attend funeral

Kin of Sri Lankan refugee who committed suicide in Australia seek Jayalalithaa's help to attend funeral

THE TIMES OF INDIA
Karthick S, TNN | Jun 11, 2014,
CHENNAI: The family of Leo Seemanpillai, a Sri Lankan Tamil refugee who died after setting himself ablaze in Australia, has submitted a petition to the Tamil Nadu chief minister's special cell, urging the state government to help them attend his funeral in Australia on June 13.

In their petition, Leo's family members requested chief minister JJayalalithaa either to help them attend his funeral in Australia or bring his body for burial in Vellore. The family is facing difficulties in obtaining visitors visas to attend his funeral.

Seemanpillai, 29, doused himself in petrol and set himself ablaze in Australia on May 31. His relatives, including his parents and three siblings, have been living in a refugee camp in Vellore for the past two decades.

The relatives approached the chief minister's special cell, a day after they approached the Australian consulate and the Sri Lankan deputy high commission in Chennai.

"I have submitted a petition to the chief minister's special cell and also met one of her secretaries requesting her to help us visit Australia to attend my son's funeral. We don't have passports or any other travel documents since we are refugees. The Australian government is not ready to issue visas without such documents. We had no other option then approaching the chief minister," Leo's father Seemanpillai told TOI.

Leo completed his diploma in electrical and electronics engineering and decided to settle in Australia, dreaming of making a fortune. He undertook a risky sea journey from India and managed to reach the Indonesian shores. "After much hardship, he arrived in Australia in January 2013," said a family friend in Australia.

Leo was among the lucky few who got a work permit in Australia. This was before the country dramatically changed rules on how it dealt with asylum seekers. He spent around six months in detention in Darwin and was moved to Geelong after being granted a temporary "bridging visa."

The Australian government has deported more than 1,000 Sri Lankan asylum seekers since August 2012. Supporters of refugees have said a lot of Tamil youths are being deported and this has triggered fear in the community.

Dengue prevention: How to obtain human resources for a massive campaign

June 12, 2014, 7:54 pm 

By Dr. Pradeep Kariyawasam,
Deputy Municipal Commissioner (Health), Colombo Municipal Council

 A fogging programme in progress (file photo)

The City of Colombo, like many other cities in the developing world was growing rapidly posing many complex problems to its city Council. 

Dengue Prevention  How to Obtain Human Resources for a Massive Campaign by nelvely

Alleged assault on Expressway: Minister and police constable express views

Alleged assault on Expressway: Minister and police constable express views

Allegations were levelled against Deputy Minister Hemal Gunasekera recently over the assault of a police constable attached to the Expressway Division.

At a media briefing convened on Monday the Deputy Minister sought to explain the incident.

Kavinthan Shanmugarajah-Jun 10, 2014
Deputy Minister of Co-operatives and Internal Trade, Hemal Gunasekera expressed following views:

“I have been informed that this officer holds a black belt in Karate. The man acted according to the sport. He challenged me to take down his number and do anything. So, realistically, you can imagine what happened, because all men have self-esteem. No matter what crime is committed, I call for the law to be enforced to the letter. Even if it is me, you can arrest me tomorrow. You do not need the permission of the speaker to arrest me. The truth of this matter will be revealed to the country before the Poya Day.”

Speaking via phone Police Constable, Suminda Saman expressed following views in reply to the minister’s claim:

“The Honourable Minister convened a media briefing and placed all the blame on me. There is a media spokesperson in the police and even before this media spokesperson made a statement, he has done so. Thereby, I have a suspicion as to whether this inquiry will be conducted as he wishes it to be. The Minister is always making statements beforehand. I too am waiting to see if at least one of the assailants will be arrested in the near future. He has 100 percent confidence. “

He added: “ If the Police Department legitimizes this and lets him go free, then I will complain to the highest possible office. This person has gone to the extent of looking into my personal file and this is a problem for me. He says that I hold a black belt in Karate. I have a question as to who is divulging the private information in my personal file to him. These files can only be examined by officers of the Police Department. Ministers cannot examine these files. So I have another suspicion now about his having examined my files. “

• Deputy Minister Hemal Gunasekera, Police constable, police constable attacked

Some abducted schoolgirls may never return: Nigerian ex-president

1 OF 2. A man points to one of the girls abducted by Boko Haram on a screen showing a video of the captives, at the Government House in Maiduguri, Borno State May 15, 2014.

2 OF 2. The Abuja wing of the "Bring Back Our Girls" protest group march to the presidential villa to deliver a protest letter to Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja, calling for the release of the More...

BY ANDREW HEAVENS-ABUJA Fri Jun 13, 2014 

(Reuters) - Some of the schoolgirls abducted by militant group Boko Haram may never return home, Nigeria's influential former president Olusegun Obasanjo said, in some of the most pessimistic comments yet on their fate from a member of the country's elite.

Some Abducted Schoolgirls May Never Return Nigerian Ex-president by nelvely

Iraq crisis: ISIS parade captured Iraqi military vehicles in Mosul

A group from the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Shams stage a parade of American Humvee patrol cars seized from a collapsing Iraqi army in the two days since its fighters drove out of the desert and overran the northern metropolis

13 Jun 2014

The black-clad and masked Islamic State of Iraq and al-Shams (ISIS) fighters waved the black flag of the Islamic State and flashing the "V" sign with some shouts "Towards Baghdad".

Witnesses saw ISIS fly two helicopters over the parade, apparently the first time the militant group has obtained aircraft in years of waging insurgency on both sides of the Iraqi-Syrian frontier.

It was unclear who the pilots were, but Sunnis who served in the forces of Saddam Hussein have rallied to the insurgency.

Since Tuesday, black-clad ISIS fighters who do not recognise the region's modern frontiers have seized Mosul and Tikrit, Saddam's home town, and other towns and cities north of Baghdad.

The army has evaporated in the face of the onslaught, abandoning bases and US-provided weapons.

Security was stepped up in Baghdad to prevent the Sunni militants from reaching the capital, which is itself divided into Sunni and Shi'ite neighbourhoods and saw ferocious sectarian street fighting in 2006-2007 under US occupation.

The World Cup Will Never Be Just About Soccer

• BY ELIAS GROLL-JUNE 12, 2014

For anyone who thinks the World Cup would be a pure celebration of the beautiful game, let this dispel your illusions. Ruling generals are putting the tournament to good use in their PR efforts and in Nigeria, fears of terrorism are casting a cloud over the country's World Cup hopes.

In Thailand and Egypt, where the military recently returned to power, authorities declared that in a beneficent gesture toward the people, the ruling generals will make the games available for all too watch.

As part of their campaign to bring "happiness to the people," a sort of post-modern PR effort by the military to brand its coup a victory for the forces of harmony and peace, Thailand's junta says it will push the country's broadcasters to carry the games for free. Otherwise,Thais would have to buy a $50-decoder -- a price-point out of reach for most the country --  to view  the entire tournament. Given its dedication to the people's "happiness," the government will compensate broadcasters to the tune of $13 million. That decision comes on the heels of the military'sdeployment of scantily clad women in camouflage into the streets of Bangkok in order to boost public morale.

The Egyptian government isn't far behind. After being sworn in as president, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, the former general who ousted Mohamed Morsi from the presidency, declared that he too will make all World Cup games available to his subjects. "Broadcasting the games will be a present from President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi for the Egyptian people," Azmi Megahed, a spokesman for the Egyptian Football Association, told Ahram Online. The deal isn't actually final but Egyptian soccer officials are bullish on it happening.

Sisi could certainly use some good press. On Wednesday, the newly minted president personally apologized to a woman who was sexually assaulted by a gang of men celebrating Sisi's inauguration. Tossing this bone to a soccer-crazed public will surely help distract from that controversy -- and the government's continuing crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood.

Meanwhile in Nigeria, the World Cup news is more sinister. Fearing possible terrorist attacks by the militant groups Boko Haram, authorities in the northeastern state of Adamawa have decided to ban public viewings of the World Cup. Therefore, many residents won't be able to watch the games or their team, which is expected to do quite well.

The echoes of a pair of 2010 bombings in Kampala, Uganda, during the World Cup final, when two suicide bombers targeted a restaurant and outdoor screening of the match, could be heard in that announcement. The attacks killed 74 people; and with Boko Haram staging a string of recent attacks, including the highly publicized kidnapping of hundreds of schoolgirls, it should surprise no one that authorities are being cautious. Boko Haram views soccer as un-Islamic. Nigerian officials say they have intelligence that the group plans to carry out attacks during the tournament.

Keep an eye on this space: We'll be tracking all the political subplots as the tournament gets underway.

For war-weary rebels, Colombia invites defections with comforts and kindness

Colombia's Agency for Reintegration has helped Javier Guzman, a demobilized paramilitary fighter, to open a successful neighborhood bike shop in Bucaramanga, Colombia. (Nick Miroff/The Washington Post)

BY NICK MIROFF- June 13 at

BUCARAMANGA, Colombia — For all the damage that airstrikes and smart bombs have inflicted on Colombia’s FARC rebels, the biggest threat they face may be the hot tub and the computer room at this converted motel along the highway.

For War-weary Rebels, Colombia Invites Defections With Comforts and Kindness by nelvely

Afghanistan prepares for presidential election runoff amid fears of violence

Voters will choose between two moderate nationalists in country's first democratic transfer of power

Afghan police escort election workers as they transfer ballot boxes and materials in Nangarhar province. Photograph: Ghulamullah Habibi/EPA

Emma Graham-Harrison in Kabul-

Friday 13 June 2014

Worries about violence and voter apathy, after a campaign that spiralled into ethnic and personal attacks, have shadowed preparations for the second round of Afghanistan's historic presidential election.

The vote paves the way for the first ever peaceful, democratic transfer of power in the country's history. In a first round of voting two months ago Afghans and their security forces surprised the world and thrilled themselves by defying bad weather, warnings of fraud and Taliban threats to turn out in high numbers, and the police and army kept almost all of them secure.

There was no outright winner, however, so Afghans will return to the ballot box again on Saturday to decide between the frontrunners – two moderate, nationalist former ministers, Abdullah Abdullah and Ashraf Ghani, who present themselves as modernisers but also have close ties to the strongmen of the civil war era.

There is a sombre mood in the capital before the election. Almost no one, from analysts and diplomats to the candidates themselves, expect voters to turn out in the same strength as the first round, when authorities said more than 6.6m valid ballots were cast.

"Turnout is a bit of a concern in the second round," said one diplomat. The number of voters is important because if a high percentage of Afghans cast ballots it dilutes the effects of fraud and makes it harder for the loser to challenge the results."

Rural voters may be busy with the harvest, now under way in some places, worried about security or simply no longer willing to bother voting without the free transport and other incentives laid on in April by candidates in local elections, held at the same time as the first round.

The candidates say authorities have not resolved all the problems from April that led to ballot shortages in many places and hundreds of thousands of votes being cast out.

"I am concerned about systematic fraud … and ballot shortages have not been addressed properly," said Abdullah, the candidate who was the frontrunner with 45% of the vote. He says he has deployed about 40,000 monitors to polling stations nationwide to look for cheating.

"The same, more or less, it will be high turnout, unless there is a dramatic security situation but no one can anticipate this," he said, days after narrowly escaping with his life from a car bomb assassination attempt that killed 13 others.

Two months ago on polling day violence spiked nationwide, but there were few deaths and no major attacks in urban centres that might have deterred voters. The Taliban, apparently humiliated by their failure to disrupt the election have since replaced their top military commanderand promised bloodshed.

But security forces say they have learned from the first round, and have even more restrictions and checkpoints in place. Kabul authorities shut roads into the city for everyone except election candidates and people with medical emergencies from Friday, and the streets were almost deserted apart from traffic jams at multiple checkpoints.

"They are prepared for an increased challenge to the process this time and I think they can provide a good level of coverage even if the attack numbers go up," said the US ambassador, James Cunningham.

Voting day itself will be only the first hurdle. If the candidates' results come in just a few percentage points apart, and after weeks of nasty campaigning, the loser may refuse to concede or send supporters on to the streets.

"There might be questions, and most likely will be questions. But work together – the two campaigns – because it is not only about who will be the winner, it's about the stability and the future of the country," said the top UN envoy Jan Kubis. "Also be ready to accept the results."

பாகிஸ்தான் வரலாற்றில் மறைக்கப் பட்ட சோஷலிசத்திற்கான வர்க்கப் போராட்டம்

பாகிஸ்தான் வரலாற்றில் மறைக்கப் பட்ட சோஷலிசத்திற்கான வர்க்கப் போராட்டம்

Friday, June 13, 2014

பாகிஸ்தான் என்றதும், இஸ்லாமிய மத அடிப்படைவாதமும், தாலிபானும் தான் பலருக்கு நினைவுக்கு வரும். அந்த அளவிற்கு, சராசரி பொது மக்களின் மனங்கள் மூளைச் சலவை செய்யப் பட்டுள்ளன. பாகிஸ்தானில் இன்றைக்கும் நிலவும் நிலப்பிரபுத்துவ அடக்குமுறைகள், அதற்கு எதிரான உழைக்கும் மக்களின் போராட்டம், யாருடைய கவனத்தையும் கவர்வதில்லை. மிதவாத சமூக ஜனநாயகவாதிகள் முதல் தீவிர மாவோயிஸ்ட்கள் வரையில், இன்றைக்கும் பல இடதுசாரி கட்சிகள் அங்கே இயங்கிக் கொண்டிருக்கின்றன.

எழுபதுகளில், ஆப்கானிஸ்தானில் சோவியத் படைகள் நிலைகொண்டிருந்த காலத்தில், பாகிஸ்தான் அமெரிக்காவுடன் கூட்டுச் சேர்ந்து கொண்டு, ஆப்கான் முஜாகிதீன் குழுக்களுக்கு உதவிய வரலாறு அனைவரும் அறிந்ததே. ஆனால், பலருக்குத் தெரியாத ஓர் உண்மை உண்டு. பாகிஸ்தானில் இயங்கும் கம்யூனிஸ்ட் அமைப்புகள், சோவியத் இராணுவ உதவியுடன் ஆட்சியைக் கைப்பற்றும் அபாயம் நிலவுவதாக அப்போது வதந்தி கிளப்பி விடப் பட்டது. அந்தக் காரணத்தைக் கூறித் தான், பாகிஸ்தான் அமெரிக்காவுடன் ஒத்துழைத்தது.

பாகிஸ்தானில், அஷ்டநகர் மக்கள், ஒரு வர்க்கப் போராட்டத்தின் ஊடாக தமது சமூக பண்பாட்டு விடுதலையை பெற்றுக் கொண்டனர். மார்க்சிய லெனினிச சித்தாந்தம், அந்த மக்களுக்கு வழிகாட்டியாக அமைந்திருந்தது. அஷ்ட நகர் என்பது, சமஸ்கிருதத்தில் எட்டு கிராமங்களை குறிக்கும். ஆப்கானிஸ்தான் எல்லையோரம் அமைந்துள்ள மலைப் பிரதேசத்தில், நிலப்பிரபுக்களுக்கு எதிராக விவசாயக் கூலிகள் ஒரு வீரஞ் செறிந்த போராட்டத்தை நடத்தினார்கள். அஷ்ட நகர் பகுதியில் நடந்த சோஷலிசப் புரட்சியை பற்றிய முழுமையான ஆவணப் படம் இது. வரலாற்றில் மறைக்கப் பட்ட பாகிஸ்தானிய உழைக்கும் மக்களின் போராட்டம் பற்றிய ஆவணப் படுத்தல்.

Hashtnagar - a song of another world door ammaraziz1

Pakistan: Hashtnagar, a land forgotten

The Marxist-Leninist

Posted on June 6, 2010 | 2 Comments

The following article was sent to The Marxist-Leninist by the author, Lahore based film-maker and activist Ammar Aziz:
பாகிஸ்தான் வரலாற்றில் மறைக்கப் பட்ட சோஷலிசத்திற்கான வர்க்கப் போராட்டம் by nelvely

Military presence in Sri Lanka’s north is worrisome: Wigneswaran

File photo of Chief Minister of Sri Lanka's Northern Provincial Council C.V. Wigneswaran.

MEERA SRINIVASAN-June 12, 2014

The Chief Minister of Sri Lanka’s Northern Provincial Council tells The Hindu that he has not been able to do much even after six months after the historic elections

More than six months after the historic elections to Sri Lanka’s Northern Provincial Council, its first Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran says has not been able to do much, for his hands are tied. From a reluctant entrant to Sri Lankan politics to Chief Minister who won a massive mandate in the elections, it has been quite a journey for the former judge of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka.

Military Presence in Sri Lanka’s North is Worrisome Wigneswaran by nelvely