The Thug Regime

 


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The Thug Regime

October 22, 2011,
What the events of the past one week reminded the present writer of was the year 1990. That was the year in which the downfall of the UNP government that had been formed in 1977 began. When 1990 dawned, the UNP government had everything going for them. The presidential and parliamentary elections had been won in December 1988 and February 1989, the JVP insurrection had been crushed, the IPKF was leaving, there was a ceasefire in place with the LTTE, the opposition SLFP had been defeated yet again, and the UNP as a ruling party seemed rock solid and set to go on for another decade at least. Yet, within months, everything began unraveling. The slide first began with whisperings and mutterings about the behind the scenes power wielded by Sotthi Upali, Malu Nihal and other thug types associated with the UNP.
Full Story>>>
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Dispossessing And Disempowering The People

Sunday, September 11, 2011

By Tisaranee Gunasekara

Shanties will disappear with the beautification of Colombo - Photos courtesy: www.wsws.org

“Do not make us

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Campaigns against Disappearances in Sri Lanka

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Remembering the 2006 Sencholai massacre

Fifty three school girls were killed, along with three staff, on August 14, 2006, when Sri Lankan air force jets dropped sixteen bombs on an orphanage in Vanni. The GPS coordinates of the orphanage and other civilian sites in Vanni, including hospitals, had been provided to the government via the International Committee of the Red Cross. All the hospitals and many other listed sites were subsequently bombed or shelled by Sri Lankan forces. Photo TamilNet.     Full Story>>>

Human rights debate could expose divisions at Commonwealth summit

BY MARK KENNEDY, POSTMEDIA NEWS

OCTOBER 23, 2011

Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper delivers a statement in this file photo.

Photograph by: Chris Wattie, REUTERS

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Stephen Harper travels to Australia this week to attend a Commonwealth leaders’ summit that will be dominated by debate over human rights and which could expose divisions within the 54-nation organization.    Full Story>>>

SRI LANKA: Fr. Prasad Perera obstructs the use of a national monument for the disappeared - AHRC IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE

(Hong Kong, October 21, 2011) The national monument for the disappeared at Raddoluwa, Seeduwa is nationally and internationally known and respected place where the families of the disappeared persons gather to pay respects for their loved ones who are counted among the disappeared in Sri Lanka. The monument was eructed in 2000 at a place where the bodies of two persons from Negambo who had been partially burned were recovered. One was a well-known trade union activist.
Every year a large number of the families of the disappeared gather on 27 October to have religious ceremonies and to place wreaths before the photographs of their family members. Those who have watched this moving remembrance have found that the families commemorate this day with religious fervour.
The monument is placed near St. Cecilia's church at Raddoluwa junction. When the monument was eructed the then parish priest of the church Fr. Cyril Anthony actively cooperated in the commemorations and even allowed the Buddhist monks to have their traditional dana inside the church itself. The cooperation extended by the church was appreciated by everyone as an expression of solidarity with the families of the disappeared. All through out the 12 years up to now this cooperation has existed.
However unfortunately a new parish priest who has been appointed Fr. Prasad Perera has taken some steps to obstruct the use of these monuments. He has a build a concrete wall preventing the family members of the disappeared approaching the monument to place wreaths and pay respects. When questioned the priest have said that he himself does not have any objection of his own to the activities of the monument but that some office members of the church has some objections. However no one has come forward to express such objections. This act of disruption manifest sheer lack of sensitivity to the human suffering of a large number of families who have faced the problem of forced disappearances.
Now this priest has lodged a complaint at the local police station regarding the use of this monument. When the priest was questioned as to what legal right he has on this place he was unable to provide any legal titles. In fact the place does not belong to the church at all.
Many leading politicians including the present executive president has come and attended the ceremonies at this place. It is regarded as a place encouraging harmony and in dealing with past human rights abuses in a humane manner.
The priest's objection may disrupt the only monument to the disappeared in Sri Lanka, which has become a popular place to everyone.
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Disappearance is a Crime against humanity!

Disappearance Is a Crime against humanity! Let us not allow 

it to happen again. 2010 Oct 27 - Organized by Families of 

the Disappeared

Sri Lanka student union objects military interference in university affairs

*JDS
Thursday, October 20, 2011 6:26 AM


Colombo Page
Sri Lanka's Inter University Students' Federation (IUSF) says that university students would join hands to stand against the government's attempt to make the military interfere in the country's university system.

IUSF Convener, Sanjeewa Bandara says that it would discuss with the university lecturers and other students groups on the measures to be taken to safeguard democracy and freedom in universities.

Bandara observed that the government was using the military to suppress democracy and university students.

He says that the whole concept of socializing with the military could have an adverse impact on the university system.

According to Bandara, the government was trying to get the military involved in university affairs through various means like volunteer campaigns (Shramadana) and workshops.

A shramadana had recently been organized at the Ruhuna University despite objections raised by the students and staff.

© Colombo Page

‘Famous’ SSP Deshabandu is directly involved in Bharatha murder ! -here is the cogent and clear evidence

(Lanka-e-News-23.Oct.2011, 4.30A.M.) Lanka e news has received reports that ‘famous’ ( or infamous?) SSP Deshabandu Tennekoon is directly connected to the murder of Bharatha Laksman. It was revealed at the post mortem examination by witnesses from both sides when giving evidence that SSP Deshabandu Tennekoon and the OIC of the Mulleriyawa police station were in the vehicle convoy of the prime suspect Duminda Silva.

This Deshabandu SSP had been in the vehicle – a Pajero No. 64-0940 with tinted glass, reports say. With him a police officer Kamal of the Mirihana police had been in it. The security officer of the SSP Deshbandu Tennekoon had been in a Maruti vehicle behind his Pajero. Before this shooting incident , a T 56 weapon had been taken and hidden inside a pohora (manure) bag on the sly at a Temple called Kande Vihara at Kolonnawa and loaded into the Deshabandu’s vehicle.

At the time of the incident , Duminda had a security contingent of 12 police personnel provided by the MSD (Ministerial security division) . In addition, Deshabandu had provided three police officers , namely , Chamila, Hemantha and Ajth of the Mirihana police. At the time of the shooting, when Duminda instructed ‘shoot him , shoot him’, it was Police constable (51905) Vithanalage Anura Thushara De Mel who is in remand custody now who shot Bharatha. He is a cop who had been hand picked for assistance from the Mirihana police by Deshabandu SSP.
Releasing a cop from the mirihana police in this manner is itself an unlawful action. After the murder of Nanda Ellawala (MP Rathanapura), according to the laws enacted , if any MP is to be provided with additional security that must be provided from those among officers in his electoral division. Accordingly , if the Deshabandu SSP was to provide additional security to Duminda , he should have provided officers from the Wellampitiya or Mulleriyawa police. Then , how did the ‘famous’ Deshabandu provide the officer from the Mirihana police? Moreover , no sooner than Duminda instructed to ‘shoot him , shoot him’, why did this particular officer of the Mirihana police shoot Bharatha without batting an eyelid? Why was this Deshabandu hiding inside a tinted glass vehicle ? Where is that T 56 weapon he brought on the sly and unlawfully ?
Even after the Colombo crime division(CCD) IP Neville Silva had reported to the IGP that when he was traveling in his private Lancer vehicle he saw Deshabandu Tennekoon inside a tinted glass Pajero vehicle No. 64-0940 of Duminda Silva that day , why is the IGP keeping silent and suppressing everything? After the murder was committed by Duminda , and when the driver fled , it was the Pajero 64-0940 in which SSP Tennekoon traveled which went behind it giving protection . Who caused the accident to Neville Silva’s vehicle and halted it which trailed behind the Pajero?

After clear ,cogent and copious evidence have confirmed that SSP Deshabandu and Mulleriyawa OIC Nalaka Gunasekera that both of them had been at the scene when the quadruple murder occurred , what is the action taken by the IGP so far ? Why didn’t the CID question these two officers over these multiple murders ?

On that fateful day , despite the Elections Commissioner sending two written requests to the Police to stop the illegal activities and election offences committed by Duminda ,yet , this Deshabandu SSP and the Mirihana OIC Nalaka Gunasekera had , on the contrary been assisting Duminda in his atrocities . If these high rung police officers had duly taken action following the Elections Commissioner’s request , this tragedy could have been averted , and so many innocent lives would not have been lost. Is the IGP unable to make this appraisal or see these things in the correct light because his eyes and mind are filled with dross ?

Has the defense Secretary Gotabaya destroyed the IGP’s respect for laws and the ‘chastity’, if any , so much so that he is now left with the only choice of taking to the paddy fields with a loin cloth ?

TNA To File FR Petition

By Mandana Ismail Abeywickrema

The TNA is to file a Fundamental Rights petition before the Supreme Court tomorrow (24) challenging the registration of lands in the North and East.
TNA parliamentarian M. A. Sumanthiran told The Sunday Leader that the TNA has decided to file legal action against the registration of lands given the government’s failure to respond to the request made by the TNA.
Parliament last Friday (21) debated the issue related to the lands in the North and East.
Sumanthiran said the government justified the land registration during the debate in parliament.
The TNA last week held a protest in Vavuniya against the registration of lands in the North and East.
TNA parliamentarian Suresh Premachandran said the TNA has made three requests to the government namely to stop the registration of lands in the North and East, stop the setting up of a new Sinhala division by allocating Weli Oya under the Mullaitivu District and to stop the appointment of a Sinhala GA to Mannar.
Premachandran explained that the government first needed to find a political solution to the ethnic issue and look at reconciliation before making such decisions.
“It would otherwise result in creating new problems,” he said.
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Mystery Death Of Sole Suspect In Lasantha’s Murder

By Nirmala Kannangara in Nuwara Eliya Pictures by Asoka Fernando

The place where Jesudasan repaired vehicles and Pitchai Jesudasan

The sudden demise of 40 year old Pitchai Jesudasan, the main suspect in The Sunday Leader Editor-in-Chief Lasantha Wickrematunge murder case has raised many questions.

Jesudasan was arrested by the Terrorist Investigation Department (TID) on February 26, 2010 at his residence No. 31, Magastota Estate, Ruwan Eliya, Nuwara Eliya for the alleged involvement in terrorist activities.
Jesudasan has been later sent to Boossa Camp after interrogation at the Secretariat Building, Colombo 1. He had then been transferred to Welikada Magazine Prison and was an inmate there till his death on Saturday October 15.

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Tamil People Should Continue To Be Granted Refugee Status

By Brian Turner 

Our Foreign Correspondent

Sunday, October 23, 2011

The Sunday Leader this week spoke with David Poopalapillai the spokesperson for the Canadian Tamil Congress.
The Canadian Tamil Congress (CTC) is a non-profit organisation which serves as the voice of Tamil Canadians. Headquartered in Toronto, the CTC has 11 chapters across the country and an elected board of directors. The non-partisan organisation works as the community’s spokesperson on the municipal, provincial, federal and international levels. Its chapters can be found in Ottawa, Montreal, Halifax, London, Edmonton, Vancouver, Waterloo, Winnipeg, Windsor and Regina.

Q: At this time what Political Party is the Tamil Diaspora supporting?
A: At this time, the Tamil Diaspora is supporting the Tamil National Alliance(TNA). The Tamil people in Sri Lanka have placed their trust in the TNA by decisively voting for the TNA in the parliamentary elections and again during the local government elections held in the North East region of Sri Lanka recently. The Tamil people have given a clear mandate to the TNA and it is their belief that the elected party will confidently and accurately represent their wishes. The Tamil Diaspora respects the wishes of the Tamil people in Sri Lanka and accordingly, we are also placing our trust in the Tamil National Alliance.

Q: Does the Tamil Diaspora feel that this Government is doing enough to help the Tamils in Sri Lanka? 
A: We acknowledge the recent steps that have been taken by Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Minister of Foreign Affairs John Baird in calling for an international investigation into credible allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the final stages of the war. With the approximate number of 300,000 Tamils living in Canada, we believe that this government has a duty to its citizens to apply much needed international pressure on Sri Lanka with respect to concerns of accountability. While the government has just recently voiced its opinion on the situation in Sri Lanka, it must be noted that for the last few years, more notably during the crucial months in 2009, the Government of Canada remained silent. While we applaud the recent actions taken by government officials, it is our hope that the Government of Canada will increase its voice on the international arena.

Q: Is the Diaspora still looking for a Political Solution in Sri Lanka or looking at a separate state?
A: The Tamil Diaspora will be agreeable to a political solution which meets the genuine aspirations and long standing grievances of the Tamil people in Sri Lanka. However, it is of crucial importance that the political solution should be agreeable to both the Tamil people and Tamil leadership in Sri Lanka; it should NOT be forced upon them. In order for Sri Lanka to obtain sustainable reconciliation, it needs to be able to provide justice to its own citizens.

Q: Will the Tamil Diaspora agree if the Tamil political parties come to a settlement with the government?
 A:The Tamil people in Sri Lanka have confidently voted for the TNA and accordingly, if the Tamil parties under the leadership of TNA have agreed to a clear and transparent settlement agreement, then the Tamil Diaspora will agree to it. It is imperative that any proposed agreement meets the genuine grievances and long standing aspirations of the Tamil people in Sri Lanka. The TNA has a clear mandate which is in line with what the Tamil people desire – so long as a proposed settlement is in accordance with this mandate, the Tamil Diaspora will be in agreement.

Q: Now that the armed struggle by the LTTE is over, has the funding stopped by the Diaspora?
A: Despite the end of the armed struggle in Sri Lanka, the deteriorating situation in Sri Lanka has not come to a stop. The Tamil Diaspora will provide funding for the rehabilitation of civilians who were affected by the armed struggle provided that it is through independent, international organisations which will ensure that funds are actually being reached to those in need. In order for sustainable reconciliation to commence, the grievances must first be addressed. Once these grievances are addressed, and a solution that is acceptable to the Tamil people living in Sri Lanka is reached, the Diaspora will assist those affected by the war get their lives back on track.

Q: What will happen to the Tamils seeking refugee status now that the war is over. Do they want to come back?
 A: The situation in Sri Lanka is far from settled. Assessments deeming Sri Lanka safe enough to return like people in the past were grossly premature. It is too soon to assume that the problems are over in Sri Lanka. The oppression against Tamil people continues in Sri Lanka. Tamil people continue to have genuine reasons to seek refugee status outside Sri Lanka. It is our position that until a political solution acceptable by Tamils is achieved in Sri Lanka, Tamil people should continue to be granted refugee status.

Breakdown in law and order, politicisation of police

President and Basil make surprise visit to pacify Nimal Lanza after STF raid Major questions as to who ordered the operation while crisis over Mulleriyawa gun battle continues

By Our Political Editor

Hard on the heels of the controversial Kolonnawa shootout on local polls day, President Mahinda Rajapaksa, became the troubleshooter for another fierce intra-party battle that threatened to engulf the United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA). President Mahinda Rajapaksa arrives at Nimal Lanza’s Negombo residence. Pic by W. Hubert Fernando Last Tuesday, he hurriedly boarded a Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) helicopter for a 15-minute flight to a playground at Dalupotha in Negombo. Accompanied by Basil Rajapaksa, Economic Development Minister and UPFA MP for Gampaha District, they rode in a black Mercedes Benz. As they moved out, there was a virtual motorcade for the half a kilometre journey along the Chilaw-Negombo highway and a turn to Prison Road. That included local politicians, police and security personnel. The trail led to the two-storied residence of Nimal Lanza which stands on a wide expanse of land. Rajapaksa gave Lanza a warm hug and sat down in his drawing room sofa for a lengthy chat. The local politician was not only the leader of a family wielding strong political clout in Negombo but a staunch backer of Basil Rajapaksa in the Gampaha District.

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Here is the evidence confirming Gota’s implication in Bharatha Lakshman murder: Gota shall resign forthwith

-Why is Duminda who shot Baratha not placed under arrest ?
(Lanka-e-News -15.Oct.2011, 8.30P.M.) Lanka e news is in receipt of clear, cogent and copious evidence testifying to defense secretary Gotabaya’s involvement in the murder of Bharatha Lakshman who was shot and killed by Duminda Silva recently.

Hereunder are the details …

Just two days prior to the assassination of Late Bharatha Lakshman , on the 5th of October when he addressed the last rally , he said, “ My heart is deeply grieving. If there is no CID , at least someone here , please tape this and ,go and show it. Gotabaya is a respectable person in this country. But this ‘yakka’ and the organizers took him throughout today and went for the kudu (heroin) dealers’ rallies. This is what is hurting me.. They roamed Ambatale where extortion money was demanded from Mudalalis over the phone. They intimidated and threatened people to part with their monies. They went to Kolonnawa ‘ Singapore’ area and Meetotamulla . We cannot allow this type of activities to rage in the areas which we have nursed and developed. This is not a question confined to electorate. We must begin our campaign after the 9th to rescue the people from these scoundrels. If we do not engage in this campaign , I cannot predict in which disastrous direction the country will be headed. I do not wish to elaborate further on this. I hope what I say will also reach the ears of the country’s leaders.”   Full Story>>>

The Rajapaksa Troika

Saturday, October 22, 2011

• Trillion rupee budget deficit
• 20 percent of anticipated spending allocated to the President and his two brothers

By Ashwin Hemmathagama

The Appropriation Bill 2012, which was moved recently for Parliament approval outlines Rs. 2.22 trillion as next year’s anticipated spending by the UPFA government, although it leads to a budget deficit of Rs.1.105 trillion. Out of this massive fund, over 20 percent has been allocated to the President, several Ministries, and some statutory institutions that come under the direct control of the Rajapaksa family.

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Militarising Public Space And Silencing The Vulnerable

Saturday, October 22, 2011

• State Defence And City Development Ministry

By Jude Fernando

An uneasy security-development merger, to mimic ‘new urbanism.’

All institutions representing city development are now under the purview of the State Defence and City Development Ministry – the new name of the Ministry of Defence.

The Ministry of Defence is a top-down command driven institution, while the development institutions are expected to be democratic.  Their respective systems of governance and accountability are different. Will this arguably uneasy security-development merger, that mimics ‘new urbanism’ typical in cities around the world, replace public spirited behaviour and deliberative political choices with selfish 

interests, authoritarianism and militancy?
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