What Happened To India’s 50,000 Houses?

By Maryam Azwer  Sunday, November 27, 2011

Houses being constructed on two different sites in the Kilinochchi district

When The Sunday Leader interviewed R. Sampanthan a week ago, the TNA leader claimed that of the 50,000 houses the Government of India had donated to internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Sri Lanka, only 50 had been fully completed.

“According to our sources, when the Indian Foreign Secretary visited last month, only 50 houses had been completed,” he said.
When contacted, the TNA claimed that the primary cause for the delay has been that lists of beneficiaries have been manipulated by Government Ministers.
“The Indian Government wanted the houses to be given to the most deserving people. But the list of beneficiaries was not being determined in a fair way,” said a TNA MP on condition of anonymity.
The 50,000 housing project was announced by the Indian Government during President Rajapaksa’s visit to India in June last year.Read More »

Tamil activists assert sovereignty, declare for plebiscite

Declaration on universal justice to the national question of Eelam Tamils

[TamilNet, Sunday, 27 November 2011, 11:09 GMT]
Leading Tamil activists of the younger generation in Tamil Nadu, Canada, USA and Switzerland, came out with a declaration on Sunday for an international decision to conduct and monitor a plebiscite among the people of North and East descent in the island, in the diaspora and among the refugees in India and elsewhere, in order to decide on the creation of an independent and sovereign Tamil Eelam. The activists asserted sovereignty of Eezham Tamils on three counts: historical, earned and remedial. They also declared that international players should stop insisting on united Sri Lanka and drop pretensions of ‘domestic solutions’. Further declarations upheld symbols and expressions of the struggle, urged recognition of all those who laid down their lives for the liberation cause and called upon coordinated global action by democratic forces. 

Poonkuzhali Nedumaran, Tamil Nadu, Krishna Saravanamuttu, Canada, Rajeev Sritharan, USA and Lathan Suntheralingam, Switzeraland, after discussions with a wide spectrum of activists of their genre, have come out with the following declaration:

Tamil Sovereignty Cognition

Declaration on universal justice to the national question of Eelam Tamils

• Tamil Version of the Declaration (PDF)

The undersigned civil society activists living in Tamil Nadu, Canada, United States of America and Switzerland, after interactions and deliberations with a wide-spectrum of like-minded people, especially the younger generation, in the island of Ilangkai / Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu and in the diaspora come out with the following declaration with an aim of upholding peace and universal justice by addressing the chronic national question of the Eelam Tamils in the island, where genocidal and structural genocidal approaches continuously deployed against the Tamil people in their homeland in the North and East of the island, by the Sri Lankan state with tacit approval of world powers, threaten peace and stability of peoples in South Asia and set a dangerous paradigm to the entire world:

We therefore declare that there should be an international decision to conduct and monitor a plebiscite among the people of North and East descent in the island of Sri Lanka, in the diaspora and among the refugees in India and elsewhere, to decide on the creation of an independent and sovereign state of Tamil Eelam.

The declaration is based on the Historical Sovereignty and Earned Sovereignty of Eelam Tamils as well as on the applicability of the principle of Remedial Sovereignty in their case.

Historical Sovereignty: The Eelam Tamils are a nation in the island since the times of the earliest known documentary evidences, culminating into having their historically and geographically defined homeland, distinct language, culture and collective consciousness. They have a history of losing sovereignty to Portuguese colonial conquest, followed by the Dutch and the British and not regaining it by the end of European colonialism. They have a continued history of democratically struggling to share sovereignty with the Sinhala nation for 30 years since the independence of Ceylon, the failure of which culminated into the historic declaration of independence in 1976, endorsed by mandate of the people of the North and East in the 1977 elections.

Earned Sovereignty: At the failure of democratic means, another 30 years of militant struggle impelled by state oppression, culminated into Eelam Tamils earning sovereignty in a de facto state that was tacitly recognized in an international-backed peace process in 2002. The Tamil political body identified by the de facto state winning the elections in 2004 shows the endorsement of Eelam Tamils to the de facto state that came into being by Earned Sovereignty.

Remedial Sovereignty: The tilt of balance against the de facto state ending in genocide is now indirectly acknowledged by the UN panel report and Norway’s evaluation report of the peace process, even though the word genocide is not used. An explicit, intense, intended and accelerated process of structural genocide in the North and East is now marked by occupation and rule of the Tamil homeland by ethnically Sinhala military of the Sri Lankan state; by military-backed Sinhala colonization for demographic changes and deliberate gerrymandering of Tamil constituencies and by total socio-economic-cultural subjugation of the Tamil homeland caried out by various state agencies. This impels evoking the Right to Protect the Eelam Tamil nation from annihilation. The principle of Remedial Sovereignty is therefore applicable to the Eelam Tamils claiming independence to protect them from genocide and structural genocide.

We the undersigned declare that all outside players should stop insisting on finding solutions only within a united Sri Lanka.

We declare that it is time for the international players to drop pretensions of ‘domestic’ solutions and vigorously engage in a transparent international mechanism to approach the Sri Lanka - Tamil Eelam conflict as question between nations and to bring in lasting peace and justice to the crisis in the island, in order to facilitate the two nations in conflict to co-exist peacefully with full control of their respective sovereignties.

We also declare that the symbols and expressions of the national struggle of Eelam Tamils should not be vilified but upheld, all those who have laid down their lives for the cause of the liberation of Eelam Tamils should be recognized and all democratic forces all over the world should contribute to a co-ordinated global action resulting in a political solution to the liberation struggle of Eelam Tamils.

• English Version of the Declaration (PDF)

Poongkuzhali Nedumaran                                     Krisna Saravanamuttu
Tamil Nadu, India                                              Toronto, Canada   
Rajeev Sreetharan                                   Lathan Suntheralingam
Washington DC, USA      Luzern, Switzerland
27.11.2011
* * *

SRI LANKA: Concluding observations of the Committee against Torture

NoYembeU 26, 2011
Dear friends,

We wish to share with you the following statement from the Committee against Torture at the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

Asian Human Rights Commission
Hong Kong
-------------
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AHRC-FST-061-2011
November 26, 2011
SRI LANKA:
1. The Committee considered the combined third and fourth periodic report of Sri Lanka
(CAT/C/LKA/3-4) at its 1030th and 1033rd meetings, held on 8 and 9 November 2011
(CAT/C/SR.1030 and 1033). At its 1050th, 1051st and 1052nd meetings, held on 22 to 23 November
2011 (CAT/C/SR.1050, 1051 and 1052), it adopted the following concluding observations.
A. InWUodXcWion
2. The Committee welcomes the submission of the combined third and fourth periodic report of Sri
Lanka, which generally follows the Committee's guidelines for reporting. However, the Committee
regrets that the report lacks statistical and practical information on the implementation of the
provisions of the Convention and that it was submitted two years late. The Committee appreciates
the dialogue with the delegation, the answers provided orally during the consideration of the report
and the additional written submissions    Full Story>>>

Reconciliation is not one sided or government choreographed

By Ranga Jayasuriya

The inaugural conference on national reconciliation held last week at the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute of International Relations and Strategic Studies was pretty much a feel good affair. 
Precious little was spoken of political reforms or political engagement with Tamil political parties, and a question about ‘uncovering and acknowledging’ the past was responded to with an assurance that a list of civilian deaths that occurred during the conflict is forthcoming. Perhaps, too little, too late. The conference was expected to showcase the government’s achievements in post conflict transformation. But, it was a reference which was relegated to the latter end of the keynote address of defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa that caught the attention of the media.
He said that the government was preparing a list of people who died during the conflict. “The approach the government took in this regard was a very professional one. The Department of Census and Statistics, which is the official government arm for these matters, conducted a complete census of the concerned area,” Rajapaksa said.
Excerpts from his speech:
It is important to note that the number of dead    FullStory>>>

Finally, govt limps towards census of war dead

By Namini Wijedasa

It has been a slow journey but the government is finally accepting that civilians might have died as a result of military action during the final stages of its war with the LTTE.
This change in position is attributable in no small measure to the report of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission, which is due to be released shortly. Although its contents are not officially known, it is reported that the LLRC has recommended further investigation of certain incidents that witnesses say happened. 
The LLRC process has shown that information about the battle–how it was conducted, who did what, when and where–is widely available among people in the North and East. Thirty months after the end of the war, it is no longer viable to maintain a tenuous position of ‘zero civilian casualty.’ Indeed, it would be foolhardy and dishonest to do so. 
Speaking at the ‘Inaugural National Conference on Reconciliation’ at the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute of International Relations and Strategic Studies in Colombo, Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa spoke in more detail about civilian casualties than he has possibly ever done in public.  
It was not the first time the government took a tentative step towards admitting to civilian casualties. Earlier this year, its publication Humanitarian Operation Factual Analysis (produced in response to the devastating report of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s panel of experts) admitted: “Despite the clear intent of the Government of Sri Lanka and the numerous precautions taken, it was impossible in a battle of this magnitude, against a ruthless opponent actively endangering civilians, for civilian casualties to be avoided.”
Full Story>>>

MaRa Regime gets yet another thundering slap in the face internationally

(Lanka-e-News -26.Nov.2011, 6.00A.M.) The 12 year long membership of Sri Lanka (SL) in the International Law commission which is affiliated to the UN Organization has been revoked owing to the reprehensible and deplorable conduct of the Rajapakse regime. This Commission comprises 34 countries and they are selected by ballot and must have held membership for six years. Last November 17th , when the elections were held , the SL representative , Dr. Rohan Perera was defeated. The commission which was appointed this time will be valid until 31st Dec. 2016. At the previous elections held in 2000 and 2007 , the SL representative Dr. Rohan Perera was elected polling a significant number of votes , while this time , he polled very few votes. Sri Lankans in New York say this defeat was because the MaRa regime’s diabolic tricks , treachery , rigging votes and falsifying elections results via computer frauds cannot be resorted to at the Int. Law Commission. But, according to information provided by international sources, the main cause of the defeat was , Palitha Kohona , the UN High commissioner in New York did not show any interest on this election , and Shavendra Silva who is the Deputy High Commissioner is an ignoramus on UN affairs. International legal circles are of the view that this defeat is a clear disdainful rejection of Sri Lanka based on the lawlessness that is prevailing in the country with all the legal Institutions and hollowed judicial traditions fast crumbling.

Govt. sends 60 of KP’s Tamil nationals (LTTE) to London

(Lanka-e-News -26.Nov.2011, 6.00P.M.) Several divisions have sprung up among the pro LTTE Tamil groups in U K . Consequently, their LTTE Heroes’ day celebrations on the 27th is going to be held at four venues instead of one.

Based on information reaching Lanka e news , about 60 Sri Lankan (SL)Tamils under K P had been dispatched by him on account of these celebrations to UK , and all expenses had been borne by the SL Govt. The last batch of this group left SL on the 23rd. This batch from SL are now headed for Croident, Tutin Broadway and Easham in London. It is learnt that this group is entrusted with the primary task of stooping to fulfill all the squalid and sordid aims and agendas of Mahinda Rajapakse including spying on others . 

It is reported that a pro LTTE group of KP which was to celebrate the Heroes’ day celebrations in Excel district , London has cancelled the event.

Under the Rajapakse regime , as all opposition parties in SL have been plunged into internal divisions and rifts among themselves , so are the LTTE groups after the war defeat . Several pro LTTE groups have been afflicted by this divisional infection. Recently, such a group in France too split into two groups.

Even last year the pro LTTE groups in London were similarly divided , but when the President visited London on his ignominious tour , all of them jointly staged a massive protest , and also celebrated the War heroes’ celebrations on a united platform. About two lakhs people attended the event.

Come in your thousands to Hyde Park on 29th for the cause of justice – open invitation from Tissa

(Lanka-e-News -26.Nov.2011, 6.00A.M.) UNP Gen. Secretary Tissa Attanayake has by a notification invited all People’s groups, Organizations and Fronts to participate in the massive people’s protest rally at Hyde park on the 29th. The UNP has after calling 29th November as a people’s protest day decided to hold a massive protest rally on this day in Colombo. Anoma Fonseka , her political party and a number of people’s Organizations have already agreed to join in this protest rally and extend their utmost support. This protest campaign has been organized in view of the unjust incarceration of Gen. Sarath Fonseka and to demand his release ; against the acquisition of private enterprises by the Govt. and destroying them ; and the failure to provide relief to the people in the last budget etc. A number of political parties have consented to join in this protest campaign. This protest campaign which will begin in Colombo will be extended Island wide in the future.. All people’s Fronts and Organizations are being invited to participate in this national protest rally , the notification of the UNP Gen. Secretary Tissa Attanayake , states . Although Tissa Attanayake said earlier , that discussions are being held with the JVP to get them to participate in this campaign , so far there has been no success in that direction, it is learnt.

Herein is a photograph of the poster in connection with the protests.

Exposing SLA temple sanctions to BBC brings in attack on house in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Saturday, 26 November 2011, 11:02 GMT]
Attackers believed to be from the Sri Lanka Army opened fire and lobbed grenade and petrol bomb on the house of the head of the civic council (Piratheasa Chapai) of Kaarainakar, Mr Anaimukan Velayutham, a TNA member and a leading trader in Jaffna in the early hours of Saturday, causing minor injuries to his aged mother. The attack comes hours after an interview by Mr. Anaimukan to BBC Tamil, Friday evening, in which he exposed that the occupying SLA had instructed temples in his civic division not to toll bells, not to light torches and to cease any use of loudspeakers during the Heroes Day observation week. His house situated in Thirunelveali in Jaffna was attacked by 1:30 a.m., Saturday. Mr. Anaimukan when contacted by journalists in Jaffna on Saturday condemned the attack and said whoever the attackers were, he was not going to allow himself to get threatened by such acts. 

In the Interview to BBC, Friday evening, Mr. Anaimukan said that he had personally witnessed seeing the worshipers at Kaarainakar Ma'natkaadu Kumpanaayaki Muththumaari Amman temple in a disturbed situation while attending the prayers these days. The occupying SLA at Aaladi had given the instructions to the priest of that temple, he confirmed to the BBC.

Mr. Anaimukan also told the BBC that he objected to military threat against religious freedom and said such threats had come even when the temple or community leaders like himself were not involved in observing Heroes Day at the temple.

When asked by the BBC whether any political action on the military threat had been taken up by him through his party (TNA), he replied in negative citing the non availability of TNA leaders in Jaffna. Mr. Mavai Senathirajah had gone to India, he said, adding further on the futility of taking up any complaints against the SL military.

Earlier, speaking to media, the commander of the occupying SL military in Jaffna, Maj. Gen. Hathurusinghe, had denied military ordering any sanctions against temples during the week.

Tamils in the island increasingly feel that their postwar subjugation through occupying Sinhala military, aimed at making them accept structural genocide and any nondescript political solution, is a joint agenda of Colombo as well as the powers that give tacit support to it.

The SL Army established camps in Kaarainakar since last December, while the old base of the SL Navy also continues.

According to legends and old records, Ma'natkaadu Maariyamman temple was the only temple in Kaarainakar that was not touched by the Portuguese who destroyed all the other temples in the islet, after the conquest of the Kingdom of Jaffna in the early 17th century. Legends say that the Portuguese, who were then suffering from the epidemic of Small Pox, spared the temple fearing the fury of the deity.

17 killed by adverse weather

17 killed by adverse weather

Nearly 10,000 families were affected and 33 people are missing in several districts At least 17 people were killed and nearly 10,000 families were affected in several districts by the adverse weather in Sri Lanka, authorities said. While nearly 5000 families were affected by flooding in Ampara district in the east, 2000 families in Matara district and at least 1167 families are affected in Galle by gale, according to Disaster Management Centre (DMC). Overall, heavy rain and high wind have displaced over 200 people in 12 districts. 30 of the missing 33 people were reported from Matara district and 40 people have sustained injuries, according to the DMC. Climate change While no casualties reported in Badulla district, few roads and bridges have been blocked as a result of flooding and land slide, it said. Flooding in the former Tamil Tiger heartland in Kilinochchi has displaced 68 people. The department of meteorology, meanwhile, said it expected the weather to be improved in the coming days. Addressing a seminar on how to minimise Sri Lanka’s disasters on Friday, Prof Buddhi Marambe, the head of the agriculture faculty in Peradeniya University, warned of the impact of increasing CO2 emissions. Prof Marambe said the authorities in Sri Lanka should seek advice from environmentalists before launching mega projects to reduce the CO2 emissions.

Justice Waruwa leaves the country

(Lanka-e-News -25.Nov.2011, 11.55P.M.) Justice W T M P B Waruwawa the dissenting judge in the three judge panel of the High court which delivered a controversial sentence of three year jail term on Gen. Sarath Fonseka in the white flag case had gone abroad . It is not known for how long he will be abroad. Justice Waruwawa proved his mettle as a judge of exceptional integrity and honesty by exonerating Gen. Fonseka of all charges when the other two judges decided to sentence Fonseka under a cloud of most sordid and depraved circumstances in the history of court judgments where the verdict is still being condemned among the legal circles as biased in order to serve political aims and agendas of powers that be.
Meanwhile Justice Waruwawa was receiving dire threats after the verdict was delivered.

It is worthy of note that on the night before the date of delivery of verdict , the computer in which the final case data was recorded had been tampered with by some individual and completely deleted . However , the judge had by that time taken a copy of the judgment file and transferred it into another CD cassette.
After the judgment was delivered , a computer expert had examined the computer , and restored the data which were deleted from it.

Following the delivery of judgment , the story that Defense Secretary had given a call to Justice Waruwawa has been shown to be partially true and , it is the defense Secretary’s advisor , the notoriously infamous Hendawitharne, the former chief of the intelligence unit , who had taken the call . But , Justice Waruwawa had not answered it.

Cartoon of the day

Saturday, 26 November 2011

Former AG 'misled UN' says FMM

 25 November, 2011

'Mr Jayantha had denied that he ever made a statement requesting investigations to be stopped'

A media watchdog in Sri Lanka has accused the government of misleading the United Nations over the plight of missing and tortured media personnel.

The Free Media Movement (FMM) says the former attorney general (AG) Mohan Peiris, who represented Sri Lanka “deliberately misled” the UN Committee against Torture (CaT).

Responding to the disappearance of political columnist and cartoonist Prageeth Ekneligoda, who is missing since January 2009, Mr Peiris said that the journalist has sought asylum abroad.

"Our current information is, that Mr. Ekneligoda has taken refuge in a foreign country," Mohan Peiris said answering a question from a delegate.

Our current information is, that Mr. Ekneligoda has taken refuge in a foreign country   Mohan Peiris to UN Committee against Torture

“I am not saying this with the tongue in my cheek. It is something that we are reasonably certain of. This is information that we have got through the media circles and that this is being played out for various reasons. I shouldn't say more because the matter is being investigated,” he added.

Addressing media days after the statement, the missing journalist’s wife, Sandya, challenged to the government to disclose Prageeth’s whereabouts if the government is certain about his seeking asylum.

Serious charges withdrawn

The FMM says that it is “extremely concerned” why the government did not disclose that information to police, courts or to human rights commission.

	Mr Tissainayagam was sentenced to 20 years under anti-terror laws

"The government has also not provided this information to the parliament of Sri Lanka, where questions have been raised about Ekneligoda’s disappearance," says the FMM.

The written statement submitted to the CaT by the government also states that the investigation on the serious assault of media union leader Poddala Jayantha was dropped based on Mr Jayantha’s statement.

"Mr Jayantha had denied that he ever made a statement requesting investigations to be stopped and demands that investigations continue,” the FMM statement issued by its convenor Sunil Jayasekara said.

Requesting the UN to raise concerns over the “misrepresentations” in its concluding observations, the watchdog further questions another “misleading statement” regarding the release of senior Tamil journalist JS Tissainayagam.

	CJ Silva failed to take action against former AG, say critics

The government has claimed that Mr Tissainayagam, who was sentenced to 20 years under anti-terror laws, has admitted remorse for actions to receive a presidential pardon.

The journalist has denied having expressed regret as the government claims.

The FMM added that it is concerned that the “tone of the government response indicates that torture is accaeptable,” if somebody has admitted guilt.

Mohan Peiris's move to withdrew murder and rape charges filed in high court against ruling party politicians Chandana Katriarachchi and Duminda Silva in his capacity as the AG was criticised by the then Chief Justice Asoka de Silva.

Writing in Sunday Times, senior counsel Kishali Pinto Jayawardene, however, criticised the CJ for not taking action against the former AG's move.

Fonseka murder conspiracy alleged

 25 November, 2011

'Not only he is being sent to prison but they are trying to kill him in the prison,' says Mr Ranatunga An opposition MP in Sri Lanka has alleged a murder conspiracy against the former army chief Sarath Fonseka. Arjuna Ranatunga, MP, who represents Mr Fonseka’s political party says that the former military chief is prevented from meeting doctors for medical treatment. "Not only he is being sent to prison but they are trying to kill him in the prison," he told the journalists at Colombo court complex. Mr Fonseka attended the court as his lawyers filed an appeal against his conviction of adding credence to allegations the defence secretary ordered Tamil Tigers to be killed as they tried to surrender, popularly known as 'white flag' case. Criticising the verdict that sent him to jail for another three years, the former general said "the corrupt politician" who is "afraid of challenging" him in politics would ber the only beneficiary of the verdict. Government denies He also hailed Judge Warawewa, who found Mr Fonseka not guilty of the charges, saying "the nation will salute him."  The government has sought legal advice whether a court order issued while Mr Fonseka was a suspect is still valid after he was convicted   Minister Chandrasiri Gajadheera Mr Ranatunga, the man who led the World Cup winning cricket team in 1996, added that the prison authorities have received “orders from above” not to bring former general to see doctors. "The man who won the war and brought freedom to Sri Lanka is not even allowed to meet a doctor," he added. Rejecting the accusation, the government said it has sought legal advice from attorney general whether a court order issued while Mr Fonseka was a suspect is still valid after he was found guilty. "If we are told that he is not well we will take him to prison hospital and to the government hospital if further treatment is need," Prison Affairs Minister Chandrasiri Gajadheera told BBC Sandeshaya. "The government is also duty bound to provide him with adequate security," the minister added. In another related case a court has decided to postpone the hearing of the petition against the withdrawal of Mr Fonseka’s parliamentary seat until 15 December.

Sri Lanka drifts towards authoritarianism

Sri Lanka’s is now heading towards authoritarianism , which the country ranked at 109 in world audits on democracy, only 19 notches short of Zimbabwe ranked at 136, the UNP charged in Parliament today.

He was participating in the debate on the 2012 budget, UNP MP Mangala Samaraweera said , Bosnia had been ranked 77, Malawi 82, Uganda 91, Nigeria 93 and Republic of Congo 97.

In a hard hitting speech, Mr. Samaraweera said that with the fall of what he termed as the well-entrenched dictatorship in Libya, the march towards a more democratic world order seems to gather momentum in most parts of the world.

“Many commonwealth countries in Asia and Africa have also chosen democracy as their model of governance during the last two decades while the Arab spring saw the stunning fall of some autocracies entrenched in power for several decades culminating in the demise of the Libyan dictator a few weeks ago.

Even countries like Rwanda, which was at one time synonymous with genocide after a civil war which killed one million people is one of the fastest growing countries in Africa, thanks to unprecedented political and economic reforms,” he said

Gota confirms LankaNewsWeb LLRC report

Defence Secretary Nandasena Gotabhaya Rajapaksha has confirmed our story that the government will target some junior military officers in order to save himself and his sibling, Mahinda Rajapaksha, from war crimes charges.

Addressing a seminar in Colombo yesterday, the war criminal Gota has said that some men in army might have failed to behave as instructed as tens of thousands were hurriedly recruited at the last stage.

The statement is a direct admission by Sri Lanka's wanted war criminal that his regime is to imprison some junior officers as we exclusively revelead on 17 November.

In our article titled "Leaked Extracts of the ‘notorious’ LLRC Report " LNW exclusively revealed that the notorious Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission will find some junior officers up to the rank of Major guilty of war crimes.

Gota has also said that in a so-called census on civilian deaths, it has found to be that not many civilians have died in the battled hence it does not warrant war crimes charges.

In our report we said: "LLRC report will also mildly accuse the government for acting irresponsibly and President Rajapakshe will accept blame and promise that lessons will be learnt. No references will be made to targeting hospitals or targeting civilians by the military in the no fire zone. Report will also not refer to the lack of supplies of food and medicine sent by the government during the last leg of the war.”

We leave the rest for our informed readers to decide.
----------------------------------------------------------

Leaked Extracts of the ‘notorious’ LLRC Report

 Thursday, 17 November 2011

Nearly one hundred soldiers including some senior military personnel up to the ranks of Major will be sacrificed to save the Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapakshe and President Mahinda Rajapakshe from prosecution for breaching international law, during the war that ended in May 2009. By holding these personnel accountable for some of the heinous crimes committed at the end of the war, President and his sibling believe that the international pressure will be eased from them and their regime.      Read more...

Cuba’s Contradictory Stance on Tamil Struggle

By Ron Ridenour

Ron Ridenour, (4th from right) presents “Tamil Nation in Sri Lanka” and “Sounds of Venezuela”.

HAVANA TIMES, Nov 25 — “Injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere” is usually how I begin my talks in this three-week tour through several cities and four states of India. Martin Luther King’s famous quotation is supplemented with the internationalist creed of Fidel Castro and Che Guevara. (1)

The reason for my tour is the publication here of two books I wrote:

“Tamil Nation in Sri Lanka” and “Sounds of Venezuela”. My main topic here is to discuss why Cuba and ALBA’s Bolivarian alliance of eight governments sided with the brutal, genocidal government of Mahinda Rajapaksa in wantonly murdering tens of thousands of Tamil civilians in the last stages of the war for liberation in Sri Lanka, and how can a mass movement get that righted. 

Deepali break -dancing to MaRa's loony tunes

Friday 25 of November 2011
(Lanka-e-News -23.Nov.2011, 11.55P.M.) Justice Ms. Deepali Wijayasundara the High court judge who delivered a three year jail sentence on Gen. Fonseka in the white flag case thereby plunging the entire judiciary to unprecedented ignominy in court history has been promoted as an appeal court judge. This appointment made by the President has been referred to Parliament today (23) for ratification. 

While there are 7 judges who are more senior than her, this appointment has been made ignoring them, according to information provided by judges’ circles. Justice K K S G F Perera the High court judge had already addressed a letter to the President’s Secretary in regard to the scheduled appointment of his as an appeal court judge. But ignoring all those appointments, Ms. Deepali has been promoted .

On the day the High court verdict was delivered in the white flag case, Gen. Fonseka's Lawyer Nalin Ladduwahetty stated that they would be filing action against the judgment in the appeal court. But now this very judge who gave the verdict in the High court is being elevated to the appeal court. She had told a foreign media that she has received death threats after she delivered the white flag case verdict.

‘Dancing’ too has an ending – Deepali at her daughter’s wedding

(Lanka-e-News -25.Nov.2011,9.00P.M.) When a child of a judge (male or female) marries , though it is not illegal for a country’s President and Speaker of Parliament to attend the wedding as attesting witnesses , it is a universally accepted and acknowledged truth that they are not invited by a judge as a custom and practice , for the judges are expected to be scrupulously clean and maintain the independence of the judiciary ( a paramount ingredient of Democracy in a Democratic country ) and its hollowed traditions of steering clear of politicians and politics, particularly the kind of politics in Sri Lanka where the highest of the political hierarchy himself is indulging in undermining Democracy and independence of judiciary with ruthless determination. It is also an established custom , that a judge should not attend any function , if it is not one of judge’s blood relatives. This is because apart from other reasons , the judge will not be able to impartially act or follow his/her conscience when she breaks with these time honored traditions for sordid selfish aims and ambitions or otherwise. Hence , justice Deepali Wijayasundara who is already enmeshed in a most disgraceful scenario with raging condemnation from the public and legal circles against her based on her overtly biased judgment against Gen. Fonseka in the white flag case (she was the President of the judges’ panel), inviting the President of the country and speaker of Parliament to be the attesting witnesses for her daughter’s wedding and receiving lavish gifts is not only frowned upon by one and all as the worst despicable level a Judge in that honorable position can most dishonorably stoop to, but bartering away her soul for most selfish and worst unscrupulous gains in Sri Lanka’s judicial history . Moreover this confirms beyond any trace of doubt that the raging allegations against her of abjectly and shamelessly kowtowing to the political higher ups compromising the dignity and prestige of the Judiciary when sentencing Fonseka to a three year jail term are indeed true. Pictures herein shows her ‘dancing and prancing’ on the second day of her daughter’s wedding , much to the delight of the political higher ups to whose tunes she is dancing literally and metaphorically. May we conclude by saying , learn to be your age and mind your steps when you are on squalid soil. One cannot stifle the stench and squalor for long however one tries. (See below more pics)