Somebody’s got to do the right thing, yes?

Sunday 26 February 2012
By Namini Wijedasa

Talks between the Tamil National Alliance and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party on a possible power-sharing arrangement are deadlocked again. TNA parliamentarian R. Sampanthan said in an interview that he hoped the international community would “do the right thing” at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva where Sri Lanka will face a resolution next week. Excerpts from the interview:

What happened at your meeting with the president this week?
At the invitation of the president, I met him last evening (Wednesday) at 5 pm at Temple Trees. It was not a one-to-one meeting. Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva and president’s secretary, Lalith Weeratunga, were there. I was the only one who went on behalf of the TNA. Talks commenced about the present state of the bilateral talks and the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC). The president expressed a desire to have our names for the PSC. I told him this was a matter on which we had come to an understanding earlier, when I met him on September 2. Our bilateral talks had ceased on August 4 since the government did not come up with a response to our proposals (on power-sharing) despite seven meetings and five months having gone by. In September we agreed that the bilateral talks would continue and that consensus arrived at these talks on some of the more important issues could be taken before the PSC as a joint or government position. When the bilateral talks recommenced on September 16, this understanding was confirmed and recorded in the minutes. Our position has always been that bilateral talks must continue and that there must be a measure of consensus which must be taken before the PSC.     Full Story>>>

Pro-govt. protests on the streets against foreign intervention

Sunday 26 February 2012
By Rathindra Kuruwita 
The Embassy of the United States of America in Colombo yesterday issued a warning to US citizens to be vigilant of protests organized by pro- government forces against ‘external forces conspiring’ against Sri Lanka. These protests which are to begin tomorrow are expected to mainly target the United States which stated that it will support a resolution against Sri Lanka at the United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) in Geneva.
Meanwhile Deputy Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena told LAKBIMAnEWS that the protests will be peaceful. He added that the people will take to the streets tomorrow to protest against international forces which are pressing for action against the country at the United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) sessions in Geneva. 
“We are calling this peaceful protest as the ‘human shield to protect the country from foreign intervention.’ The protest will show these forces that the people of this country are behind the administration and are against the external pressure applied to demean the nation,” he said. He also said that the protests will be held in 150 cities from February 27 to March 2 including Jaffna, Vavuniya, Trincomalee and Batticaloa.

Buns, rolls, kottu prices to go up soon

‘I NEVER PUT ON’

By Elmo Leonard 

Bakers are biding their time for the price of LP gas to be increased shortly by around Rs 200 per 12.5 kilo cylinder to raise the price of tea buns, fish buns, fish rolls and all other bakery products. 
When bread went up Rs 5 per 450 gram loaf midnight Friday last, the All Ceylon Bakery Owners’ Association (ACBOA) advised bakers to increase the prices of buns and other flour-based pastries only if they are faced with a loss, President ACBOA, N.K. Jayawardena said.

Over the years, when the price of bread is increased, bakers or confectioners wait a few weeks before they raise the price of buns, fish buns, rolls and like products. 
Our survey also revealed Saturday that the price of fish rolls went up in Colombo by Rs 5.
Bread sold in Colombo yesterday at Rs 53 to Rs 55 per loaf of 450 grams. But weight was often short of the stipulated weight. 
A loaf bread that is sliced and wrapped (sandwich loaf) could cost more. 
ACBOA increased the price of bread on the grounds of the recent hike in fuel, and as margarine and yeast used in making confectionary products had gone up as well. 
There is no controlled price for buns, fish buns and Chinese rolls. An up-market seller in Colombo could be Perera & Sons. A middle market distributor in Colombo could be Little Lion and Mihiri. At the lower end are many small time bakers and cottage industrialists. There was no sign Saturday of an overall increase in the price of bakery products other than that of bread. In the coming weeks, one could expect all bakery products, plus kottu, string hoppers and hoppers to increase in price.

What scared the living daylights out of the Rajapaksas? - The regime’s headlong capitulation

Sunday 26 February 2012

A friend from overseas e-mailed me and asked “What on earth did Maria Otero and Robert Blake do to the Rajapaksas that put such a scare into them?” Apart from the collapsing economic and political situation, honestly I am not privy to any nuggets of juicy personal threats. After the war victory, success in the 2010 election cycle, and the improving economic climate, I said in this column that the government would be stable for at least the first half of its term of office, that is for three years plus. That expectation now appears to be off the mark by about one year. A comrade in Colombo asked a few days ago “Will the government last another six months?” Let us count the dominoes that are down. The amazing thing is that it all happened within one week. The defence of the rupee exchange rate has been abandoned and the currency allowed to float; where it may settle is unpredictable and an effective devaluation of 5% to 10% is likely. Interest rates are being raised, initially by 0.5% but this is a first step only. There will be an impact on the economic growth rate and I don’t expect much above an annual rate of 6.5% growth in 2012 as opposed to the government’s 8.3% expectation. Petrol, diesel and kerosene prices have been raised, the last two by 36% and 40%, respectively; electricity prices will go up between 25% and 40% depending on user category. All round prices are escalating. Mass protests have broken out and getting sharper. After stoutly denying human rights violations for three years, the army, out of the blues and obviously on the instructions of its political masters, has appointed a Court of Inquiry to look into targeting of civilians, white-flag events and the Channel-4 video. General Sarath Fonseka is to be granted a presidential pardon before the end of the month. An action plan with timeframes will be issued to implement the LLRC recommendations. An agreement is soon to be signed between the TNA and the government. The last three items are from anti-government website LNW which is illegally blocked. Hence these claims should be verified by other sources. Still, taking the list as a whole, there is no  gain saying that this it is an unbelievable upside-down and inside-out somersault by the government. “What’s up?” everybody is asking!  The personal or the political? There are two types of explanations, or a combination thereof. The first is a personal type explanation; for example, the Americans may have got their hands on some incriminating stuff with solid proof and have threatened to release it with disastrous consequences for one or more ruling-clan sibling. The reason I speculate thus is because the siblings do not care a fig for the economy, good governance and such like public virtues. If they panic it must be some personal peril. You can’t keep anything secret for long in Sri Lanka; so if this hunch has anything to it we will soon find out. Leaks pouring out of Wikileaks are already compromising Gotabaya and Basil, and very damaging.  The other explanation of course is the very obvious and manifest all round economic and political crisis. Two weeks ago (February 12) I told you that Lanka’s external finances were in a terrible mess and a big crisis was going to hit. Well, I didn’t realize that it would happen before the printer’s ink was dry on the newsprint. Maybe the government is in such choppy waters that it is scared out of its wits and capitulating to pressure on all sides. It is amazing how fast it caved in to the Water Board, CEB and Petroleum Corporation trade unions when they threatened to strike. They were promised a 25% wage hike with hardly a fight - will it be implemented, that’s another matter.  Public unrest is worsening and the popularity of the government is plummeting. I told the Sinhalese people over and over again, that once the state finished with the Tamils it would turn its guns on them; at the time they did not take notice, but now see what’s happening! Wijeya Warnakulasuriya, brother-in-law of Anthony Fernando who was shot dead in Chilaw, wails: “They (STF and Police) treated us like LTTE cadres; they attacked us with the same mindset.” Do I need to say more? One matter I did not touch on in my external finances article was the Iran-Israel-US crisis. The US does not want Israel to attack Iran because the consequences of a war in the Middle East cannot be foreseen. Israel on the other hand is determined, whatever the risk, to end Iran’s nuclear programme. Therefore the US is hell bent on stopping the programme by threats, sanctions, strangling the Iranian economy, even regime change, but it wants to forestall an Israeli attack. Because of the absurd US-Israel relationship and inane American public attitudes, all US presidents and houses of congress are slaves of Israel; otherwise they will lose elections. Iran will not stop its nuclear programme (I am sure it is developing a bomb) and I don’t care what the fine print in the Non-Proliferation Treaty says, it should not stop. At least one Islamic country in the Middle East must have a bomb. Otherwise it is suicide since Israel has a lethal arsenal of 200. Iran should stop its nuclear weapons programme only if all nuclear weapons throughout the Middle East, including Israel, are eliminated. It is not possible to make exact predictions but for Lanka the oil shock will worsen. US sanctions can close down our international banking system - so we are already begging for permission to buy oil from Iran. The Sapugaskanda refinery is tuned for Iranian crude and this is 90% of our imports. Even if the US grants an exemption it will insist on systematic reductions over a short time. Secondly, the world oil price may in any case stay over 100 dollars a barrel, or may increase during the rest of this year. The opil price hike cum rupee devaluation is leading to steep increases in all prices. The government is desperate to avoid a showdown in Geneva on top of all this, but its own long-term future is now doomed.

At UN, Nambiar Tells ICP of White Flag Killings, Sri Lanka Government Blocked Him, Kohona Spoken With

By Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive

UNITED NATIONS, February 24 -- With controversy revived about Sri Lankan war crimes including the murder of surrendering prisoners, Inner City Press on February 24 asked UN official Vijay Nambiar to explain his role in these "white flag" killings, and if involved Major General Shavendra Silva should be a UN Senior Adviser on Peacekeeping.

  On camera, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's deputy spokesman insisted that Nambiar would not answer the question. Nambiar said "if necessary" he would answer afterwards. Video here, from Minute 18:15.

  Inner City Press followed Nambiar who began that he has "problems with you saying I am involved in the genocide." He paused and noted, "Marie Colvin was involved in the same...now that she has passed away I would like to place on record my own" position, and "appreciation for the intrepidity with which she pursued her own vocation."

  She talked to me, you know that," Nambiar said of Colvin. Inner City Press asked, hadn't Colvin urged Nambiar to go witness the surrenders?

  Nambiar nodded yes. "I asked to go, twice I contacted [US diplomat] Bob Blake, the two of us were planning to go... the ICRC was not able to go by sea route. The Government refused to give us permission. There was no way we could just force our way in."

With no witnesses, those who tried to surrendered ended up dead. Inner City Press asked Nambiar why he hadn't then spoke out.

  Nambiar continued with this story: "in the middle of the night, Marie called me, the two people, I've forgotten the names, one was on the Peace Commission, they wanted to surrender. We need to get assurance, free passage. I said OK, I'll do it. I took it up with foreign minster, the defense minister and the president. They would be treated like any surrendering prisoner, What happened after that, I couldn't..."

  Again Inner City Press asked Nambiar, if you passed on the assurances, then were blocked from going to witness and those you assured got killed, why haven't you spoken out?

  Nambiar "subsequently said they could have been shot by own people. I am not prepare to hazard any guess. Even Basil [Rajapaksa], he also said that. It was mainly Gotabaya [Rajapaksa] and the President [Mahinda Rajapaksa]."

Nambiar told Inner City Press, "I spoke with Palitha Kohona, the Foreign Secretary."

(c) UN Photo
Nambiar with Ban Ki-moon and team, Shavendra "White Flag" Silva not shown

Kohona, at least in May 2010, told Inner City Press a different story. Now with Major General Shavendra Silva, about whom Nambiar did not answer, barred from participating in the UN Senior Advisory Group on Peacekeeping Operations, it has been suggested that Permanent Representative Kohona replace him. We will pursue this -- watch this site.

Excerpt from February 23 briefing by Mark Toner at the US State Department follow:

Mark C. Toner

Deputy Spokesperson
Daily Press Briefing

Washington, DC

February 23, 2012

• SRI LANKA
  • Issue of Reconciliation and Accountability
  • U.S. Welcomes Lessons Learned in Reconciliation Commission Report / Implementation of Recommendations
  • U.S. Engagement with Sri Lankan Government

QUESTION: Different topic? On Sri Lanka, the Sri Lankan Government has called for protests over what it says is the U.S. position on the UN Human Rights Council. That’s with regard to the events of 2009, the end of the civil war. Does the U.S. have anything to say either about Sri Lanka’s call for protests over this, or more broadly, about the U.S. position on the UN Human Rights Council?

MR. TONER: Well, we think – sure, Shaun. We think we’ve been very consistent in our dialogue with the Government of Sri Lanka regarding the issue of reconciliation and accountability. We long publicly supported the idea of the Government of Sri Lanka having the time and space for this domestic Lessons Learned and Reconciliation Commission to carry out its work, and believed that an action plan would be announced when that report was made public. And then subsequent to the report’s publication, we wanted the Government of Sri Lanka to follow up on some of the recommendations from the report.

Again, we welcome the Lessons Learned and Reconciliation Commission’s report. It was a Sri Lankan undertaking, which includes many strong recommendations that, when implemented, could help improve and contribute to genuine reconciliation and strengthening of democratic institutions and practices in Sri Lanka. But to date, frankly, we’ve not seen a detailed action plan from the Government of Sri Lanka on how it’s going to implement these recommendations. So I think we still encourage the Government of Sri Lanka to move forward to take concrete steps on this implementation plan. And at the same time, we’re working with our partners in Geneva on a resolution within the UNHRC that calls for actions on important steps towards reconciliation. But I think our goal ultimately is the same here: We want to see these recommendations implemented and so that they can help lead towards reconciliation.

QUESTION: Just following up, on the Human Rights Council, in previous years, it’s fallen short regarding Sri Lanka. Is there – how concerted is the effort by the United States? Is there a desire to really pass something in the Human Rights Council on --

MR. TONER: Well, we wouldn’t be pursuing it if there wasn’t a desire. We’re also – obviously continue to be engaged with the Sri Lankan Government. But we’ve long said that we would support local efforts and want to see local efforts to address these issues, but we would also engage international mechanisms if appropriate.

QUESTION: Do you have any comment on the violence in Iraq today?

QUESTION: Can we stay on Sri Lanka?

MR. TONER: Sure.

QUESTION: After the visit of Indian foreign minister to Sri Lanka and then the U.S. diplomats, has there been any --

MR. TONER: Additional follow-up?

QUESTION: -- diplomatic follow-through between U.S. and India on --

MR. TONER: Well, through our Embassy, of course, and I’m sure almost on a daily basis, there is engagement with the Government of Sri Lanka. Maybe not always on this particular issue, but certainly I’m sure this is --

QUESTION: No. After the Indian foreign minister’s visit, did you have anything to do with India?

MR. TONER: I’m not sure. I’ll have to take that question, Tejinder.

***********************************************************************

Full text of the ‘leaked’ draft resolution follows:

Guided by the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenants on Human Rights, and other relevant instruments,

Reaffirming that States must ensure that any measure taken to combat terrorism complies with their obligations under international law, in particular international human rights, refugee and humanitarian law, as applicable,

Noting the Report of Sri Lanka’s Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) and its findings and recommendations, and acknowledging its possible contribution to Sri Lanka’s national reconciliation process,

Welcoming the constructive recommendations contained in the LLRC report, including the need to credibly investigate widespread allegations of extra judicial killings and enforced disappearances, de-militarize the north of Sri Lanka, implement impartial land dispute resolution mechanisms, reevaluate detention policies, strengthen formerly independent civil institutions, reach a political settlement involving devolution of power to the provinces, promote and protect the right of freedom of expression for all, and enact rule of law reforms,

Expressing concern that the LLRC report does not adequately address serious allegations of violations of international law, and expressing serious disappointment that the Government of Sri Lanka has not fulfilled its relevant legal obligations and stated commitment to initiate credible and independent investigations and prosecutions of those responsible for such violations,

1. Calls on the Government of Sri Lanka to implement the constructive recommendations in the LLRC report and additionally to take immediate steps to fulfill its relevant legal obligations and stated commitment to address serious allegations of violations of international law by initiating credible and independent investigations and prosecutions of those responsible for such violations,
   
2. Requests that the Government of Sri Lanka present a comprehensive action plan before the 20th session of the Human Rights Council detailing the steps the Government has taken and will take to implement the LLRC recommendations and also to address alleged violations of international law,
   
3. Encourages the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and relevant special mandate holders to provide, and the Government of Sri Lanka to accept, advice and technical assistance on implementing those steps.             

TN

Incredible but true ! Regime tapping calls of 29 Cabinet Ministers, 102 Ministers : 687 in all – Mangala reveals shocking news !!

 

(Lanka-e-News-25.Feb.2012, 4.00PM) This moribund Govt. under the pretext of security grounds , is tapping illegally the phone conversations of 687 persons daily including its own Ministers numbering 102, opposition MPs , media personnel and religious prelates , according to former Posts and telecommunication Minister Mangala Samaraweera. The latter made this most shocking and controversial announcement in Parliament yesterday . What is most significantly perplexing and unbelievable is , in this list there are Ministers of the Govt. itself. Mind you , there are also 29 Cabinet Ministers in this list. It is under the defense Ministry this modus operandi is being carried out. In other words , this regime has degenerated into such a low despotic level owing to its fiscal blunders , monumental corruption and raging nepotism not in national interests, that like in the olden days’ dictatorial reigns of Hitler and his like , it has begun mistrusting its closest cronies and supporters who helped it to come to power. Impliedly , this regime is giving out signals that it is also headed for a violent doom reminiscent of the last days of Hitler.

Hereunder are some excerpts of the speech made by Mangala Samaraweera M P ,in Parliament :
Most countries are in the practice of listening to telephone conversations and eavesdropping on such conversations . But they are done following international laws. In Sri Lanka (SL) , this practice is absolutely in contrast to them.

In SL , the practice of this Govt. of eavesdropping on telephone conversations , reading private e mails and blocking websites are in excess of the legitimate limits and done unlawfully. I am revealing this information to you taking full responsibility .In like manner , this Govt. has also discovered new technological methods and modes to obstruct and hack websites which are exposing the monumental corruption and malpractices of the Govt.

There is a special officer by the name of Anoma Lafeer at the Temple Trees. She is the younger sister of SL Ambassador in Washington.

Her main task is to monitor the news reported in the websites early morning every day, and based on her decision , block and hack websites . Might I make special mention that I do not charge Minister Sarath Amunugama and other Ministries on that account. They are unaware. Yet I am stating with full responsibility that our privacy and our human rights have been plundered by the Defense Ministry. 

This ‘rogue’ Govt. is illicitly eavesdropping on the telephone conversations of 687 persons daily. I can confirm this. You will be shocked beyond belief if you see the names in the list of those whose conversations are being tapped illegally.
The names in the list are not those of terrorists . In that list are names of religious dignitaries , opposition M Ps and media personnel.

The technological support to carry out this illegal tapping is provided by ‘Huawei’ and ‘ZTE’ companies. By the fiber optic chain they have established with the Telecom , under the implementation of I Sri Lanka projects, a sum of about Rs. three billion! had been paid to them.

These Companies ‘Huawei’ and ‘ZTE’ are helping Govts. in Central Asian countries to perpetuate their power by foul means , and is therefore a flagrant breach of human rights of the people. Said Mr. Samaraweera

UK: Halt Deportations of Tamils to Sri Lanka

FEBRUARY 25, 2012

The British government has an international legal obligation not to deport people who have a credible fear of torture upon return. Convincing reports of arbitrary arrests and torture demand that the UK government suspend returns of rejected Tamil asylum seekers to Sri Lanka until it can fairly and thoroughly assess their individual claims based on up-to-date human rights information on Sri Lanka.

Brad Adams, Asia director

(New York) – The United Kingdom should suspend deportations of ethnic Tamil asylum seekers to Sri Lanka and immediately review its policies and information about the country’s rights situation used to assess their claims, Human Rights Watch said today. Research by Human Rights Watch has found that some returned Tamil asylum seekers from the United Kingdom have been subjected to arbitrary arrest and torture upon their return to Sri Lanka.

In recent months the British government has sent Tamil asylum seekers back to Sri Lanka on charter flights. Human Rights Watch expressed particular concern about the next scheduled deportation from the United Kingdom of about 100 Tamil asylum seekers, scheduled for February 28, 2012.     Full Story>>>

Bringing justice to Sri Lanka's victims

Posted By Colum Lynch  Friday, February 24, 2012

During the past year, the U.N. has launched independent investigations into possible war crimes in Ivory Coast, Libya and Syria.

But in Sri Lanka, where as many as 40,000 civilians were killed in the final phases of the country's civil war, the U.N. has been unable to muster support for an independent investigation into atrocities.

So why has Sri Lanka been different? The scale of killing -- perhaps the worst spasm of violence committed by any government under U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's and PresidentBarack Obama's watch -- far surpasses the death toll from government crackdowns during the Arab Spring. And a U.N. panel established by Ban to assess Sri Lanka's commitment to hold perpetrators of mass crimes accountable has concluded that the government has failed after three years to demonstrate that it is prepared to conduct a credible accounting.    Full Story>>>

Reconciliation in Sri Lanka- Slow progress

Feb 23rd 2012,

THREE years after the end of a bloody civil war, Sri Lanka's government faces growing criticism over its failure to come to terms with the conflict

Fully Vegetarian Gota Is Widely Feared – Martin Horwood

i

Fully Vegetarian Gota Is Widely Feared – Martin Horwood

Colombo TelegraphFEBRUARY 24, 2012

By Colombo Telegraph -

Martin Horwood MP

“The role of the army in Sri Lankan society is an increasing concern. Earlier this month, The Economist highlighted the role of the Sri Lankan President’s brother, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who is the country’s Defence Secretary. The Economist said: “His brother, Basil, calls him “fully vegetarian, the nicest, kindest person in the family”, yet he is widely feared.”The article continued: “A Tamil leader says the army oversees “oppressive, insulting, humiliating” rule in the north, with tales of land grabs, murders and rape. In Colombo, political observers worry about the militarisation of politics.”” Martin Horwood said. Participating the debate on Sri Lanka’s human rights in the Westminster Hall  he further said  “The article went on: ‘Some local journalists are warned by editors never to write about him’— that is, Gotabaya Rajapaksa. It concluded on Gotabaya: ‘Asked if he frightens people, he says: ‘If they don’t criticise me, it is because there is nothing to criticise.’”

The full statement is reproduced below:

I commend the hon. Member for Ealing, Southall (Mr Sharma) for securing this very timely debate. At the outset of my remarks, however, it is important to stress that Sri Lanka has many things to be proud of. Its record on literacy, child mortality and life expectancy is among the best in south Asia and, indeed, one of the best of any developing country. Sri Lanka also has a proud tradition of democracy and the rule of law.

Sri Lanka ought to be an aspiring leader within south Asia and, indeed, the democratic Commonwealth, but the truth is that gaining such a status demands the highest possible standards of human rights, and the inescapable conclusion to be drawn from this debate and from many other debates and commentaries around the world is that, during and since the violent conclusion of the war in 2009, Sri Lanka’s record has not met those high standards. That casts a rather dark shadow over the country’s otherwise proud record in development and democracy.

f they don’t criticise me, it is because there is nothing to criticise.

My hon. Friend makes a very important point. In fact, the hon. Member for Ealing, Southall pointed out that there has been a series of internal commissions and inquiries within Sri Lanka, none of which have really had much credibility. Possibly the most credible of them has been the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission, which produced a report last year, and it is important to acknowledge that that report made some tough recommendations in relation to detainees and media freedom. Furthermore, it dispelled the myth that there was no shelling of civilians and that, for instance, the shelling of hospitals by Government forces did take place. In that sense, that report by the LLRC was an important step forward. Nevertheless, I should still like to hear from the Minister what progress he thinks has been made in implementing the recommendations of the LLRC report. For instance, Human Rights Watch reported only last month that there are still several thousand people in Sri Lanka who, having initially been detained under the emergency regulations, are still in custody. Many of them have been held for years without trial, which is in violation of international law. The Sri Lankan Government have so far refused even to publish lists of those who have been detained. Of course, as several hon. Members have pointed out, there are severe limitations to the LLRC report, particularly in relation to the army’s conduct and to accountability for possible war crimes and humanitarian crimes that may have been committed.More fundamentally, however, there are other, deeper issues with Sri Lankan society. The Foreign Office’s own human rights report highlighted, for example, issues of torture. The report quoted the statement by the World Organisation Against Torture that “it had received credible testimonies of torture from across the country, including in cases not related to the ethnic conflict or terrorism”.The report also raised issues about human rights defenders, freedom of expression and other concerns, which I probably do not have time to go into today. The role of the army in Sri Lankan society is an increasing concern. Earlier this month, The Economist highlighted the role of the Sri Lankan President’s brother, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who is the country’s defence secretary. The Economist said: “His brother, Basil, calls him “fully vegetarian, the nicest, kindest person in the family”, yet he is widely feared.”The article continued: “A Tamil leader says the army oversees “oppressive, insulting, humiliating” rule in the north, with tales of land grabs, murders and rape. In Colombo, political observers worry about the militarisation of politics.”The UN panel of experts produced its report in 2011, which found credible allegations of serious violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law in Sri Lanka. The report also highlighted the fact that a staggering number of civilians—40,000—were killed in the closing weeks of the war in Sri Lanka and, critically, it called for an international accountability mechanism, which several hon. Members have already referred to.

The article went on: “Some local journalists are warned by editors never to write about him”— that is, Gotabaya Rajapaksa. It concluded on Gotabaya: “Asked if he frightens people, he says: “If they don’t criticise me, it is because there is nothing to criticise.””

I leave hon. Members to draw their own conclusions.

Obviously, there are also specific cases, such as those of Mr Weeraraj and Mr Murugananthan, the activists who have disappeared, and indeed the continuing case of Sarath Fonseka, a former general, who had the temerity to stand against Mahinda Rajapaksa in a presidential election. Can the Minister tell us—if not now, then in writing—what representations are being made on those specific cases to the Sri Lankan Government? Amnesty, Human Rights Watch and others have raised the issue at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting. It has also been raised, as has been mentioned, by the Canadian Government.

In conclusion, I want to ask the Minister three specific questions. First, has he raised the issue of an independent accountability mechanism, as recommended by the UN panel of experts, with the Sri Lankan Government, within the EU and at UN level? If so, what progress has been made? I do not want words put into the Minister’s mouth, but it is important for us to know that those discussions are taking place. Secondly, what is our response to the Government of Canada and others who have questioned whether it is right for Sri Lanka to host the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting, given Sri Lanka’s record on human rights? Thirdly, I emphasise the point made by the hon. Member for Ealing, Southall about the continued deportation of Sri Lankans from this country, when such deep concerns are raised by the Foreign Office about the treatment of detainees and those in custody. Obviously, the Minister has to be diplomatic, but it is time to send a clear message that, as a democratic Commonwealth country with high aspirations, Sri Lanka’s record on human rights and accountability for crimes committed is simply not good enough and has to change.