Global Tamil Forum on the 19th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council

GTF on UNHRC 2012

Issued for immediate release [Click for Tamil version]

PRESS STATEMENT

03 March 2012

Global Tamil Forum on the 19th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council

A true international effort, with the backing of key regional Governments, will bring real accountability for war crimes and reconciliation between communities in the island of Sri Lanka. 

The United Nations Human Rights Council which is in session in Geneva right now presents a great opportunity for the international community to address the issues of accountability, for the alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity, committed by both sides during the final stages of the war in Sri Lanka.

Global Tamil Forum (GTF) welcomes the positive recommendations proposed by the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) as practical first steps to creating the environment conducive to reconciliation and asserts that these need to be expeditiously implemented. However, it is almost three years since the end of the war and the Sri Lankan government has demonstrated no commitment to credibly investigate allegations of war crimes, breaches of international humanitarian law and to bring the perpetrators to justice. The failure of domestic efforts to adequately address accountability has given rise to the continuing culture of impunity and grave human rights abuses.

Even the LLRC observed that its own interim recommendations which were issued in September 2010, such as publishing a list of detainees and disarming paramilitary groups, have not been implemented. This consistent record of non-implementation by the government, and its refusal to take steps towards creating a social and political environment of positive peace and justice remains the most serious problem for the Tamil people in Sri Lanka.

GTF firmly believes that only an international, independent investigation can secure truth and accountability for what happened during the war and calls upon the international community to take a principled stand, to ensure that the positive LLRC recommendations are implemented in a timely manner and accountability is addressed through a credible international mechanism, as recommended by the UN Panel of Experts (PoE) in their report, in order to lay the foundations for meaningful reconciliation.

We will continue our work with international governments and non-governmental actors to bring just peace for all Tamil speaking people, all other communities in the island and justice for the victims of war. In this regard and various other matters affecting the Tamil people in Sri Lanka, senior members of GTF met with senior Foreign Ministry officials of Switzerland in Berne and UN Ambassadors for various African countries in Geneva this week, to discuss how a credible reconciliation process can be advanced between all communities in the island. GTF members will also be meeting other voting member country Ambassadors and senior Foreign Ministry officials in the coming days.

GTF has, and always will, support the efforts of the international community, with the backing of key regional governments, to pursue a binding commitment from Sri Lanka to seek international expertise and wider international participation to resolve the genuine grievances of the Tamil people, that underpinned decades of conflict, through a durable political solution.

-ENDS-

Media Contact: Suren Surendiran

Tel: +44 (0) 7958 590196 

Email: media@globaltamilforum.org

Global Tamil Women Forum appeals for justice and protection of Tamil women in Sri Lanka

Thursday, 08 March 2012

On this International Women’s Day, Global Tamil Women Forum (GTWF) reminds the world that Tamil women in Sri Lanka remain highly vulnerable to violence and sexual assault, given rise by the breakdown of rule of law and climate of impunity reigning in the highly militarised North and East of the country.

A report by International Crisis Group in December 2011 gave a comprehensive analysis of the grim situation facing Tamil women in Sri Lanka who are still facing a “desperate lack of security” in the aftermath of the war. “The heavily militarised and centralised control of the north and east – with almost exclusively male, Sinhalese security forces – raises particular problems for women there in terms of their safety, sense of security and ability to access assistance”, the report stated. Shreen Saroor-Convener of the Women’s Action Network, which represents 8 women’s organisations from the North and East, says the rise in violence against women can be attributed to collapse of law and order, lack of trust in law enforcement authorities and the breakdown of social structures.

Whilst access to international humanitarian organisations remains largely restricted and with victims unable to place trust in the police and judiciary system in fear of reprisal, the true extent of abuses and sexual harassment remains grossly underestimated. With the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) adopting a society based within a predominantly male, Sinhalese, military structure that operates with impunity, Tamil women have been left more susceptible to gender-based violence and incapable of building their own capacity within the community.

Many women are still recovering from the scars of the war and those fallen victim to abuses have no means of redress and suffer psychological impact from what they have been through. The GoSL has done little to address accountability for the allegations of abuses during the final stages of the war or instil trust in the judiciary and civil administrations in the aftermath. The UN Panel of Experts report, UK-based Chanel 4’s documentary “Sri Lanka’s Killing Fields” and numerous other sources of evidence of sexual violence by the military during the final stages of the war have simply been rejected or denounced by the GoSL. GTWF firmly believes that only by supporting the UN Panel’s recommendation to establish an independent international mechanism can Sri Lanka address accountability and advance rehabilitation for the victims of abuses.

It is often said that nations should be judged by how they treat the most vulnerable amongst their people and three years since the end of the war Tamil women in Sri Lanka continue to live in fear and face a desperate fate. The international response to the plight of Tamil women in Sri Lanka has largely been muted and accepting of GoSL’s approach to work within a militarised structure.

GTWF appeals to the international community to act now to protect and empower Tamil women who are victims to these heinous abuses and gender-based violence during the war and in the aftermath. The UN and member states need to make a bold stand to address accountability for the allegations of sexual violence during the final stages of the war, demand access for international organisations to ensure protection for the women in the North and East and urgently address their post-war needs and concerns.

Sri Lanka's Killing Fields: War Crimes Unpunished

  29/02/2012 

TX: Wednesday 14th March, 10:55pm, Channel 4

Last year Channel 4 broadcast Sri Lanka's Killing Fields, a critically-acclaimed and RTS Award winning forensic investigation into the events of the last few weeks of the decades-long war between the government of Sri Lanka and the rebel forces of the Tamil Tigers (LTTE), presented by Jon Snow. It featured devastating video evidence of war crimes and crimes against humanity captured on mobile phones by both victims and perpetrators - some of the most horrific footage Channel 4 has ever broadcast.

This footage featured atrocities committed on both sides but its most disturbing finding was of a series of war crimes perpetrated by victorious Sri Lankan government forces including evidence of sexual assaults on female fighters, the execution of bound prisoners and the shelling of civilians in what were supposed to be safe ‘No Fire Zones'.

Screened at the UN in Geneva and New York and also shown to politicians at the House of Commons, the European Parliament and key figures in the US Senate, Sri Lanka's Killing Fields prompted comment from leading political figures around the world, including Prime Minister David Cameron. Yet these war crimes still have yet to be properly investigated or those responsible brought to account - despite UN sources suggesting the Sri Lankan government forces killed up to 40 thousand civilians - perhaps many more in this period.

This powerful follow-up film, also presented by Jon Snow, presents damning new video evidence of war crimes including contemporaneous documents, eye-witness accounts, photographic stills and videos relating to how exactly events unfolded during the final days of the civil war. It investigates who was responsible - the results point to the highest levels of the Sri Lankan government and complicity at the top of the army.

Sri Lanka's Killing Fields: War Crimes Unpunished forensically examines four specific cases and investigates who was responsible. The cases are: the deliberate heavy shelling of civilians and a hospital in the ‘No Fire Zone'; the strategic denial of food and medicine to hundreds and thousands of trapped civilians - defying the legal obligation to allow humanitarian aid into a war zone; the killing of civilians during the ‘rescue mission' and the systematic execution of naked and bound LTTE prisoners - featuring new chilling video footage of a 12-year-old boy who has been brutally executed.

Despite pressure from human rights groups and the report by a UN-appointed panel of experts which called for a thorough international investigation into alleged violations of international humanitarian and human rights law, the Sri Lankan government's internal inquiry, ‘The Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission' published in December last year, failed to conduct any kind of rigorous investigation into the allegations of war crimes. It specifically denied that any civilians were knowingly targeted with heavy artillery. Sri Lanka's Killing Fields: War Crimes Unpunished explores the reasons behind the apparent international inaction at the time, in calling the government of Sri Lanka to account.

Sri Lanka's Killing Fields: War Crimes Unpunished presents shocking new video footage and evidence of war crimes and crimes against humanity which trace ultimate responsibility up the highest echelons of the chain of command. This film asks questions of those who still hold the reins of power in Sri Lanka - President Rajapaksa, commander in chief and his brother Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaska - and two former army chiefs who have landed prime diplomatic posts since the war ended and immunity from prosecution.

With the England cricket team set to tour Sri Lanka once again this month and Sri Lanka now confirmed as the venue for the next commonwealth heads of government meeting in 2013, this film is a stark reminder of the terrible suffering of a people who have been failed and forgotten by the international community.

Director: Callum Macrae
Exec Prod: Chris Shaw
Prod Co: ITN Productions
Comm Ed: Dorothy Byrne

Sri Lanka: Media smear campaign, threats and intimidation against human rights defender Mr Herman Kumara

Thursday, 08 March 2012 

Since February 2012, Mr Herman Kumara has been subjected to a media smear campaign, repeated threats, surveillance and intimidation following rounds of protests by fisher people in the Chilaw and Negombo areas against an increase in fuel prices by the Government. Herman Kumara was the Secretary General of the World Forum of Fisher People (WFFP) and is the head of the National Fisheries Solidarity Movement (NAFSO) in Sri Lanka.

In February 2012, during the protests against the increase in fuel prices, several fisher people were injured when police opened fire, and on 15 February 2012 a fisherman was killed.Read more...

Threats and Intimidation against Sri Lankan Human Rights Defender Mr. Herman Kumara

 5th March 2012

From 0 to 8000

"US Draft Resolution against Sri Lanka at UNHRC ignores LTTE war crimes", Lanka web

"Anti- Lanka resolution totally unwarranted" Daily News

"HANDS OFF SRI LANKA !!-Double standards operated by West-dominated UN" Lanka Web

Patriotism to country and its people is one; Patriotism to ruling family and their interests is different. 2nd category people will do anything for their interest not for their country or its people. Above article are written by 2nd category mentality people.

Ruling regime is the responsible for what is happening now in Geneva. After the war, denial after denial and then 0 to 8000 causalities. May be High school incomplete Rajapaksa thought it is simple to put an 8 and two 0s in front of zero causality. Rajapaksa did not take a single step for accountability and Ethnic issues as promised to Western countries and India. Rajapakasa is trying to pass the time when he talks with TNA. After the many talks, he went back to the start point to form Parlimentarian Select Committee to take more time to fool not only Tamils and also Western countries. Tamils have had seen many failed committees and agreements before.

Saddam Hussein, Hosni Mubarak and Muammar Gaddafi were succeeded as powerful dictators in their countries because they were long time allies with US, UK and other western countries. When they became enemies for westerners, they have made disappeared like the way they became dictators. Learn from these dictators. Sri Lanka is a tiny country which is struggling to develop economically and socially and it cannot stand up with powerful countries in this situation.

Protest against western countries and burning effigy of western leaders are not healthy for the country and are not going to help people of Sri Lanka. Most of the people joined the protest because of their poverty, may be a day meal and few hundred rupees. Some places people joined the protest to avoid backlash. It is going to harm Sri Lankan people not the rulers of the country. In the case of regime change, Rajapaksa family and 2nd category people that I mention above are the one first to run to US, UK and other western countries. Not to Russia, China and not even to India which is their ancestors place, Rajapaksa pretend to be friends with these countries now because they help him to escape from war crime charges.

Sent the mega size of delegates to Geneva was big waste. It was a big mistake that took Douglas to Geneva. What is wrong with implementing Sri Lanka governments own LLRC findings? Accept the Geneva resolution and implement it as soon as possible. Genuinely talk to Tamil leaders. Kick out the Racist allies like JHU, NFF from the ruling regime. They and their statements are also not healthy for the peaceful future of the country and all communities. Ceylon missed the oppotunity to be like Singapore or Malasiya today because of the few racist and extremist Politicians. Do not miss it again with racist and extremist Politics.

If Sri Lanka bypass this Geneva session, future will be the worst scenario for the country and the citizens.

- by Peace Loving Citizen

Demand accountability from Sri Lanka

Maja Daruwala : Fri Mar 09 2012
India should assert leadership at the UN Human Rights Council, and insist on concrete answers and actions

The time has come for India to be bolder and more confident on human rights at the international level. Its growing stature in international affairs demands this leadership position. The current session of the UN Human Rights Council presents India with an excellent opportunity to move towards a foreign policy that truly befits the world’s largest democracy. It should seize the opportunity and vote in favour of accountability in Sri Lanka.

In 2009, when the UNHRC called an emergency session in response to the human catastrophe in Sri Lanka, India helped shelter the country from condemnation and international investigations. But three years later — when Sri Lanka has done little to address alleged violations of humanitarian law during the last days of its confrontation with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) — Sri Lanka is expected to come up again at the Council .

It is expected that a resolution will be proposed in coming weeks that will express disappointment that Sri Lanka has not adequately addressed serious allegations of violations of international law, nor done much to initiate credible and independent investigations and prosecutions of those responsible for such violations. It will call on Sri Lanka to create an action plan and then report back to the Council on steps taken to address such allegations. In other words, Sri Lanka has to do much better to embed peace on the island and the world will watch its efforts.

Unfortunately, the proposed resolution does not go far enough. It will not immediately call for direly needed international investigations — a bitter disappointment. In this context, the proposed resolution must not preclude future UNHRC efforts that demand justice, accountability and international investigations in Sri Lanka. The resolution should be voted on only as a first step in the right direction, and not as a final step to water down scrutiny or as a tactic to delay urgently needed justice in Sri Lanka.

From India’s point of view, the resolution is saying nothing that India has not ostensibly been asking of Sri Lanka both publicly and privately — real accountability and soon. A stable, well-governed neighbour is in India’s interest as a regional power. Stability requires that alienated populations experience justice for the past and in the future. Denials, diplomatic spin and cosmetic efforts that paper over past misdeeds cannot achieve this. Today, only a negative peace exists in Sri Lanka.

India has two other considerations in Sri Lanka — the need to retain its influence in the country as China forges ahead with economic aid and investment, and the need to be sensitive to the aspirations of the Sri Lankan Tamils , who have strong ethnic and kinship links with India’s own 70 million plus population in Tamil Nadu. Support for accountability in Sri Lanka may serve both interests equally well. In the long run, especially as the world’s largest democracy, it is India’s ability to take the moral high ground that will prove to be advantageous against China’s economic influence in Sri Lanka. In the short run, accountability in Sri Lanka will bring justice closer to its disaffected populations.

The present action comes not a moment too soon. In 2011, the UN Secretary-General’s expert panel found serious and credible allegations that war crimes and crimes against humanity had been committed by both parties in the final war between the LTTE and the government. Over 40,000 men, women and children have allegedly been killed. The panel called for an international investigation, but the Sri Lankan government reacted angrily and told the international community to wait for its own domestic mechanism, the oft-criticised and deeply flawed Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC), to finish deliberations before rushing to judgment.

The LLRC’s report was tabled before the Sri Lankan parliament 18 months after its establishment . While it made certain positive recommendations, it all but ignored the issue of accountability. India’s response may have been couched in diplomacy, but the message was clear: the Sri Lankan government had to go further and establish an independent and credible mechanism to investigate human rights abuses in timely manner.

Still, despite the pressure, a truly independent domestic mechanism to investigate war time abuses is unlikely to be established any time soon . Such a mechanism would probably cut too close to home for the comfort of some of the highest-ranking members of the government and army. Just last month, the Sri Lankan government announced the establishment of a military board of inquiry with its members appointed by the former commander in the Vanni — the same commander and the same Vanni where evidence allegedly exists of egregious human rights abuses by security forces under that very commander’s watch. It is these kinds of sleights of hand that will need to be addressed by all, including India, if the proposed resolution is adopted and Sri Lanka is to report back during the June session of the Council.

That Sri Lanka wants to keep accountability and international opprobrium at bay is clear from its foreign minister’s recent whistle-stop tour of Africa and Latin America, during which he tried to persuade the world not to vote against Sri Lanka at the UNHRC. As the big fish in the region, India also has the potential to sway votes, as it did in 2009. This time, its stature would be greatly enhanced if it could sway them in favour of accountability.

The writer is director of the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative

Sharing in Sri Lanka: Part IV

Nethuni is 18-months old and still doesn't walk.

Updated: Thu Mar. 08 2012 17:54:06

ctvcalgary.ca

CTV Calgary's Karen Owen went with a team from World Vision to Sri Lanka to meet some of the people who have benefitted from its programs and even more who need our help.

In part four of her series, Karen talks to the family of a little girl who is gravely ill and can't afford to pay for the treatments she needs.

Nethuni is 18-months old and still doesn't walk. In fact, she can't even stand.

The little girl has Osteogenesis Imperfecta which is a genetic condition that results in fragile bones which break easily.

Nethuni's father was holding her the first time she broke a bone by simply flinging her arm.

There is no cure for Osteogenesis Imperfecta, but there is a way to treat it.

The treatment is aimed at controlling symptoms, building bones and hopefully helping Nethuni to walk or use a wheelchair.

It is difficult for the family as the treatment is expensive and it takes three bus rides to travel the 100 kilometres to a clinic.

Chamani, Nethuni's mother, is frustrated because she doesn't feel like the doctors are telling her enough and she worries about the future.

"I worry what will happen to her when she's growing up, when she attains age. Will she ever walk again," said Chamani.

The family works hard and grows crops around the house for their own use and to sell.

Indika, Nethuni's father works for the civil security department but his salary is just not enough to give his daughter the medical care she needs.

World vision is looking for a sponsor for Nethuni and thousands of others just like her.

For more information on the Alberta campaign, visit the World Visionwebsite.

Member states in UNHRC 'deeply divided'

08 March, 2012

Resolution is watered down - Sunila

Sri Lanka’s human rights issue are causing huge divisions in the United Nations.

The member states of the United Nations Human Rights Council are currently informally debating a resolution which was sponsored by the United States following Sri Lanka’s bloody civil war, and it’s causing strong disagreements between them.

Speaking to BBC Sandeshaya, human rights activist Sunila Abeysekera who has been observing the debates in Geneva said “divisions between countries in the Human Rights Council became apparent when they debated the draft resolution on Sri Lanka.”.

We stood for a stronger resolution and after heavy bargaining the countries managed to reach this position. There’s a lot more talking to do   Sunila Abeysekara

The Americans have sponsored a draft resolution, calling for the Sri Lankan government to implement recommendations in the Lesson Leaned and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC). The LLRC was appointed by the Sri Lankan government to investigate alleged human rights abuses during the final days of the civil war.

The Americans now want the recommendations in the LLRC report to be implemented and for the Sri Lankan government to present a comprehensive plan to address alleged violations.

But during the debate, Pakistan, speaking on behalf of the Non Align Movement, made it clear that the Sri Lankan government should given more time to implement an action plan to reconcile.

India silent

China, Russia, Algeria, Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand stood against the resolution, but India, African countries and Latin American nations remained silent.

Meanwhile, the European Union stressed the need of a stronger resolution that would make Sri Lanka more accountable for alleged human rights abuses, but stopped short of submitting any amendments to the resolution.

However, human rights groups are disappointed with the resolution. Sunila Abeysekara described it as “watered down”.

“We stood for a stronger resolution and after heavy bargaining the countries managed to reach this position. There’s a lot more talking to do.”

Meanwhile, the human rights watchdog, Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) which supports the resolution, described it as conducive to promote the rule of law in Sri Lanka. They encouraged everyone to participate in the debate constructively and to support the resolution, seeing it as a window of opportunity to bring about improvements in Sri Lanka.

The resolution is expected to be tabled on March 23rd.

Sri-Lankan Envoy advances Machiavellian Logic in the UNHRC to save War Criminal President Rajapakse

Published on: Mar 09, 2012 
By: Dr C P Thiagarajah

Mahinda Samarasinghe, Sri-Lankan government’s special envoy to the UNHRC while addressing the High Level Segment of 19th Session of the UNHRC at Geneva on 27th February 2012 made a Machiavellian request from the audience. He asked the world body to accept the means adopted during the war although it was laden with war crimes, as the end was a good one-defeat of terrorism, and to allow his government proceed with reconciliation. This might had been adoptable in 15 century renaissance Italy. Machiavelli’s controversial political theory is what we call today as “ends justify the means” in politics. In essence he meant the monarch may sometimes be excused for performing acts of violence and deception that would be ethically indefensible in private life. As an extension of this principle violence may be necessary for the successful transfer of power and introduction of new legal institutions; force may be used to eliminate political rivals, to coerce resistant populations, and to purge previous rulers who will inevitably attempt to regain their power.

Unfortunately for the special envoy, in the 21 century when the universal human rights principles are deeply entrenched fully in all 194 UN member countries, his plea for impunity over the genocide of Tamils in May 2009 may be an anathema.[ more ]

MaRa’s inordinate love for kudu Duminda provokes the hate of SLFP parliamentarians : secret ballot to be held?

(Lanka-e-News-08.March.2012, 7.30PM) A Secretary of Kudu Duminda Silva , the M P who is incriminated in a murder charge had made a request to the Speaker of Parliament to extend Duminda’s leave for a further period of three months. The SLFP M Ps are in bitter resentment and have expressed opposition to this matter being taken up as an urgent motion in Parliament to grant the leave.

A secret ballot is likely to be conducted on the 9th in the face of this opposition , according to Govt. sources.

A report confirming that Duminda Silva cannot be made to recover fully into his former mentally condition issued by the medical specialists in Singapore was forwarded to the courts recently . It was the view of SLFP Gen. secretary Maithripala Sirisena that in the circumstances , what should be done is not granting leave to Duminda , but rather give the opportunity to Chandana Kathriarachi who is next in the preferential vote list to be sworn in as M .P. The President who had strongly opposed this move of Maithripala , had hastened to instruct the Secretary of Duminda to send a letter to the Speaker of Parliament to immediately grant the requested leave to kudu Duminda. Accordingly, a letter has been sent to the Speaker , and an urgent motion to grant leave is to be tabled in Parliament on the 9th.

The grave issue besetting the President’s bizarre request among others is , how is it possible for Duminda to request the Secretary to ask for leave extension when it was confirmed by his own medical specialists to the sacrosanct courts that he is not in a fit mental condition? Either he has told a lie to the courts , or the Parliament is being made to bluff. It is the opinion of a majority of the SLFP parliamentarians to hold a secret ballot and defeat this proposal.

The SLFP M Ps are most disgruntled and angered because of the President’s eagerness to grant leave extension to a mental patient kudu Duminda the prime suspect in the multiple murder of Bharatha Lakshman and three others, while deliberately postponing indefinitely the allocation of a day of mourning in Parliament for Bharatha Lakshman a SLFP stalwart who was the victim in the tragedy.

ASIA: WOMEN'S DAY-- Discrimination and violence hamper gender equity

March 8, 2012
A Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission on the occasion of the International Women's Day

Today marks the International Women's Day, a day to reflect on the gains achieved by women in the respect and protection of their rights and to denounce the places in which those rights are too frequently trampled on. In its 1977 resolution 32/142, the United Nations General Assembly called for the proclaiming of a UN Day for Women's Rights and International Peace to "create favourable conditions for the elimination ofdiscrimination against women and for their full and equal participation in the social development process". It is unfortunate that discrimination and violence against women in Asia continue to be the norm today, and that their participation in society is both minimal and unappreciated. Discrimination is in fact increasingly taking on a violent face, and the Asian Human Rights Commission denounces the high rates of rape and sexualviolence prevalent in Asia. The utter neglect with which state institutions as well as society address such issues and deal with the victims is symptomatic of the continuous challenges Asian women face in claiming their rights and contributing to social development.

Rape and sexual violence are widespread in Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Burma, while a recent increase in such cases has been seen in Sri Lanka and Indonesia.     Full Story>>>

Sri Lanka row over Catholic letter on human rights

  6 March 2012 

Catholics straddle the ethnic divide in Sri Lanka


One of Sri Lanka's governing parties has 
called for the prosecution of a leading bishop after he condemned the government's human rights record.

The Roman Catholic Bishop of Mannar and 30 priests wrote to the UN Human Rights Council calling for an inquiry into the legacy of Sri Lanka's civil war.

But Sri Lanka's Buddhist nationalist JHU party accused the bishop of sympathising with separatist rebels.

Correspondents say his comments have also led to a rift within the church.

The bishop of the northern diocese of Mannar, Rayappu Joseph, supported by 30 priests, signed a letter sharply critical of the Sri Lankan authorities.

Apart from calling for an independent international inquiry on the legacy of the war and the need for truth and accountability, the letter condemned what it described as continuing human rights abuses.

The signatories also blamed the government for recent abductions of human rights workers and "vicious hate campaigns" against its opponents.

It has prompted the ire of the strongly Buddhist nationalist JHU or National Heritage Party, which told the BBC that the government should prosecute the bishop.

Church 'rift'?

The bishop's comments also contrast graphically with those of the top Catholic hierarchy in the country. The BBC's Charles Haviland in Colombo says the differences have laid bare what appears to be a split in the church in Sri Lanka.

A statement by Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, who heads the church in Sri Lanka, accused Western countries of meddling in Sri Lanka's sovereignty by planning to table a resolution on Sri Lanka at the Human Rights Council, which is currently convening in Geneva.

It said this was "an insult to the intelligence" of Sri Lankans.

The diametrically opposed messages from senior Catholics here point to a rift in the church, even though the cardinal, then an archbishop, worked with the same Bishop of Mannar a decade ago to try to mediate between the government and the Tamil Tigers, our correspondent says.

The church also made a joint presentation to the government-appointed war commission, noting that a priest was among many people who unaccountably disappeared on crossing into government territory as the war ended.

But activists say Cardinal Ranjith should be more vocal on human rights problems.

Catholics straddle the ethnic divide in Sri Lanka and among the church's members are several ministers and the wife of the President.

MaRa's empty ‘electric chair patriotism’ paves the way for his actual ‘electric chair execution’

(Lanka-e-News-08.March.2012, 7.30PM) The regime chief was all along hitting on his chest like a chimpanzee and waxing eloquent that if by chance he had to face the electric chair punishment for the wrongs committed , he would accept it without betraying a single soldier.

May we refer to our news item on the 2nd March under the caption ‘regime chief has late night secret talks with a European State to save his skin and his kin’s’, where it was revealed that he was desperately trying to save himself and his kin sacrificing a group of the Army personnel. Following this dastardly attempt , groups within the Army have turned vindictive against the regime .

Bayagotha and regime chief ,as a preliminary sacrifice (among the many more to follow), are to betray the STF of the Forces by claiming that they are connected with the multiple murder of 17 relief workers at Mulaitivu. This STF group was the first to enter the Mulaitivu Town when it was held siege by the LTTE . It was an officer who was a Colonel at that time who had given orders to them. But there is an issue here , in the Marvil aru operations, it is this same aforementioned STF group that has first entered the Soravva as well as the Thopigala when capturing them ; and it is the same aforementioned officer who had been giving orders . Hence , these STF officers are bitterly venomous against the regime leaders who are aiming at saving the actual war crime perpetrators while seeking to sacrifice these officers.

Another cruel sacrifice the Bayagotha and regime chief are trying to perform pertains to the brutal murder of five innocent students at Trincomalee , where it is proposed to sacrifice the STF soldiers.

The Rajapakse regime that did not take any interest in rectifying the wrongs at the time when these crimes occurred , but instead allowed lawlessness to reign supreme ,and waxed boastful about being prepared to face the electric chair punishment without betraying the forces, has suddenly awakened to the grim prospect of electric chair execution . Sadly ,his vacuous ‘electric chair patriotism’ seems to be the very factor that is going to pave the to his filling the vacancy in ‘electric chair execution’.

SRI LANKA: AHRC statement supporting the draft resolution -- Promoting Reconciliation and Accountability in Sri Lanka

March 8, 2012
After Carefully consideration of the draft resolution, Promoting Reconciliation andAccountability in Sri Lanka, submitted to Human Rights council of Sri Lanka, the Asian Human Rights Commission is of the view that the resolution is conducive to promote therule of law in Sri Lanka and will enhance the betterment of all communities by promotingreconciliation and accountability.

In the past the Asian Human Rights Commission has categorically stated that Sri Lankahas suffered an exceptional collapse of rule of law, that its once functioning publicinstitutions have become dysfunctional, that the separation of powers has suffered a great set back, that the powers of the parliament and the judiciary  have been diminished, that freedom of expression and association has been serious curtailed, thatthe personal freedoms of all citizens have been challenged by illegal arrest, detention, forced disappearances and extra-judicial killings, that that powers of the military, para-military and intelligences services have been greatly enlarged and the possibility ofaccountability of grave crimes does not exists.More on sri lanka