Bharatha killing, drugs and CSE 'linked'

 

There seems to be a link between Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE), illegal drugs and the recent murder of a presidential advisor, says the owner of a private media network.

Full Story>>>

Justice For Bharatha: Wife Appointed As A Coordinating 

Secretary To The President

April 5, 2012 By Colombo Telegraph -

Sumana Premachandra the widow of late Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra is appointed as a coordinating secretary to the President Mahinda Rajapaksa. A letter signed by her shows her official designation and her office address as; Presidential Secretariat, Galle Face, Colombo 1. Her appointment is unknown to many people who are in the campaign “justice for Bharatha”.

To read stories related to Bharatha click here

Below we give the said letter.

 

Free Tibetan Filmmaker Dhondup Wangchen

Tibetan filmmaker Dhondup Wangchen is serving a six-year prison sentence in China for "subversion of state power" -- simply because he dared to speak out about Tibetan human rights through his filmmaking. Demand his release now!

China has detained hundreds of Tibetans for peacefully exercising their human rights or for taking part in protests since 2008. Recently, Tibetan activists have set themselves on fire in protest of restrictions on basic freedoms and punitive security measures. The Chinese government has responded to the protests with mass arrests, imprisonment, and possible killings by security forces.

Dhondup Wangchen suffers from Hepatitis B and has not received the medical treatment he needs. It has been difficult to obtain reliable information about his condition.

Please call on the Chinese authorities to release Dhondup Wangchen immediately and unconditionally.

 Full Story>>>

LET US IMPLEMENT THE LLRC RECOMMENDATIONS - NCCS

Friday, 06 April 2012

We live in a time when the attention of all Sri Lankans are focused on the events unfolding at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva.

We are at crossroads. This situation that has exposed our country to such a negative focus by the international community is no doubt, to be regretted and no Sri Lankan would have ever aspired for such a situation to unfold.

There is no doubt that at times such as this, we need to honestly and seriously examine the root causes that has created this unfortunate situation. Whilst welcoming the position of Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe in his address to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNCHR) that the recommendations of the Lessons Learnt & Reconciliation Committee (LLRC) will be implemented, we admit that the failure to have a plan, time frame or strategy to do so have made us stand without any plausible excuse before the International community. The steps from recommendations of LLRC onwards would foster the integrating the people who have directly borne the brunt of the military conflict belonging to the Sinhalese, Tamil and Muslim communities, the details of which are indicated in the Report. In spite of the limitations of the Report, this Commission has clearly spelt out ways in which we can definitely move ahead as Sri Lankans in building a new Sri Lankan society based on authentic moral and spiritual resources that our country has been nourished over the centuries.         Read more...

Parliament to decide LLRC implementation - Media Minister

Government is committed to implement Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) recommendations deemed acceptable to Sri Lanka but will not give in to undue pressure , says cabinet spokesman, acting Media Minister Lakshman Yapa Abyeywardena. He said that there is a process government has been following, a Sri Lankan policy not dictated by any one. The government has already implemented some of the recommendations of the LLRC and it might continue with some others said the Minister. Parliament Select Committee “However, we will not act according to west or other forces on things that we cannot do”, Minister Abeywardena said. Asked about recommendations which the government will not be implementing, Minister Abeywardena said that they are yet to be identified. He said government has appointed a Parliamentary Select Committee which will decide on the implementation of the LLRC.

'Public awaking against injustice' - Nilantha Ilangamuwa-Salem News interviewed one of the exiled journalists of Sri Lanka.

Apr-04-2012

(CHENNAI / COLOMBO) - Nilantha Ilangamuwa is an ambitious young journalist purged by the government for his conviction to uphold freedom of speech and independence of media in the island nation.

He was taunted by the agents of the government and its secret service for fearlessly managing the Sri Lanka Guardian that is continuing to expose several sensitive news that is causing major irritation to the government.

The very first point in the nine points mission statement of the Sri Lanka Guardian says it all: ‘Adhere to the journalistic values of honesty, courage, fairness, balance, independence, credibility and diversity, giving no priority to commercial or political considerations over professional ones’. With that strong commitment, the Sri Lanka Guardian is fearlessly striving even after being officially banned by the President Mahinda Rajapakse’s government.

In his first-ever interview with the media, Nilantha Ilangamuwa, the editor and founder of the Sri Lanka Guardian, a well-known online newspaper on Sri Lanka, visualized the regime that is governing Sri Lanka.

He says the government will have to find its way out of its hypocritical politics and he feels that there would be an awakening of masses against the very foundation of bad governance embedded in the habitual political life of lies and crony vulgarism. He claims that these are the despicable core values of the government to stay in power.

In this interview, he talks about his profession, experience and his understanding of inherent problems in the country.      Read Full Article

Sri Lankan diplomat may avoid questioning on war crimes claims

Diplomat facing allegations of crimes against humanity is set to return to Sri Lanka, raising fears he will avoid questioning

Sam Jones  Thursday 5 April 2012 

The Global Tamil Forum pressed for a judicial review after William Hague refused to strip de Silva of his diplomatic immunity. Photograph: Giorgio Cosulich/Getty Images

The Foreign Office has been warned it is running out of time to take action against a senior London-based Sri Lankan diplomat who is facing allegations of complicity in crimes against humanity.

Last week, the Guardian revealed that an organisation representing the Tamil diaspora was launching legal action against the FCO over its failure to confront Major General Prasanna de Silva - the defence adviser at the Sri Lanka high commission in London - over allegations relating to crimes committed during the final stages of the island's 26-year-long civil war in 2009.     
 Full Story>>>

SL Army restricts NGO movement in Batticaloa district

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 April 2012, 18:57 GMT]
The occupying Sri Lanka Army has imposed restrictions on the movement of Non Governmental Organizations to Paduvaankarai from Batticaloa via Kiraan Bridge, civil sources in Batticaloa city told TamilNet Wednesday. The SLA soldiers at Kiraan Bridge are reported to have refused permission to several NGOs in recent days to travel beyond the bridge without SL Defense ministry authority. The NGO officials have been asked to obtain ‘pass’ from Welikanda SLA camp. The travel-ban on NGOs comes as SL military backed encroachment of Sinhalese is reported in the border areas of the Piratheasa Chapai (PS) divisions of Koa'ra'laip-pattu South, Vavu'na-theevu, Ea'raavoor-pattu and Chengkaladi. 

Paduvaankarai region, which was under LTTE control during the times of war was accessible to NGOs without any ‘pass’ restrictions.

At that time, the NGOs could proceed after logging their entry at the military check posts located at Black Bridge, Kiraan Bridge, Kaavaththa-munai Road, Valaiyi'ravup-paalam, Ma'nmunai Road, Ampilaanthu'rai Road and Ka'luvaagnchik-kudi Bridge. 

After the conclusion of war in the East, the ICRC was subjected to access-restrictions by the SLA at the Black Bridge. 

Now, the newly-imposed travel ban on NGOs intends to block or limit access to independent third-party witnesses to the villages of Pe'nduka'l-cheanai, Koozhaavadi, Tharavai, Miyang-ku'lam, Koara-ve'li, Kaanaan-thanai, Mu'ruththaanai, Pearalaave'li, 5th Mile Post, Vaakaneari and Kalladi-veddai villages in Koa'ra'laip-pattu South division, where Sinhalcisation by the Colombo establishment has been stepped up grabbing the lands of Tamils. 

Sexual abuses and other crimes by the occupying SL military and the SL police are also in the increase in Paduvaankarai region.

On 28 March, a Sinhala policeman who entered the house of a Tamil woman, who was living alone with her children at her house in Koozhaavadi, and attempted to molest her. However, the villagers rounded up the house and saved the woman from the SL policeman. 

The next day, when the woman went to the police station at Puli-paayntha-kal with her relatives to lodge a complain about episode, the policemen at service told her that they would only investigate it if she identified the policeman in person. 

In the meantime, grazing lands belonging to Tamils 20 km west of Kudumpi-malai, has been encroached by around 50 Sinahala families a few weeks ago.

Despite repeated resolutions and assurances made in the District Development Council meetings and the Provincial Council administration in addition to the promises given by the paramilitary ministers that Sinhalicisation would be stopped, there is no action to check the ongoing colonisation of Tamil land, civil sources in the district complained.

SL military, police protect Sinhala soldier caught by villagers for attempted rape

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 April 2012, 19:10 GMT]
A 16-year-old Tamil girl narrowly escaped from a Sinhala soldier, who attempted to rape her, while she was on her way from her house in Paalamoaddai to Olumadu in Mullaiththeevu district around 12:30 p.m. Tuesday. The soldier of the occupying SL military was manning a military check post near the American Mission Tamil Mixed School at Paddadai-pirintha-ku'lam. He threatened the girl and took her to into the school building where he attempted to rape her. The residents who heard the girl shouting gathered at the site and saved the girl from the hands of the soldier of the occupying military. 

The residents caught the SL soldier who had attempted to rape the victim inside a classroom of the school, which remained closed due to first term exams. 

Later, SL military officials who came to the spot said they were arresting the soldier and took him away. 

The SL police from Maangku'lam police station, who arrived at the site also vanished from the scene without arresting the soldier or registering any complaint, residents said. 

The victim is from Paalamoaddai and has completed G.C.E (O/L) last year.

Tamil Canadians salute Canada for standing up on Human rights in Sri Lanka

[ TCNR ] - [ Apr 05, 2012 12:08 GMT ]

Tamil Canadians gathered in hundreds on Parliament Hill on Monday, April 2nd to thank the Canadian government for its efforts in championing human rights for the relatives of Tamil Canadians in Sri Lanka.

Specifically the community gathers to thank the personal efforts of both Prime Minister Harper and Foreign Minister Baird along with many members of the Conservative, NDP and Liberal caucuses who have championed this issue.

Also the community notes the active involvement of the government in a key issue for the community as an indicator that Prime Minister Harper and Minister Baird embody the tradition of caring for human rights of their relatives that was commenced by former Prime Minister Mulroney when he welcomed members of our community to Canada The Community also offers thanks to ordinary Canadians, and human rights organizations along with members of the media who have continued to highlight the ongoing violations of human rights in Sri Lanka.

Over 30 prominent members of parliament from the all three main parties, step out of the parliament and address the crowd and urged for an independent international investigation in Sri Lanka.

Also Tamil Canadian delegations met with 15 Ambassadors and their staffs in Ottawa to hand over the letter of appreciation to their head of state for their recent decision to stand with the United States of Americas and Canada's resolution on Sri Lanka at the 19th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva The appreciation Note pass by the Tamil Canadians at the gathering read as follow, An appreciation Note by Canadian Tamils: The report of the UN Secretary General’s panel of experts on accountability in Sri Lanka confirmed that over 40,000 civilians were killed in Sri Lanka in 2009. Many of them were relatives of Tamil Canadians. Canada continuously calls for an independent investigation into the credible and serious allegations in Sri Lanka. It also calls the Government of Sri Lanka to demonstrate the principles of freedom, democracy, human rights, the rule of law and meaningful attempts at reconciliation. Today, we have gathered here to thank the personal efforts of Prime Minister Harper, Foreign Minister Baird, our Members of Parliament, our fellow Canadians and human rights organizations along with members of the media who have continued to highlight the ongoing serious violations of human rights in Sri Lanka and the urgent need for accountability and reconciliation for our remaining relatives.

Non-communal voters of North must be given leadership - Defence Secy

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa

It should be a priority of the state to ensure that communal politics are removed from Northern politics, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said.

During a recent discussion with state media heads and state newspaper Editors, the Defence Secretary said there is a vast number of voters in the Northern Province who are not for ethnic politics, TNA or any other separatist inclined organisations that have been engaged in ethnic politics over the past years.

The Defence Secretary said after the completion of the humanitarian operation and the conflict, a large number of Northern voters want to participate in mainstream, non-communal politics.

“These voters should be given a chance because it is their democratic right. They should be given political leadership by national level political parties, such as, the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP). One time LTTE member Vinayagamoorthi Muralitharan (Karuna Amman) is now the vice president of the SLFP,” the Defence Secretary said. This is a step in the right direction, he said.

The Defence Secretary said that when appointing National List MPs for the North, decision and policy makers should consider appointing persons from the province, representing those new voters who want to join mainstream, non - communal national politics.

“Only then the new voters of the North who dislike communal politics and who wish to join mainstream national politics, will receive a non - communal national level leadership,” he said.

 

CID issued notice in Bharatha murder case

04 April, 2012

A senior police official conducting the criminal inquiry of the murder of a presidential advisor was issued notice to appear in person on 17 April after the police officers failed to appear in court on Wednesday.

Colombo additional magistrate issued the notice to the officer in charge of the police criminal investigation department’s (CID) division3 after no investigators turn up for the Bharatha Lakshman Preamchandra murder investigation hearing.

Mr Premachandra was shot dead allegedly by a rival group led by ruling party MP, Duminda Silva on 08 October, 2011 in Kolonnawa, a Colombo suburb.

Mr Silva, who also sustained serious injuries to the head in the shooting, is currently being treated reportedly in Singapore.

During the previous hearing, the CID was ordered to inform the court about the whereabouts and the condition of Duminda Silva, who was named as a murder suspect by the court.

The CID was also ordered to report on the possibility of arresting the Colombo district ruling party MP.

Duminda Silva worked as an advisor to the ministry of defence (MoD) at the time of the shooting.

The police in Sri Lanka currently come under the purview of the MoD. While President Mahinda Rajapaksa holds the portfolio, his brother Gotabhaya Rajapaksa is the secretary to the ministry.

Horrible rise of disappearances in post-war Sri Lanka continues unabated

*groundview journalism For citizens  5 Apr, 2012

Image from Transcurrents

[Editors note: Also read New wave of abductions and dead bodies in Sri Lanka]

Twenty nine disappearances (including an attempted abduction) have been reported in Sri Lankan media between February and March 2012. There have been fifteen in March and fourteen in February. This brings the total number of disappearances reported in the last six months to fifty six.

Nineteen cases were reported while the sessions of the UN Human Rights Council were in progress in Geneva from the 27^th of February to the 23^rd of March 2012.

Out of the twenty nine disappearances in February-March 2012, sixteen of the twenty nine (16/29) appear to have occurred in the Colombo district while eight have been reported from the Northern Province (8/29). Five of those reported from the North are said to be ex-LTTE cadres who had been detained, released from detainment and then abducted. There are also three from the indigenous Wannilaye Aetto (Veddah) community.

Amongst the twenty nine 29 are also two school girls (one of whom escaped) and one university student, businessmen, a Government politician and relatives of politicians and  individuals reportedly to be members  of underworld gangs. Twenty four have been reported as abductions and five are reported as “missing”. Out of the persons who are reported as “missing” are three people from the Veddah community and two people from Jaffna. It was reported that one of the people missing in Jaffna was found dead.

Media reports had presented startling facts about involvement of the government in some of the abductions in March 2012. On 10^th March, Mr. Ravindra Udayashantha, a government politician who is the Chairman of Kolonnawa Pradeshiya Sabawa (local government body in the Colombo district), was saved from being abducted when his political supporters intervened.  The abductors were apprehended by the supporters, were positively identified as being from the Army and handed over to the Police. The number of the vehicle involved in the abduction, the names of the alleged abductors, their photos and even a video clip have been published. However, the abductors were released from police custody afterwards.

On the 26^th of March 2012, former Western provincial councilor Mr. Sagara Senaratne,  brother-in-law of Minister Jeevan Kumaratunga was released within hours of being abducted after the abductors had got “a call” while he was still in the van that he had been abducted in. The driver of Mr. Sagara was a eyewitness to the abduction and it appears that “the call” given to abductors to release Mr. Sagara had come after Mr. Sagara’s driver informed Minister Kumaratunga, who in turn had informed President Mahinda Rajapakse and Defense Secretary Gotabaya Rajapakse. Mr. Sagara had claimed that he would not be alive if not for the intervention of the Minister, the President and the Defense Secretary. It is not clear how the Rajapakse brothers and Minister Kumaratunga were able to ensure the release of Mr. Sagara even as he was being taken away by the abductors, without even the involvement of the Police.

In February 2012, Mr. Nethiyas Chandrapala was abducted outside the main court complex in Colombo. Also, in February 2012 Mr. Ramasamy Prabhakaran, a former detainee who had been severely tortured before being released as innocent was abducted two days before the case he had filed against senior police officers was to be taken up in the Supreme Court.

When will we see an end to disappearances in Sri Lanka?

Disappearances in Sri Lanka from Oct. 2011 – March 2012 (based on media reports)

Factual Supplement to the Report to Congress on Measures Taken by the Government of Sri Lanka and International Bodies To Investigate and Hold Accountable Violators of International Humanitarian and Human Rights Law

Report

Report

OFFICE OF GLOBAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE

April 4, 2012

   

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This factual supplement explains, in greater detail, issues of international humanitarian law and international human rights law addressed in the Department of State’s March 2012 Report to Congress on Measures Taken by the Government of Sri Lanka and International Bodies to Investigate and Hold Accountable Violators of International Humanitarian and Human Rights Law. While this factual supplement draws attention to open questions regarding allegations of violations of international humanitarian law (IHL) and international human rights law (IHRL), it is not meant to be a legal determination confirming any of those allegations.

I. Legal Framework       Full Story>>>

20 members of MaRa’s PSD murder squad paramilitary force now in Jaffna to create mayhem : conspiracy exposed

(Lanka-e-News-04.April.2012, 11.00PM) Can you beat that ! in this country where Idi Mahin the replica of former Idi Amin the ruthless killer dictator of Uganda is the chief of the ruling regime , there exists a group of murderers who are allowed to wear the paramilitary label and carry on Idi Mahin’s murderous activities , and are even not responsible to the Army Commander . 20 members of this murder squad which is operating under the President’s security division (PSD) have been suddenly and hastily dispatched to Jaffna , according to reports reaching Lanka e news.

The inside sources of the defense Ministry have revealed to us thus : This murder squad had been sent to Jaffna for a special task. They are in Jaffna to create mayhem and turmoil . Towards this end , the paramilitary armed groups of Douglas Devananda who have been incriminated in many crimes committed in Jaffna are to be enlisted. There are two reasons which prompt the MaRa regime to create disturbance and mayhem in Jaffna. One reason is , since India voted against the regime , the latter via its unscrupulous stooges of the media published a story that 150 members of the LTTE cadres trained in India have arrived in SL . Now, these murder groups of Idi Mahin are sent to Jaffna to create a scenario by fair or foul means that these reports are true.

The second reason is :

As the joint opposition parties have organized a May day rally in Jaffna on the 1st of May , the Idi Mahin regime is determined to sabotage it and for this purpose this PSD murder squads have been dispatched. This squad is to create mayhem and murder in Jaffna and demonstrate that a climate of violence and unrest prevails in Jaffna and thereby cancel the opposition rally. Simultaneously with the MaRa regime’s efforts to sabotage the joint opposition rally in Jaffna , the Sajith –Karu group is making dastardly efforts to hold a May day rally in Colombo with a view to displacing and obstructing the Jaffna joint opposition rally.

This PSD murder squad had taken lodging in an incomplete Hotel under construction at Manipay on the 2nd which belongs to a bosom pal residing at Kalutara of Sachin Vaas Gunawardena; latter is a MaRa regime frontline henchman . This murder and mayhem group can be seen around in Jaffna during daytime.

The police chiefs in Jaffna had been informed of the arrival of this squad ,but none of them know why they are there. The police chiefs have however commented they know for sure that this squad is not there for any good , and they are murderers .

It has now been proved beyond any doubt that the four criminals in the infamous white van who tried to murder the Kolonnawa local body Mayor recently , and who were captured by the people and handed over to the police , are members of the paramilitary murder squad of the PSD. They are under the Major Gen. Jagath Alwis. The latter is currently on a tour of Pakistan with Army Commander Jagath Jaysooriya. The main task of Jagath Alwis is to spy on the actions and conduct of the Army Commander during the tour and report to GoRa. Accordingly , it is Jagath Alwis who secretly every night gives a detailed report to GoRa on the Army Commander’s activities and behavior while in Pakistan.

The lackeys of the Forces of MaRa regime who are on the Pakistan tour should meanwhile be wary of the false reports published and propagated by the MaRa media that LTTE cadres are being trained in India .

SRI LANKA: MR and HR

April 3, 2012
By Nilantha Ilangamuwa 
Directions and instructions are determinations of action which have an influence upon a number of minor circumstances too numerous and unimportant for general laws.
-- Carl von Clausewitz 

A new chapter of politics is emerging in Sri Lanka after the UN resolution adopted at the 19th session of the UNHRC in Geneva. As this writer pointed out last week, it was a new dawn for the Island Nation to move forward in terms of real reconciliation, if the government would genuinely facilitate the restoration of the rule of law in the country. However, it seems the mindset of the ruling party is preventing any serious recognition and action of the basis of the UN Resolution. The Government may dismiss the opportunities presented by the UN Resolution but it cannot ignore the internal need to understand the real political spectrum.  If we are concerned about the current confusing circumstances, it seems even worse for those within the government as there seems to be no one within the ruling party who knows what kind of plans the Government has in mind to improve its governance. As per the current trend someone first issues a statement; then someone else rejects it and describes it as not necessarily reflecting the view of the government but rather his or her own personal views.     

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