We thank the members of the security units who helped save Kumar and Dimuthu

Tuesday, 10 April 2012

We at Lanka News Web express our deepest gratitude to the members of the security units who kept us informed in detail about the whereabouts and other related details of the leader of the Frontline Socialist Party Premakumar Gunaratnam and the head of the party’s women’s wing, Dimuthu Attygalle since they were abducted on the 6th. It is the information received from these units that helped save their lives.

The government was unable to continue with its act after we exposed in detail and accurately the abduction drama and the places where the two persons were being held with the times and the senior police officer who was in-charge of him. The Defence Secretary earlier denied that Kumar and Dimuthu were in the government’s custody.

The Defence Secretary finally had to indirectly accept their abduction yesterday. Finally, the Defence Secretary did not have any other alternative but to release Kumar and Dimuthu.

It was the alternative media that worked to save Kumar and Dimuthu. It was the websites that operate locally and internationally that led the campaign for their release. This victory was achieved due to the actions of these websites and few progressive forces in the security forces.

We would finally like to tell the Defence Secretary and the Sri Lankan government that at a time when the world has become one global village with advanced technologies it only takes a few minutes for an incident that take place in one corner of the world to reach the other corner. The government should therefore not only think twice but think thrice before making any moves.

US citizen while committing murders questions from Australian citizen what is he mucking around?

(Lanka-e-News-09.April.2012 11.45PM) Dr. Champa Somaratne, the wife of Kumar Gunaratnam making a statement to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) today , said she requests the Australian Govt. to intervene to rescue her husband, an Australian citizen who had been abducted by the SL Govt. forces .

She had stated further that her husband , along with the Peoples front party supported the Govt., but when the Govt. began violating human rights, he abandoned that party and launched a new political party, and because today is the party’s inauguration , the Govt. had abducted her husband. (what she says about her husband’s severance of ties with the former party is a lie).

Meanwhile the website of Minister Wimal Weerawansa reports that the Australian High Commissioner in SL has inquired from Defense secretary Gotabaya Rajapakse about Kumar Gunaratnam. That report states thus :

‘The Australian High Commissioner told me that an Australian citizen named Kumar Gunaratnam has gone missing , and wanted me to search for and find him . But, there are no records that such a person has come here from Australia. I asked her when he came to SL. She said she does not know. Then I told her how can details be provided of a person who is not known. Therefore I requested her to furnish me with the details immediately of this Australian citizen.: His name , passport No. , arrival date , and for what purpose he has come here. But the High Commissioner had no clue about those particulars.’ This was the reply given by the defense Secretary Gotabaya Rajapakse in response to the questions posed, the report added.

In any case a police investigation is being conducted into the incident. Yet this is a novel story. According to what you say , Gunaratnam is not in SL. Then , how can they say he has come to SL? How can an Australian citizen play around and muck around in SL? If he is an Australian citizen , he must stay there or be here without a visa . He cannot engage in politics here then. This is precisely what I told . On the other hand ,the Australian High Commission has not notified so far that such a person has arrived in SL. 

Moreover , when Gunaratnam’s wife arrived in SL recently , the defense division asked some questions from her. On that occasion she said , such a person did not come to SL with her, and he is in Australia. Now she says , Gunarathnam had gone missing in SL ’, defense Secretary further pointed out. 

The website of Wimal Weerawansa had revealed the aforementioned episode. Weerawansa’s website also states that Kumar Gunaratnam had come to SL under the name of ‘Mudalige Noel’.

The defense Secretary Gotabaya in relation to Kumar Gunatnam’s issue , asked how can an Australian citizen play around and muck around in SL ? 

What is the answer Gotabaya going to give if people turn around and ask him this same question in a much more serious mood , what is a US citizen doing in SL killing and abducting SL citizens which is much worse than playing and mucking around?

Sri Lanka raises questions about alleged kidnap victim

Matthew Carney reported this story on Tuesday, April 10, 2012 16:53:31

Listen to MP3 of this story (minutes)

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MARK COLVIN: An Australian man who was allegedly kidnapped by secret police in Sri Lanka is now on a plane back to Australia.

Family and supporters of Premakumar Gunaratnam feared for his safety after he disappeared in Sri Lanka some days ago.

Mr Gunaratnam mysteriously reappeared today, only to be put on a plane back to Australia by the Sri Lankan government. He's travelling back on a passport with the name Noel Mudalige.

The Sri Lankan High Commission in Canberra has rejected the kidnapping claims and says the Australian Government should now investigate his past in Sri Lanka.

Matthew Carney reports. Full Story>>>

Noel Gunaratnam surrendered

A person by the name Noel Mudalige believe to be JVP dissident Kumar Gunaratnam had  surrendered to police last night and presently awaiting the departure at the Bandaranaike International airport, police spokesman Ajith Rohana said

The Police said that the abductors had left the victim in Kolonnawa this morning after which the victim had walked to the CCD and identified himself. Premakumar Gunarathnam was then taken to the airport under Police protection and was sent to Australia at 730 am.

Last night the Australian high commission in Sri Lanka requested the government to look in to the disappearance of a man named Noel Mudalige after a top government official denied any knowledge about Kumar Gunarathnam arriving in the country. Noel Mudalige was believed to be the alias under which Kumar Gunarathnam entered into the country.

Australian feared kidnapped in Sri Lanka is 'safe'

April 10, 2012

PHOTO: Premakumar Gunaratnam, political activist and leader of the People's Struggle Movement in Sri Lanka. (Groundviews)

An Australian man who was reportedly kidnapped by "secret police" in Sri Lanka has been found safe, DFAT said this morning.

Premakumar Gunaratnam, 42, from New South Wales, was reported missing in the region of Kiribathigodaj on April 7.

Mr Gunaratnam is expected to be elected leader of the newly formed Frontline Socialist Party, but he, along with his colleague Dimithu Attygalle, disappeared ahead of yesterday's party launch and conference.

In a statement issued this morning DFAT said it could "confirm the safety" of Mr Gunaratnam, but said it would be "inappropriate to discuss further details of the matter at this time".

Mr Gunaratnam's family had accused a squad of Sri Lankan "secret police" of being behind his disappearance.

The Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Australia, Admiral Thisara Samarasinghe, rejects claims Mr Gunaratnam was abducted and says he walked into a police station in Colombo overnight.

"He has appeared at a police station and identified himself," he said.

The High Commissioner says due to Sri Lanka's good relations with Australia, it looks like he will be deported.

"My information from the government is that he'll be as soon as possible sent to Australia," he said.

The Sri Lankan government earlier said there was no evidence Mr Gunaratnam was even in the country.

"As far as the Sri Lankan government is concerned there have been no such abductions in Sri Lanka today or yesterday or the day before," Mr Samarasinghe said.

"We have not got specific evidence to say an Australian citizen of this name has entered Sri Lanka as for the records we have been able to scrutinise at the moment."

But sources told the ABC documents which prove Mr Gunaratnam was in Sri Lanka have been handed to the Australian High Commission in Colombo.

Waruna Rajapakse, a member of the Frontline Socialist Party, says he handed Mr Gunaratnam's passport to the commission yesterday.

He says the passport, under the name of Noel Mudalige, clearly shows he entered the country on September 4 and has not left.

A leaked government report says Mr Gunaratnam is a militant with numerous aliases and passports, but his wife Champa Somaratna says he only one passport and changed his name when he became an Australian citizen.

"He changed his name because it is a very easy, short name to use while he is in Australia because he got a very long name so he was looking for something simple," she said.

Ms Somaratna confirmed his passport was given to the Australian High Commission in Colombo.

Jaffna’s ‘civilian criminal activity’ sign that things are back to normal - Mohan Pieris

Sunday 08 April 2012

By Namini Wijedasa

The return of criminal activity to Jaffna is a sign that things are back to normal, says Mohan Pieris, advisor to the Cabinet and former attorney general, who was a key member of the government’s delegation to Geneva. He also spoke about the significance of the resolution passed at the UN Human Rights Council. Excerpts from the interview: 

What does the resolution really mean?

The operative clause is the third one. It encourages the relevant special procedures mandate holders (independent human rights experts) to provide, in consultation with and with the concurrence of the Government of Sri Lanka, and advice and technical assistance on implementing certain steps. It requests the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to present a report on the provision of such assistance to the UN Human Rights Council at its 22nd session. The word “encourages” is important because there is no compulsion on either party. It is also subject to this rider “in consultation with, and with the concurrence of the Government of Sri Lanka.” So there must be a consensus of minds with regard to technical assistance on the implementation of the LLRC recommendations. If all those conditions are right, and there is a consensus of minds with regard to Sri Lanka drawing in aid the offer of technical assistance by the High Commissioner, the High Commissioner is also requested to present a report on the provision of such assistance to the Human Rights Council at its 22nd session in March of 2013. The other two clauses are a call and a request to the government to by and large implement approximately 258 recommendations of the LLRC, inclusive of their pet topic of “accountability.” That is what the resolution seeks to do on the surface of things. Read more...

Senior Jaffna cop falls foul of HRC

April 8, 2012,

A senior policeman in Jaffna has fallen foul of the Human Rights Commission after he allegedly chased away HRC officials who went to investigate a case at the Jaffna police station.

According to Commission Chairman retired Supreme Court Judge Priyantha Perera, to make matters worse the officer in order to cover his wrong had charged the relevant HRC officers in the Jaffna Magistrate Court with attempting to enter the police station by force without identifying themselves.

He had, however later withdrawn the charge with court permission.

Justice Perera said it was a flagrant violation of the HRC Act as its officers could visit a police station at any time in connection with their duties.

The relevant police officer who was summoned to the HRC head office last week had been given a thorough dressing down and summoned again in two weeks for a further inquiry, he said.

Since assuming duties, the Chairman said he had ensured that the Commission functioned round the clock with a 24 hour telephone service for any one to bring to their notice any unlawful detention or torture taking place in any police station or anywhere else.

Citing another incident, he said they recently got a call one night that some people were being held illegally at the Mt. Lavinia police station. When they immediately visited the station they found two women and four to five men being detained and it was found that though there might have been some ground to take them into custody, they were being held without proper authorization. They had immediately got them released with a severe warning to the Mt Lavinia police not to repeat such acts.

Dayan decides what he is paid for ...

Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka, Sri Lanka’s ambassador to France says “The Sri Lankan public paid him to use his capacity to think and write, not to play the role of a deaf mute.” In an e-mail interview, in the aftermath of the controversy over his being sent a fax by the External Affairs Ministry over alleged corruption issues after he made some statements (post-Geneva), he answers questions about what happened ...

 What did you mean when you said that some elements were trying to ‘white van’ your reputation?

By that metaphor I meant that some ruthless and unscrupulous elements were trying to target, abduct, disappear and eliminate my reputation.

Your metaphor of a white van may have been influenced by the  spectacle of white vans in Sri Lanka. What is your position on the white van phenomenon? Do you accept that the phenomenon exists?

The term ‘white van’ in its present meaning, and the white van phenomenon itself, arose during the 1980s during the JR Jayewardene administration’s counter-terrorist operations against southern radicals, especially the JVP. Judging by reports there are lawless elements, criminal elements engaged in abductions and murder, these simply must be brought to justice. In the aftermath of a thirty year war, such ugly phenomena do linger on in societies. This must be stamped out, uprooted, or else it can become endemic as in parts of Mexico, where this practice arises from the nexus between criminal elements and the drug trade.

You referred to Myanmar as an example of democratic reforms and suggested that Sri Lanka should learn from Myanmar’s experience. Your comparison between Sri Lanka and the military Junta in Myanmar, which held on to power disregarding the popular mandate of the 1992 election may have upset the applecart. What did you actually mean when you referred to Myanmar?

Read more...

Restoring Government in Sri Lanka

*groundview journalism For citizens 

9 Apr, 2012 Dr Vinoth Ramachandra

If Sri Lanka is fast becoming a pariah state in the eyes of the world, it has nothing to do with the recent UNHRC Resolution.

The writing has long been on the wall. As a nation, we are ruled by a group of men who seem to have nothing but contempt for the rule of law, let alone for truth in the public sphere. Violence and threats of violence against critics, the suppression of media freedom, extra-judicial killings, misplaced economic priorities and corruption on a scale that made even previous governments look clean, have become the order of the day.

The minimal definition of government has to do with the rule of law: namely, that as a people we should be governed not by arbitrary fiat but by a system of laws to which the law-makers and law-enforcers themselves are accountable. The opposite of government is sovereign will, where the King/President decides what is “good for the nation”, and changes his mind from day to day- and uses the police and army not to uphold the law but to carry out his private will.Continue reading »

Colombo builds Sinhala cantonment in Maathakal

 

[TamilNet, Monday, 09 April 2012, 05:15 GMT]
[Satellite Image Courtesy: NASA, Visible Earth. Details & Legend: TamilNet]
Genocidal Sri Lanka, which poses Thiruvadi-nilai area of Maathakal, the north-western tip of the Jaffna Peninsula as a ‘Sacred Zone’ of the Sinhala-Buddhists, is now engaged in constructing permanent quarters for the occupying Sri Lanka Navy in the lands of uprooted Tamils who are denied access to their land that had gone under SL military declared High Security Zone 20 years back, news sources in Jaffna said. The families of SL Navy personnel will be provided these quarters, establishing a permanent Sinhala military colony 200 meters from Thiruvadi-nilai in the close vicinity of the Buddhist Stupa erected in 2009. The way the structural genocide is escalating, especially after the Geneva resolution, has made many Eezham Tamils to lose faith in the intentions of the USA and India that have never done anything to check the post-war crimes of the Sri Lankan state. 

The state oppression has become heavier and Colombo is in a hurry to achieve irreversible results of structural genocide in recent weeks. 

The public anger more and more turns towards the failing powers, political observers in Jaffna said. 

Some of the permanent buildings of the Sinhala cantonment in Maathakal

Buddhist Stupa at Thiruvadinilai

Thiruvadinilai, Sangamitha statue

The construction of Sinhala cantonment at Maathakal has been going on for 8 months without the knowledge of the public. Last year, a new naval base was established in the area. 

This year, on 06th February, the SL President Mahinda Rajapaksa secretly inaugurated a controversial solar-panel and windmills farm in the lands appropriated from the uprooted Tamils of the coastal stretch between Thiruvadi-nilai and KKS, leasing the lands for 20 years to a Malaysian corporate of Chinese connections. 

The entire coastal stretch, between Punnaalai and Maathakal, is kept occupied by the Sri Lankan military for the establishment of the ‘Sacred Zone’. 

Thiruvadi-nilai Kengkaatheavi Cooperative Society of fishermen, has complained that the fishermen who were earlier fishing in the area using the local method of ‘ka'langkaddi’ fishing, are now barred from fishing in the waters close to the ‘Sacred Zone’. The families of the fishermen are now deprived of livelihood, the fishermen society further said. 

Permanent buildings being constructed along the coastal stretch for the occupying SL military forces. Tamil fishermen are barred from fishing in the seas along the coast and the entire stretch is separated by a fence from the land, stealing and sealing off the coast from the people of the Tamil country.                
 Full story >>

Menik Farm after the cyclone: The continuing misery of IDPs

*groundview journalism For citizens 

After a punishingly hot day, the skies seemed to provide some relief to the residents of Chettikulam as they opened to release heavy showers during the early evening of Saturday, March 31^st. However, what was welcomed as a break from the unending heat by those ensconced in sturdy houses simultaneously proved to be a torment for the 6,022[1] residents in the Menik Farm IDP camps a few kilometres outside of town.

Statement of the IDPs living in Ananthakumaraswamy IDP Camp, Menik Farm, Cheddikulam

Continue reading »

Speech of R.V. Gunerathnam (Mother of Premakumar Gunerathnam) | English

Monday, 09 April 2012

Worried family … from left, Aman Somaratna, 12, Champa Somaratna

and Ama Somaratna, 18. Photo: Kate Geraghty

OORANA OOR(MY COUNTRY) - New Documentary to screen at the ReelWorld Film Festival 2012

Canadian Documentary Premieres at ReelWorld Film Festival 2012 April 12, 2012, 4 pm. Famous Players, 2190 Yonge Street, Toronto

March 21, 2012 - Toronto, ON – Award winning filmmaker Lalita Krishna’s latest documentary tackles the Tamil Canadian issue. Set against the backdrop of recent boats with hundreds of asylum seekers who have landed on Canadian shores, Krishna poses the question: Why would anyone risk their life and embark on a perilous journey to an unknown destination?

Baskaran took an unmarked boat from Sri Lanka, and landed in Newfoundland 25 years ago. What he remembers is not the journey itself but the sense of security and freedom he felt on landing in Canada. 25 years later he fulfills a lifelong ambition to go to New Foundland to thank the fisherman who saved his life.

Fearing for her children’s safety Ranjana, left her village with her 8 month baby, her 5 year old daughter, her husband and mother and walked 12 miles through forests and shrubs. Like Baskaran, Ranjana is grateful for the new life she has been able to build, but memories of horrific horrific escape comes flooding back, as more migrant ships arrive on Canadian shores.

“Not By Our Tears” is a play written by Tamil scholar and poet, Cheran. The play traces the history and marginalization of Tamils in Sri Lanka after independence. All the actors in the play have come to Canada as refugees or as children of refugees.

Skillfully interweaving personal stories, with historical background, “My Country” digs into the root of the conflict in Sri Lanka and the human cost of civil war.

‘My Country’ is produced in English and in Tamil and is scheduled to be broadcast on OMNI TV in the summer of 2012.

About OMNI Television

OMNI™ is a free, over-the-air multilingual/multicultural television system committed to positive portrayal and broadcast reflection of Canada’s diversity through the airing of

inclusive and accessible programming. With five television stations -- in BC; Alberta (Calgary and Edmonton) and Ontario (OMNI.1 and OMNI.2). OMNI Television is a part of Rogers Broadcasting Limited., a division of Rogers Communications Inc. (TSX: RCI and NYSE: RCI) which is a diversified Canadian communications and media company. For more information visit www.OMNItv.ca

About Third Element Productions

Third Element Productions was established by Toronto-based producer-director Lalita Krishna Ms. Krishna is internationally renowned for her work, including such honours as: ReelWorld Film Festival Trailblazer (2010); Winner, Editorial/Opinion Category, TV, Canadian Ethnic Media Association (CEMA) Awards for Shift Focus (2009) and Canadian Association of Broadcasters’ (CAB) Gold Ribbon, Diversity in News and Information Programming category for The M Word (2008). Further information is available @ http://www.insyncvideo.ca .

Third Element Media contact:
Hillary McCarrel
416 367 0330
info@insyncvideo.ca

Published on: Apr 08, 2012 13:21:14 GMT

Lanka to complain to international watchdog about India's nuclear plants

The Kudankulam nuclear power plant.

Colombo:  Sri Lanka has expressed concern over possible impact of radiation from India's nuclear power plants located in the southern region, as it prepares to raise the issue with global atomic watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency or IAEA.

The official raising of concern with the IAEA is to be made in September, Sri Lanka's Power and Energy Minister Champika Ranawaka said.

"We respect the right of India to have nuclear power stations. But our concerns are on the possible radiation affects they could have on Sri Lanka. We have already written a letter", Ranawaka said.

The minister also said that Sri Lanka's concerns stem from disasters such as Chernobyl and Fukushima and that the country would work towards achieving guarantees of safety.

Sri Lankan energy officials say at least three nuclear plants are located on the southern coast of Tamil Nadu which is separated from the island by a narrow strip of sea.

The minister said the IAEA had proposed that a mutual agreement on the matter should be reached between the two countries. "We have sent a proposal to India through the External Affairs Ministry and the Indians have sent back a note on the matter," he was quoted as saying by Colombo Page.

According to Ranawaka, the Indian government has sent a proposal to commence a broad based discussion while Sri Lanka wants only to discuss and reach an agreement on a disaster mitigating programme in the event of a nuclear disaster in the South Indian plants, the paper said. Sri Lanka has no nuclear power plants but is just 20 kilometres away from Indian main land at the closest point.

The Kudankulam nuclear plant in India's Southern coast is just 250 km from Sri Lanka's northwest coastal town of Mannar. Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Authority does not possess adequate facilities to face a threat of nuclear accident.

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