Sri Lanka’s War Crimes: US Should Not Dance Around UN And UNHRC

By Donald Gnanakone -June 15, 2012

Donald Gnanakone

London attorney Vasuki Murugathas unearths photos and short videos further raising war crimes issues in Sri Lanka.

In a dramatic and unexpected fashion a Tamil attorney in London, Vasuki Murugathas was able to discover some 24 photographs and 32 short videostaken via a mobile phone of a  Sri Lanka army soldier based in the Vanni in the last days of the war. To be exact the dates when the videos and photos were taken was the 5th and 6th of April of 2009. One of her clients who for fear of the State Terrorist who are well known to resort to attacks on  family and friends wishes to be anonymous for the present, although he would be willing to testify to international, independent investigators once his stay in London has been stabilized.

This client was working in an internet cafe where soldiers regularly visited to back up their phones , download videos, and requiring assistance with their mobile phones to enable them to email their prized photos of especially naked Tamil girls. The original content are safe with an attorney in London.

Some of the photographs clearly demonstrates a pattern of woeful consistency of the Sri Lankan army. All the female armed and unarmed combatants, and civilians are always stripped naked or their underwear and down to their knees and the bras are either missing or near their neck, exposing the breast of teenage girls or young women. Only a few men are stripped naked.

This pattern was also clear when the LTTE media TV announcer Issaipriya’s naked photographs were discovered and questions about rape and torture prior to the death came about. She was never an armed combatant but her hands were tied behind her back as per channel 4 video.

Tamils For Justice have 20  similar photographs from way back in 2006 after the Mavil Aru battle where all the female fighters were stripped naked prior to the photographs being taken. Such detailed photographs have yet to be published, and there is no way that the GOSL or the Presidential spokesman Bandula Jayasekera can claim that these photographs were manufactured by the LTTE propaganda, because there is irrevocable evidence that it originated from the high official of the MOD- Ministry of Defense, and also a subsequent confession, after an initial denial. These photographs will be published via a documentary on Sri Lanka about the last days of the battle in the Vanni in the near future.

When the attorney provided the photographs to the “Independent” in London there has been already two positive results. A father in Vanni who thought his son died during the battle, is overjoyed that his son was last seen alive in captivity on the 6th of April 2009, though handcuffed like animals to the bus seat inside the bus together with other teenagers, both males and females.

After 3 years this is the first time he had any news that his son could be returned home soon despite the fact the army and the MOD had denied the surrender or capture of his teenage son born in 1990. Why such denials by the army is worrisome for the human rights activist worldwide due to the suspicion whether this teenager could be one of the thousands of Tamils who were summarily executed or one of the 146,769  described as dead or missing when Bishop of Mannar Rajappu testified to the Silva Commission. (aka LLRC).

The father of this boy (right) contacted the London attorney and was interviewed on tape by a media consultants and there is on record in Tamil via YouTube

The English translation/transcripts would be published by the solicitors office.This boy was not a combatant but part of the medical unit of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. (LTTE). (Like doctors, nurses and technicians). It is rather surprising that the MOD had resorted to such serious violations of the Geneva Conventions on Prisoners of War, by not permitting the information of a unarmed non combatant POW to the ICRC, SLRC, UNHRC, UN, LLRC or their parents, which is a heartless act. Now that there is a name, face, date of birth, and other details the onus also shifts right on to the head of the MOD, Presidential sibling Gotabaya Rajapakse, the remaining army commanders in service and also Sri Lankan diplomat in the UN Maj. General Shavendra De Silva, whose photographs also appears in a short video of this soldier, among the 32 videos that are available.

*The father of this boy contacted the London attorney and was interviewed on tape by a media consultants and there is on record in Tamil via YouTube .

  

The challenge for the GOSL is to now confirm that the this teenager (now 22 years) as well as all those other teenagers and youth in the photographs and video who were captured alive or with minor injuries on the 5th of April 2009, are still alive and not brutally murdered. If they are alive why they have not been released after the 3 years, after the so called rehabilitation which also included some song, dance, drama and other cultural training.

Haven’t they had enough drama in their life that they need to enter into some GOSL/Army sponsored  therapeutic drama training, where some of the activities are supervised by the co-founder of the TGTE, KP?

The GOSL should take this matter seriously and expeditiously, as failing to do so would certainly constitute “War Crimes”, and murder of Tamil civilians and POW. Just gone missing would not be an internationally accepted answer when this matter is already a part of the UN and US investigation in addition to other Human Rights Organizations such as HRW, AI, and ICG. There is also command and responsibility issues where it possibly could go as high as the commander of the Army, General Fonseka, and Defense Ministry Secretary Gotabaya Rajapakse notwithstanding that President Rajapakse is the Minister of Defense and Commander in Chief. Incidentally, the first two being US residents and citizens come fully under US jurisdictions and laws, and their is no necessity for the US State Dept., DHS, or DOJ to be dancing around UN and UNHRC regulations and delay tactics on war crimes and crimes against humanity violations. The serious question is do the US and the Tamils really want to take action or just only making empty threats for the past 3 years.

Furthermore, as per the photographs there are 2 Sinhala female soldiers who are clearly identified although the names are still under the process of verification, and one of them is also identified as the photographer.  Another video in the possession of the attorney shows that she is building a new home in 2009, from the ill gotten loot in the Vanni from the hundreds of thousands of Tamil prisoners and dead civilians. All valuables and belongings were confiscated from the Tamil civilians. These soldiers are easily identifiable and traceable and the former army commander Fonseka can also provide the necessary assistance of the soldiers under his command either directly or through other officers.

There is also another lady from Europe who has identified one of the POW’s as her close relative. Further investigations and testimony is underway, and the whole process is to ensure that all are hopefully still alive, and would be released soon to their parents. That would also save the military officials and other higher up’s of war crimes accusations as far as these Tamil Youth are concerned.

*The father of this boy contacted the London attorney and was interviewed on tape by a media consultants and there is on record in Tamil via YouTube .

Govt. should take the responsibility of the killings – JVP

2 killed in shooting at JVP meeting

Saturday 16 of June 2012

(Lanka-e-News-16.June.2012, 3.30PM) The government that has made ruling the country by repressing the masses and maintains underworld gangs should take the responsibility of the murder of two persons at the JVP meeting held at Katuwana says the JVP and adds that the JVP is not prepared to take permission from thugs to engage in its politics. This was stated by the General Secretary of the JVP Tilvin Silva at a press conference held at its head office today (16th). Mr. Silva said they demand the government not to fabricate stories but to arrest the assailants immediately. Two persons have been killed when a meeting held by the JVP at Katuwana in Hambantota District was shot on yesterday. A group that had arrived in 4 motorcycles has carried out the shooting. At the time the Member of the Central Committee of the JVP Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa and several others had been on the stage. The dead are the owner of the house where the meeting was held and another woman. Several others have received serious injuries. Speaking further the General Secretary of the JVP said, “The meeting held by the party at Handiwatta area in Katuwana yesterday at about 7.00 p.m. was attacked by an armed gang of thugs riding motorcycles that shot indiscriminately at the participants with T-56 rifles. Edirimannage Malani, a member of our party and 17 year old Nimanthe Heshanthe were killed in the shooting while 7 motorcycles, 3 three wheelers and a Dimo lorry were damaged. Underworld gangs maintained and manipulated by the government are constantly terrorizing and intimidating people in Beliatta, Walasmulla, Katuwana areas. During the time of elections the situation escalated. The JVP, without being intimidated, continued its politics as in other areas. We do not have any necessity to engage in our politics with permission from thugs and those who manipulate thugs. We have the democratic right of engaging in our politics in any part of the country. As Madamulana area is having security of large contingents of police and other security personnel there is no opportunity for anybody who doesn’t have state patronage to ride with T-56 rifles like in Hollywood films and kill people or smash vehicles and others’ property. The meeting at Katuwawna was held yesterday with the participation of Provincial Council Member Comrade Nalinda Jayatissa. There is no possibility for any other group to commit such a crime. There is such high security around Medamula Walawwa and adjacent areas. Hence, diverting the responsibility of the heinous act on others is a futile act. We demand the government to arrest the perpetrators immediately. However, even before any complaint was lodged in the police the Director General of the Media Center for National Security stated that the incident was due to an inner struggle of the JVP. We state with responsibility that the government statement that the incident was due to an inner struggle of the JVP or was an act of the group that left the party is similar to the act in the proverb ‘the bunch of plantain jumping the fence before the thief.’ The government is attempting to protect the real murderers. This should be stopped immediately. All the anti-government thug gangs have been eliminated and only thugs maintained by the government exist at present. Those politicians who maintain these gangs are behind these murders. Hence, the government is responsible for these murders. If no legal action is taken against these murderers we would carry out a massive campaign locally as well as internationally. These murders are not an isolated incident. It is another stage of the repression carried out by the government. Roshen Chanaka from Katunayake who agitated for his rights was murdered. Antony Fernando, the fishermen who agitated against the increase in fuel prices was shot dead.The journalist Lasanthe Wickremetunga was murdered. Journalists who could not live in the country left the country. The government has made assassination of its rivals using police, security services and unofficial gangs of murderers its policy. The murders at Katuwana are only one in the process. We wouldn’t believe that this would be the last such incident. The perpetrators have been recognized and complaints have been lodged with their names and addresses. Despite there are many eye -witnesses they are reluctant to give evidence due to fear. The people in the area know these underworld characters well. As such, they live in fear. We would carry out agitations throughout the country to defeat the murderous political culture carried out by the government in the area. We emphasize that all those who cherish democracy and human rights should come forward now. We will launch a massive protest and agitation campaign against the murderous political culture of the government on the 19th in Colombo and carry out a series of agitations throughout the island. The JVP would pressurize the government until action is taken regarding complaints made to the police. The continuous repression carried out by the government of Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa, who constantly talks about democracy, should be ended. We would like to point out that revealing the truth without allowing distorted news to be published is an absolute duty of the journalists. The government does not care the human rights accusations aimed by other countries. The government’s policy is to present reports to the USA and other western countries and evade the issues. Hence, a massive resistance should be developed from within the country. Democracy and human rights are rights of the masses. Without rallying against violations the undemocratic path of the government cannot be stopped. Large numbers of police and security personnel have been deployed in the area after the murders at Katuwana. This has intimidated the people in the area. The attempt by the government to protect murderous gangs by spreading untruth should be defeated,” said Mr. Silva. The Member of the Political Bureau of the JVP Anura Dissanayake too was present.

Sri Lanka Cricket defends TV deal

By Saroj PathiranaBBC Sinhala Service

The president of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has denied accusations of misconduct in granting local cricket broadcasting rights to a media group established by the country's president's sons for Sri Lanka Rupees (SLR) 125 million (approximately $1 million) for three years.

The SLC has been accused of favouring the newly established channel at the expense of state broadcasters and other private competitors.

But SLC President Upali Dharmadasa told BBC Sinhala service that the Carlton Sports Network (CSN) was offered the contract following a proper tender procedure. Dharmadasa added that they had been the sole bidder after the contract was advertised through local media and the SLC website.

"Nothing illegal or unlawful has taken place," he said.

Mr Dharmadasa added that though the CSN initially offered a relatively low price, it was increased after negotiations with the two parties.

"Do you want us not to grant the rights at all when only one company offers bids?," he asked.

"Then what about the fans?"          Full story>>>

SLFP Politicians Are Suffering From Obsolescence – Senior Minister’s Partner Criticises Government

June 16, 2012

By Colombo Telegraph -

Senior minister DEW Gunasekara’s partner  Barbara Seneviratne has started to criticise the government through The Island letters to the editor columns. In her recent letter she says ; “It is very obvious that SLFP politicians are suffering from obsolescence. The obsession to be in power is so great that the government is blind to the fact that our population is sodden with drink, drugs, steeped in vice, eaten up by social and physical malady.” “It’s time the government stopped blowing its own trumpet and took immediate steps  to solve the burning issues of the day as regards education, health, food and the rights of the Tamil people etc.” she further says.

Barbara Seneviratne

In an earlier letter she said “ Never in the history of this country have we witnessed as we do today the banality of evil which has penetrated this Island. The recurrent looting of banks, corporations, government institutions, thuggery by government MPs, ministers, and underworld elements is very common, like the sun going down. Besides, this government has made the legal system easy for criminals, but difficult for law abiding citizens.”

Her partner senior minister DEW Gunasekara is also the chairman of the Committee on Public Enterprises ( COPE) . She wrote; “The COPE findings have shown the general public the extent of corruption of this government during the past four or five years. So much so, the government members of parliament were unable to face the debate on the COPE findings; like racoons, they crept away. There are many reasons for this sordid state of affairs. First, we have scant respect for public property. The general attitude is to rob anything that is ‘public’. We have read of VIPs encroaching on public property, etc. Secondly, the alarming rise in crime which is due mostly to the lowering of standards in public and private life.”

“Politics is tainted with crime, the moral standards of policemen, politicians and criminals are indistinguishable. For all these crimes, the blame falls on both the people and the government. The governing party will nominate any Tom, Dick or Harry, be he a thug of the area or a criminal. An example is Mervyn Silva. The public knowingly or otherwise elect shady characters, who are poorly educated,  drug peddlers and corrupt individuals. It is very unfortunate that in 2005, the people who had great hopes are now faced with a government steeped in corruption, inefficient administration and greed for power which will make this country hell to live in.” she further wrote.

Below we give two of her recent articles;      Read More

Bhikkhus should not seek Parliament / local Council seats and degrade themselves – Mahanayake of Asgiriya

- parties selling religion for political agendas pulverized- Will Ven .Rathane resign?

(Lanka-e-News-16.June.2012, 3.30PM) While UNP M P and Lawyer Wijedasa Rajapakse is trying to table a private member’s motion in Parliament to prohibit members of the clergy from holding seats in Parliament, those parties which are selling the religion for personal and political agendas are infuriated and agitated over the bill. However , the most venerable chief incumbent and Mahanayake of the Asgiriya chapter Buddharakita Thero highly respected by the true Buddhists said in public that Monks should not seek Parliamentary seats and not engage in politics and degrade themselves facing embarrassment and humiliation. It was specially noteworthy that the regime chief who is running the Govt. with the support of some of the Bhikkhu MPs was also present close by when the Mahanayake was stating this. The Ven Mahanayake went on to elaborate as follows: As Bhikkhus we must always bear in mind , that if we are depending on the people , we must do a service to them. If we want to do service to the country , we don’t need MP or similar posts. We don’t need ruling powers. We must administer the people . Towards this we don’t need to secure Parliamentary seats. We can do that from where we are , that is in the Temples Perhaps tomorrow , I might be blamed by many. All what I advise the Bhikkhus is not to go here and there , to Parliament and local councils and bring disrepute and insult upon themselves. The Ven. Buddharkita Thero made this discourse at the State celebration to mark the completion of 700 years since the Asgiriya Vihara was inaugurated. The Anunayake Ven. Niyangama Vijithasiri Thero of the asgiriya chapter , all the Asgiriya Nayakes and sangha council members were present on the occasion. The JVP member Thureliya Rathane Thero M P , a monk himself stated on the occasion that if the Mahanayakes say , he will resign his M P post. Wijedasa Rajapakse who is promoting this bill stated that prior to this proposal of his , he asked the opinion of the Mahanayakes of the Malwatte and Asgiriya chapters , and they concurred in it. The Christian clergy had earlier officially agreed with the proposal of Wijedasa Rajapakse.

UNCA Fans Anti Press Flames, Tries to Censor for Sri Lanka

Jun-15-2012
Matthew Russell Lee Special to Salem-News.com

Ban Ki-moon's MALU said it would grant Inner City Press re-accreditation -- and then refused to do so.

(UNITED NATIONS) - Big media representatives on the UN Correspondents AssociationExecutive Committee have stirred up Sri Lankan extremists' threats against Inner City Press, then repeatedly said they didn't care and weren't responsible.

On June 14, after an organization chaired by Kofi Annan's former chief of communications Edward Mortimer criticized UNCA for putting Inner City Press at risk, ten UNCA members voted to proceed against Inner City Press.

They offered a "confidential" statement claiming that they bear no responsibility for the threats they have stoked, calling such a claim false and damaging -- to them.

On June 11, Reuters' UN bureau chief Louis Charbonneau who has participated in uncredited use of Inner City Press exclusive stories told Inner City Press, regarding threats copied to the UN that its reporter should "swim like a brick," that he should just "contact the New York Police Department."

Then and on June 14 Charbonneau urged continuation of the UNCA "Board of Examination" procedure which gave rise to and fueled the cycle of threats.

On June 12, Reuters' Charbonneau's "NYPD" suggestion was repeated word for word by his former Reuters colleague, now Ban Ki-moon's spokesman, Martin Nesirky: contact NYPD.

Denis Fitzgerarld of Saudi Press Agency, one of the Board of Examination members chosen by UNCA President Giampaolo Pioli, whose renting of his apartment to Sri Lanka's UN Ambassador Palitha Kohona and then screening his war crimes denial film along with alleged war criminal (and Ban Ki-moon adviser) general Shavendra Silva gave rise to this witch hunt, demanded of Inner City Press on June 11, "Who funds you?" [See update below]

The false allegation that, because Inner City Press has reported on the lack of accountability for the killing of 40,000 civilians in Sri Lanka in 2009, it must be funded by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam has been spread by senior advisers to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

On June 14 Ban Ki-moon's Media Accreditation and Liaison Unit wrote to Inner City Press that signing in Yemeni Nobel Peace Prize winner Tawakkol Karman to the Security Council stakeout on June 12, where she ultimately spoke to the Press and others about Yemen, Syria and the Arab Spring, was "misconduct" byInner City Press, a trigger to expulsion from the UN.

Bloomberg News' Flavia Krause-Jackson, who engaged in uncredited use of Inner City Press' cocaine in the UN mailroom exclusive, when shown attacks on Inner City Press in Sri Lankan government media quoting the vague letter of indictment that she had signed said, "We are not responsible for this."

UNCA's Third Vice President, referring to a Sri Lankan web site portraying Inner City Press' reporter with a "Goebbels" sign on said, "I don't care aboutthis."

Talal Al-Haj of Al-Arabia, who circulated an e-mail accusing Inner City Press of "intimidation and personal threats" for a request to cease the Board of Examination process, said that before agreeing to distance UNCA from the threats he wanted an apology about a tweet.

Timothy Witcher of Agence France Presse had, after seeing the threats but not agreeing to distance UNCA from then, demanded of Inner City Press, How fast can you draft an apology, wanting his name in it.

Witcher's name WAS among the copy list of a complaint against Inner City Press sent by Reuters' Charbonneau to the UN's Media Accreditation and Liaison Unit, which now on June 14 has charged Inner City Press with "misconduct" for signing in a Nobel Prize winner.

Ban Ki-moon's MALU three times said it would grant Inner City Press re-accreditation on June 4 -- and then refused to do so.

After letters raising questions to the editors of Reuters, Bloomberg, Voice of America, AFP and to Pioli's near-unreachable editors in Italy, suddenly Pioli at 5 pm on June 11 asked Inner City Press to "show him the threats."

But Inner City Press already had, starting June 3. Pioli since September 2011 has been demanding the removal from the Internet of all Inner City Press reporting about him accepting rent money from Palitha Kohona and then agreeing to screen inside the UN Kohona's government's propaganda film "Lies Agreed To" without asking Inner City Press, which was elected to UNCA's Executive Committee.

Beyond Inner City Press' reporting, consider this SLC summary.

Still, Bill Reilly remains the chairman of the Board of Examination, an employee paid at the pleasure of a state media member of UNCA's Executive Committee who has already twice voted against Inner City Press, telling it to "respect authority."

Another of the UNCA "Board of Examination" members on June 11 said, with feeling but without irony, I am a twenty year friend of Pioli, that's why he chose me for the Board.

Denis Fitzgerald, employed by the Saudi News Agency, said he was resigning: but in the minutes sent out later, he somehow stopped short of resigning. At the June 11 meeting he said, "I know what you do, and it's not fair."

He's free to think that, but he cannot remain on the Board: he's already groaned when Inner City Press raised the issue of Sri Lanka, critiqued one of Inner City Press' headlines, and demanded, "Who funds you?"

[Update: at Fitzgerald's request, we hereby publish his argument that "My questions about accountability for the ICP blog, its editor and funding are valid questions - if someone believes they are misrepresented or portrayed unfairly and inaccurately on the ICP blog, how can they seek redress?"

Answer: Inner City Press presents what is submitted in writing. By contrast, Reuters never published any part of what Inner City Presssubmitted on May 21 about the wire service's unauthorized uncredited use of Inner City Press' March 28 exclusive that Jeffrey Feltman would head UN DPA. And the contact e-mail on Saudi Press Agency does not work. We may have more on this.]

At the end of the 2 pm June 11 meeting, Margaret Besheer of Voice of America said, "write to my editors again, they get a laugh out of it," after Inner City Press asked if VOA should spend US taxpayer dollars to try to expel from the UN a US journalist who covers corruption.

Besheer has previously admonished Inner City Press, an in UNCA meeting, to write about the UN "more positively."

It has emerged that beyond renting his apartment to those he purportedly objectively covers, Piolo also in violation of basic journalistic ethics has made campaign contributions to politicians he covers.

Something has gone terribly wrong with the UNCA Executive Committee under Pioli's watch, and their simultaneous June 14 move to proceed in these conditions against Inner City Press, and to offer some "confidential" distancing of UNCA from the Sri Lankan extremist threats against Inner City Press, is not accepted, or acceptable. Watch this site.

Sri Lankan politician asks Pope to protect bishop from government reprisals


CWN - June 15, 2012

In Sri Lanka, a politician of the opposition party has written to Pope Benedict XVI, asking the Pontiff to protect a local bishop from government reprisals.

Bishop Rayappu Joseph of Mannar has been harshly attacked by government officials after the bishop called for investigation of war-crimes accusations in the wake of Sri Lanka's civil war. Jayalath Jayawardena, a member of parliament representing the United National Party, asked the Pope to intervene in order to ensure that the bishop "can continue his mission without threats, intimidation, and false allegations."

Book of veteran Eezham Tamil writer published in Jaffna

Professor Sivalingarajah garlanding Mr Nadarajan [Photo courtesy: thirdeye2005.blogspot.com]

 [TamilNet, Friday, 15 June 2012, 20:53 GMT]
A collection of writings on the antiquity and traditions of Eezham Tamils written by Mayilangkoodaloor P. Nadarajan was launched at I’nuvil in Jaffna on last Sunday. 76-year-old Mr. Nadarajan has spent a lifetime in Eezham Tamil studies, editing old texts and in bringing out valuable publications. He is regarded as a symbol of selfless service to Tamil studies, benefitting school children to university academics. Generations of writers, researchers and publishers were benefitted by his editing skills in Tamil. 

Mayilangkoodaloor P Nadarajan [Photo courtesy: thirdeye2005.blogspot.com]

The present book of him is published to honour an intellectual tradition that gives importance to society than self, said the publishers, Parani Pathippakam, Koa’ndaavil.

The book launch event was presided by Professor of Tamil of the University of Jaffna, S. Sivalingarajah, while Mr Kuzhanthai M. Shanmugalingam and Mr. A. Sabaratnam received the first copies. 

Mr Nadarajan has earlier brought out error-free publications of many historiographical texts.

He long served as a teacher at Mahajana College, Thellippazhai.

Burma's Suu Kyi prepares for Nobel date

ABC Radio Australia

16 June 2012

Aung San Suu Kyi is finally back in Europe after being unable to leave Burma for more than two decades. [AFP] 

Video: Burma's Suu Kyi struggles on Europe trip

Burma democracy champion Aung San Suu Kyi on Friday said her country was at the start of the road to reconciliation as she arrived in Norway to finally give her Nobel Peace Prize speech.

After years of house arrest and isolation, Ms Suu Kyi arrived to a rapturous welcome on a Europe tour that follows sweeping change in her homeland, where a former military junta has promised to follow a path to democracy.

On Saturday she was due to finally deliver her Nobel lecture, more than two decades after winning the prize for her dogged campaign to free her people, which has seen her separated from her family since 1988.

"I thank the people of Norway and all others who have helped us along this very difficult path," said Ms Suu Kyi, wearing a trademark white flower in her hair as she stood beside Norway's Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg.

"We're certainly not at the end of the road. By no means. We are just starting out," she told a joint press conference.

"And this road is not going to be a straightforward, smooth one. There are going to be many twists and turns and there'll be obstacles. But we'll have to negotiate these in the spirit of national reconciliation."

There was concern over the punishing schedule of Ns Suu Kyi's trip, which will also take her to Britain, Ireland and France, after the activist, who turns 67 next week, cancelled some events in Switzerland, citing exhaustion.

But Ms Suu Kyi, wearing a pale pink silk dress, looked sprightly in Oslo, where she was greeted by Burmese community members with song and flowers.

Asked by the media whether she had ever dreamt of coming to Norway, she said: "Yes, of course! I've always believed that... I've never doubted that."

She said she was on a journey of "rediscovery and discovery, seeing the world with new eyes".

On Saturday, she was to deliver the Nobel lecture at Oslo City Hall for the prize she won in 1991 but was unable to accept in person, fearing that the regime would bar her from returning to her country.

Her husband Michael Aris and their two sons, Kim and Alexander, accepted the award on her behalf.

When her husband died of cancer in 1999, Aung San Suu Kyi could not be by his side, for the same reason.

It is Ms Suu Kyi's personal courage that has led admirers to liken her to history's great human rights defenders, from Mahatma Gandhi to Nelson Mandela.

Prime Minister Stoltenberg told her: "You've been a champion for democracy, you have been a champion for your people, and you have dedicated your life to the struggle for democracy in your country, and you are an inspiration for all of us."

He said "the new political reality in Myanmar (Burma) is remarkable", reflecting on a year in which Burma’s President Thein Sein has freed political prisoners and welcomed Ms Suu Kyi's party back into mainstream politics.

"We have witnessed great changes in less than a year," the premier said. "Your presence here in Oslo is proof that your long fight for democracy and justice for your people is really paying off."

But he also warned: "A great deal remains be done... We need to be realistic. This process is not irreversible. There will be setbacks, there will be disappointments."

Ms Suu Kyi's trip has been clouded by ethnic strife at home, where regional clashes between Buddhists and Muslim Rohingya have claimed dozens of lives and displaced more than 30,000 people.

Speaking earlier in Switzerland, the Oxford-educated daughter of the country's independence hero stressed "the need for rule of law", saying that without it "such communal strife will only continue".

Burma’s crumbling economy lags far behind those of its dynamic Asian neighbours, although eased Western sanctions have sparked a business bonanza, with investors starting to flock to the resource-rich country.

Ms Suu Kyi said that "human-rights friendly, democracy-friendly investment is what we're looking for," adding that it should benefit the private sector "rather than strengthen the hand of the government over the economy".

"Burma has been a command economy for far too long and we never prospered along the road... Now that we have the opportunity, we want to make sure that we open up in the right way."

Asked whether ties with Burma’s leaders might be strained by her Europe trip, she said, "I do not see why anyone should object to my travelling abroad".

"Certainly I don't think they have anything to fear from the interest that other countries show in my party and myself, because we want to work for national reconciliation."

- AFP

Two JVP Members Killed, Govt. Attempting To Evade Responsibility

Two killed in shooting at JVP rally

Katuwana shooting: JVP internal dispute - MCNS

Two JVP Members Killed, Govt. Attempting To Evade Responsibility

By Colombo Telegraph -

The government is attempting to evade the responsibility of the shooting at the JVP meeting held at Katuwana in Hambantota District. In an announcement issued by the Director General of the Media Center for National Security after a long time states the shooting was the result of a clash between two factions of the JVP. However, it is being revealed that the shooting has been carried out by Joolampitiye Amare, an underworld leader manipulated by the government.

A woman and a boy were killed and 25 others were critically injured when an unidentified group shot indiscriminately at a Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) political meeting held in Katuwana , in the Beliaththa area in Hambantota, this evening.  .

It is confirmed that Kiripitiyegedera Samanthe (18 years) and Edirimannage Manel (50) were killed in the shooting.  A group of ten had come in five motorcycles to carry out the shooting. The Member of the Central Committee of the JVP Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa and several others had been on stage at the time of shooting. A spokesman for the JVP stated that the government was trying to evade the responsibility of the shooting.

The owner of the house where the meeting was held and several others have been injured. Police Spokesperson SP Ajith Rohana said, “The incident had taken place at around 7 p.m., this evening, where a JVP meeting attended by approximately 150 members was shot at by one of the four to five motorcyclists who arrived at the meeting, killing a woman and a boy, while critically injuring 25 others.”

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Children in former Sri Lankan war zones still traumatised by military

15 June 2012,

ABC Radio Australia

Children's advocates in Sri Lanka say the heavy military presence in the island's former conflict zones, especially in the north, continue to traumatise children who experienced the civil war.

Menaca Calyaneratne, director of advocacy for Save The Children in Sri Lanka told Asia Pacific's Sen Lam that the continued presence of the military in the region prevents children from getting over their trauma.

"I think there's still de-mining taking place," she said, "so there has to be involvement of the military as well."

"But for children who have lived in fear of war, seeing the presence of the military could affect them psychologically. On the one hand, that will have an impact on them, that the war is not over for them."

Sri Lanka's military defeated the Tamil Tiger rebels three years ago, and the UN children's agency UNICEF has described as 'remarkable' the progress made in child health and education.

The UN however, also pointed out the heavy military presence in the former war zones.

Ms Calyaneratne said that there are some very disturbing repercussions for the society dealing with the after effects of the conflict.

"I think not only in the north, but I think something very alarming in the whole of this country, in a post-war situation is the violence against children, particularly child abuse, is on the rise," she said.

"Last year alone, 20-thousand reports of child abuse were reported to the government, to the children's hotline. On an average, three children get abused daily in Sri Lanka."

In addition to reports on sexual abuse there are many abductions of children for ransom, which involve kidnapping and even murder, Ms Calyaneratne said.

Three rehabilitation centres have been operating since 2008, to provide education, psychological support for former rebel child soldiers, and to reunite them with their families. Ms Calyaneratne says facilities like these are vital to help Sri Lanka's children heal.

"For them to have a sense of real peace, whenever we have asked them," she said, "they've said that they need to have education and facilities for education, just like the kind of facilities that children have in the south of the country."

"So, greater focus is required for children in the north, to be resettled in their own villages and to receive an education, which will make sure that they have not lost everything, and they have an equal chance in life towards their future," she said.

Jaffna civil activist, family attacked by masked gang

Cancer specialist's home attacked - Jaffna

Dr. Jeyakumar
[TamilNet, Thursday, 14 June 2012, 09:57 GMT]
An unidentified gang wearing masks entered the residence of Cancer specialist at the Jaffna Teaching Hospital, Dr Jeyakumar, in Kantharmadam Wednesday midnight and attacked Jeyakumar and his family, sources from Jaffna said. While all members of Jeyakumar family escaped with minor injuries, the intruders ransacked the house, destroyed the windows, poured waste-oil inside the rooms and fled when the family switched the lights on and screamed to awaken the neighbours.   
The Jaffna Police arrived at the scene after several hours of delay, neighbours told the media.

The attack taking place near the long standing Sri Lanka Army camp located at Kantharmadam junction has shocked Kantharmadam residents and has caused fear among other medical staff at the Jaffna Hospital.

Hospital staff have started a boycott campaign protesting the incident and to highlight the threats to their lives.

Residents said that while the suspicion for the attacks centers around the parties affected by the recently exposed corruption at the hospital, the mode of the attacks was similar to those carried out by Sri Lanka military intelligence.

A hand-written note with nondescript spelling errors left-behind by the intruders further attested to the hand of Sinhala military, neighbours who saw the note said.

"Dr Jeyakumar's leading participation in recent civil activities may have also irked the military establishment governing Jaffna, and after the threats on Mannaar Bishop Raayappu Joseph, this attack was likely intended to further warn other activists," a noted Jaffna civil society activist said