'Vavuniya killing is just the tip of the iceberg' - Mano Ganesan

At noon on the 29th of June, the police Special Task Force (STF) commandos and Army troopers broke into the Vavuniya prison, where at  least 170 Tamil prisoners were held. By the time the 'military operation' unfolded, the political prisoners were on a hunger strike, demanding  information about a fellow inmate who was taken away by the prison authorities. The details of the brutal crackdown that followed  were  deliberately suppressed by media.

The JDS spoke to Mano Ganesan, a prominent Tamil politician and the Convenor of the Civil Monitoring Commission (CMC), an organization based among the families of the disappeared and political prisoners.

"The prisoners were simply desperate and frustrated after being held for a long period without any legal process" Ganesan said. "We have seen many such incidents in many parts of the island in the past. During the time the Sinhala youth were held in prison in late 80s, similar incidents occurred.  But the government projected the recent incident as an unprecedented situation and even went to the extent of portraying  the prisoners hunger strike as a 'revival of the LTTE' that needs to be crushed using extreme force."

Excerpts of the interview follow:

JDS: What really happened in Vavuniya?

Mano Ganesan: The Tamil political prisoners held in Vavunia Remand Prison were pushed under shear frustration to take collective action, so that this government and the international community would listen to them. That's what happened. In fact, when the STF, the police and the army went into the prison, everything was over within three minutes or even less. But in government media it was projected as the biggest military operation conducted since May 2009. We totally reject such exaggerations and we see such interpretations are motivated by sinister political aims.

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In Sri Lanka, Coercion and Nepotism Rule

Killing detainees and prisoners is a tactic used by the Sri Lanka government to threaten those who speak, write and demonstrate against a coercive government. Custodial killings are a war crime, a crime against humanity and a crime against peace.

The Hague, Geneva and Genocide conventions can be applied to these killings but who dares investigate them? In the Sri Lankan context, the police and Judiciary have neither mandate nor power to investigate or punish the culprits. In Sri Lanka, it is the President and his family members who have the power to punish those who do not agree with them!

Custodial killings are nothing new in Sri Lanka. They have existed for a very long time but no-one has been brought to justice. Why? Because it was Tamil who were killed in the prisons.

Is this the path to peace, justice and democracy in Sri Lanka?

In July 1983, during the island’s worst communal riots against the Tamils, 52 Tamil political prisoners were massacred by Sinhala prisoners in one of the high security prisons in the capital Colombo. This massacre was masterminded by the then government. No independent inquiry was carried out and no-one was brought to book.

Since then many bloody incidents have taken place against Tamil detainees in various prisons and places in Sri Lanka. Many have been seriously injured and killed in prisons.

It is well known, that since May 2009 ex-combatants have been tortured, disappeared and killed. Even though the government maintains bogus figures about ex-combatants in custody, the real figures are not known even to the government because of overnight disappearances and killings in the prisons.

Latest killing of a detainee

Ganesh Nimalaruban (28 years) was kept in detention on suspicion that he had links with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam - LTTE, which the government claims to have wiped out in May 2009. Nimalaruban and many other Tamil detainees were initially detained in Vavuniya then transferred to Anuradhapura and Mahara. They were mercilessly attacked by prison officials and Sinhala convicted criminals serving sentences in the same prison. As a result of continuous assault, Nimalaruban was severely injured and admitted to the prison hospital, despite a prison doctor’s instructions to transfer him immediately to another hospital.

It is learnt that the Secretary of Defence ordered the prison authorities to ignore the instructions of the medical doctors. Nimalaruban died on the morning of 4 July 2012.

TCHR, along with many other solidarity organisations, strongly condemns this inhumane and barbaric killing of Nimalaruban...

TCHR sources confirm that his body is still in the mortuary of the Ragama Hospital. It has not been handed over to his parents to perform the last rites for their only son. The reason for refusing to hand over the body to the family is that, there are strong chances that an independent post-mortem or an examination will reveal many more facts about this killing.

According to Nimalaruban’s father Ganesh, who was allowed to see his son’s body after 5 days, his son had bruises and scars on his face, forehead and chest. His hands and legs were severely injured. He repeated that there is no doubt that his son was beaten with wooden and iron rods.

TCHR learns that under an unconventional move by the Secretary of Defence, a Judge prevented the removal of Nimalaruban’s body and ordered burial to be carried out by the government.

In Anuradharapua, the attacks on those detainees were led by a drunken prison superintendent, who demanded that the detainees lick his boots. According to reliable sources, some of those detainees are believed to be currently undergoing further torture in Bogambara prison in Kandy.

Referring to the Sri Lankan human rights situation, Amnesty International stated in their press release of March 2012, “A lack of accountability for alleged war crimes gives the green light to Sri Lankan authorities to act with impunity. Meanwhile the message coming from the Sri Lankan government is that those who dare criticise it risk harassment, or even disappearance.”

Idi-Amin style death threat to an Editor

Media freedom has gone to the dogs in Sri Lanka. The Defence Secretary, who is the brother of the President, is behaving like Idi-Amin of Uganda. There are many similarities and a remarkable difference between these two personalities. Idi-Amin passed away in Saudi Arabia where he had claimed asylum. According to the media, Idi-Amin suffered from various illnesses before he died. The Secretary of Defence of Sri Lanka is a living American citizen.

According to the Sunday Leader of 8th July 2012: “Gota Goes Berserk”, the editor in chief Federica Janz contacted the Secretary of Defence, regarding a story of a “puppy dog”. She was verbally abused by the Secretary Defence with foul language, intimidation, obscenities and was threatened with death.

The Secretary of Defense told Fredrica Jansz: “….. You are a shit, shit journalist…….. You pig that eats shit! You shit shit dirty f…..g journalist!.......... People will kill you!!! People hate you!!! They will kill you!”. (Excerpt) http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2012/07/08/gota-goes-berserk/

We, TCHR, along with many other solidarity organizations from various countries condemn this barbaric behavior of the Secretary of Defence of Sri Lanka, towards Fredrica Janz, the Editor of the Sunday Leader.

Dr Agnes Callamard, executive director of ARTICLE 19 said, “The threat against journalist Frederica Jansz is the latest demonstration of the Sri Lankan government’s systematic attacks against independent and opposition-supporting journalists and media houses. They have showered scorn on journalists and shown a complete inability or unwillingness to prosecute perpetrators of violence toward and the killing of journalists.”

Call for Sri Lankan envoy's expulsion

Daniel Flitton  Senior Correspondent

Outspoken Greens senator Lee Rhiannon has demanded Sri Lanka's top envoy be expelled from Australia, branding the former admiral a war crimes suspect.

Senator Rhiannon has accused Sri Lanka's High Commissioner to Australia, Thisara Samarasinghe, of boasting about stopping asylum seekers in 2009 as they fled the country's brutal civil war.

But Australian Federal Police confirmed they had dismissed war crimes allegations against Admiral Samarasinghe more than four months ago.

The mistake comes amid a simmering feud between Labor and its minority government partner, with Foreign Minister Bob Carr claiming the Greens cannot be trusted to manage Australia's international relations.

Greens leader Christine Milne fended off Senator Carr's remarks yesterday, declaring her party's stances on foreign policy issues aligned ''totally with the majority of the Australian community''.

She said the Coalition was the party creating problems for Australia in the region with its pledge to tow back asylum seeker boats expected to cause a serious rift in relations with Indonesia.

''The Greens have a huge commitment to multilateralism, a huge commitment to regional frameworks to work things out,'' Senator Milne said.

A former chief of Sri Lanka's navy, Admiral Samarasinghe was seen as ''problematic'' by the Foreign Affairs Department last year after being nominated for the post. He had served as Sri Lanka's navy chief during the final years of the civil war.

But his appointment was allowed, only for the International Commission of Jurists in Australia to lodge a complaint in October with the federal police, alleging he was involved in war crimes.

Senator Rhiannon said she was raising questions over Admiral Samarasinghe's position ''while allegations of war crimes hang over his head''.

A Federal Police spokeswoman said yesterday it had evaluated the information in the submission and would not investigate allegations against Admiral Samarasinghe. ''The ICJA was advised of this decision on March 3, 2012,'' she said.

Read more: http://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/call-for-sri-lankan-envoys-expulsion-20120717-228qd.html#ixzz20ursOxua

Sri Lankan Defence Personnel Cut Short India Visit

TUESDAY, 17 JULY 2012 

 Two senior Sri Lankan defence officials today left here cutting short their visit to the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington in the wake of protests by political parties in Tamil Nadu against imparting training to them by India.

 

Air Vice Marshal Jegath Julanga Diaz of the Sri Lankan Air Force and Rear Admiral S Ranasinghe of the Lankan Navy left the hotel where they were staying in Coonoor near Wellington at around 5.45 am and reached here by road escorted by police, a senior police official said.

 

The two Sri Lankan officials left the city by a special aircraft, the official said. Police and Defence sources, however, refused to reveal their destination.

 

They had come to Wellington in neighbouring Nilgiris district after undergoing training at the National Defence Academy, New Delhi.

 

Their departure comes a day after Chief Minister Jayalalithaa and key UPA ally DMK President M Karunanidhi demanded that the two officers be sent back, saying imparting of training to Sri Lankan defence personnel by India hurt the sentiments of Tamils.

 

In a strongly-worded letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Jayalalithaa had said people of the state were "frustrated and outraged" with the Centre over its persistence to train the Sri Lankan personnel. 

 

Citing the alleged war crimes committed by Sri Lankan armed forces on Tamils, Jayalalithaa, DMK and other parties insist that the island nation defence personnel should not be trained anywhere in India.

 

The two officials, part of a 25-member delegation comprising representatives of 10 countries, were at the Wellington college to attend a two-day seminar, which is to conclude today.

 

This is the second incident in recent days when Sri Lankan defence personnel were forced to leave Tamil Nadu in the wake of protests by the political parties.

 

Eight Sri Lankan airforce men, undergoing training at the IAF base near Chennai, were shifted to Bangalore after Jayalalithaa, Karunanidhi and others demanded they be sent back.(Outlook india) 

 

Growing hostility in Colombo: New Delhi’s new challenge

By Bibhu Prasad Routray

13th July 2012 10:20 AM

There is ample evidence that New Delhi’s ambitions of becoming a global power has met with fresh challenges in its neighbourhood. In recent times, Sri Lanka has radiated unnerving resentment at India’s attempts to secure the rights of the Tamil civilian population, victims of the Eelam war that vanquished the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

At one level, New Delhi is building pressure on Colombo not to take the bilateral relations for granted. National Security Advisor Shiv Shankar Menon reportedly conveyed this during his June 29 trip to the country. Apart from being an influential neighbour, India is also the member of United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC)’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) troika, which is scheduled to take up Colombo’s human rights compliance record in November. So Colombo is obligated not to displease New Delhi, which has already voted against it in the UNHRC in March 2012.

At the other level, India’s pressure diplomacy is on a weak footing. For the Mahinda Rajpaksa government, victory in the Eelam war that ended three years ago remains its only achievement. Even as the economic condition of the country has worsened and governance capacities weakened, official effort at projecting the President as a saviour of Sinhalas has continued.

Apparently, such a project runs counter to India’s push for the implementation of the 13th Amendment  and the recommendations of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) and elections for the provincial councils. Not surprisingly, the Rajapaksa government has not moved beyond its ‘commitment’ to the above demands. Issues like the resettlement of the internally displaced population and a genuine reconciliation programme have progressed at an unacceptable pace.

Add to this, India’s own aid programmes in the past two years in Sri Lanka— $50 million under lines of credit and another $350 million under grants-in-aid — has not impressed the Tamils as well. They allege that whereas Colombo has vigorously pursued a programme of land grabbing and settling Sinhala civilians and the army in what used to be Tamil territories, the Indian projects such as building houses for displaced Tamils have progressed lethargically.

Quite apparently, the Indian ‘pressure tactic’ is loathed by the Sinhalas, if the July 9 editorial of the Sunday Times newspaper is any indication. “The Government seems to have got trapped in a comment the President made to India that he would implement the 13th Amendment and even go further (13 plus). He said this initially to get Indian support to defeat the LTTE on the battlefield. Now, the Indians, like the dog with the bone, will not let go,” the editorial read. It went on to allege that “India would like to have an elected” Northern Provincial Council as “an ideal satellite province on Sri Lankan soil—‘an unsinkable aircraft carrier’ on India’s southern border.”

New Delhi has obvious reasons to worry. There has not been an opinion poll reflecting India’s image in Sri Lanka. But the reaction one gathers from the letters written to the editors of different newspapers and websites, the image isn’t much different from what the people of Pakistan think of the Americans—both among the Sinhalas and the Tamils.

In Sri Lanka, India’s problem is unique in terms of finding an effective vehicle for implementation of its projects for the Tamils. While the ruling regime’s negative approach to the reconciliation and rehabilitation process is quite clear, the mainstream opposition too does not provide an alternative. Take the case of former army chief Sarath Fonseka. After being released from prison, he has assumed the role of an opposition figurehead and has called for an Arab Spring in Sri Lanka to oust the Rajapaksa regime. Fonseka’s denial of human rights violations during the Eelam war is more virulent than the Rajpakasa regime. He, in fact, accuses the government of not having forcefully conveyed this to the international community. 

Within days of Menon’s return from Colombo, President Rajapaksa gathered the Sri Lankan diplomats in a workshop. Referring to the “changing functions of diplomacy” in view of the campaign by pro-LTTE diaspora in the West, the President called upon the diplomats to have a “readiness, willingness and capability” to “persuade others about the needs of Sri Lanka”. The message of “no change” Colombo is trying to deliver to the world is obvious.

For New Delhi, there can be no alternative to a policy of sustained engagement with the Rajapaksa regime. Appointment of a special envoy on Sri Lanka is not a bad idea for the Prime Minister’s Office to consider.

Routray is a former deputy director in the National Security Council Secretariat

Gota Is Mentally Sick, A Family Friend Reveals

By Senaka Samaranayaka -July 17, 2012 

Gotabhay Rajapaksa’s appalling behaviour started after LTTE   suicide attempt some years ago and  as a result of this his head on the right side was knocked so hard, since then he has no control over his emotions especially anger, a Rajapkasa family friend reveals.

Willa and DEW

Last Sunday, Willa Wickramasinghe a businessman and a close confidant of President Mahinda Rajapaksa visited a private hospital to check on an aged female family friend whom he had known for years and who was well versed in political matters in the country. During the visit which lasted for about an hour many interesting topics were discussed. The discussion then turned on to the latest media glare that spilt news on Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Gotabhya’s puppy.

It was alarming to note that there was not a hint of remorse or a feeling of shame from this gentleman for the disgusting manner in which the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence replied to the Sunday Leader editor Frederica Janszwho called him to verify facts. This is despite the fact that the ailing patient went on and on to explain that such behaviour was not welcomed from a person from that caliber and position. She further mentioned that if such threats were made publicly by any other person he or she would have been sued.

Gotabhaya just after the LTTE attack - As a result of the attack his head on the right side was knocked so hard and since then he has no control over his emotions especially anger

Whilst any person with an iota of intellect would consider this tantamount to pure intimidation and threats as the person concerned is not just any one but a man of authority and power. It is hard to imagine that this senior citizen with all his left oriented ideas and years of experience, trying to whitewash Gota’s outrage by making an excuse, mentioning an attempted assassination which was blamed on the LTTE in 2006. It’s a fact that we all know that he escaped unhurt from this ordeal whilst two commandos were killed instantly. But he went on to justify his appalling behaviour saying “this is a result of the Secretary’s brush with death during the attempted suicide some years ago.  As a result of his head on the right side was knocked so hard and since then he has no control over his emotions especially anger.”

Adding insult to injury he stated that he can’t imagine why the Gotabhaya Rajapaksa bothered to answer the call knowing very well that the caller was this woman journalist. He said “a man of such high position should have a person to monitor incoming telephone calls and only calls that are important should be answered by him”

This discussion was later joined by the senior Minister DEW Gunasekara who was very sympathetic towards the Secretary saying “In the interview which he has given to the media today he had admitted that he lost his temper”, implying we have to excuse this poor man’s behaviour no matter what and that Sunday Leader is only making a big drama out of the whole episode.

This reflects how senior citizens and people holding responsible positions who  brag themselves to be  leftists not only trying to justify but try to deny the fact that Defence Ministry  Secretary is not to be blamed for his improper conduct and  trying  to divert blame elsewhere.

‘Crude oil attacks’ target TNPF organisers of civil protests: Gajendrakumar
[TamilNet, Tuesday, 17 July 2012, 07:42 GMT]
The house of Rajappu Edward Anandarajah, the president of All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC) and the vice president of the Tamil National Peoples’ Front (TNPF), situated in Nelliyadi in Vadamaraadchi has also been attacked almost simultaneously as a squad targeted the house of Kandeepan Thangarajah, the central committee member of the TNPF in the early hours of Tuesday. Both the attacks on key members of the party in Vadamaraadchi, have come a day before the TNPF is scheduled to hold a peaceful protest at Nelliyadi on Wednesday against the recent slaying of Tamil prisoner Nimalaroopan, Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam, the leader of the TNPF, told reporters in Jaffna. 

“Our activities are entirely democratic and they are not in breach of any Law. We believe it is our right to carry out these protests,” Mr Gajendrakumar who visited the house of Mr Edward Anandarajah, told media Tuesday.

The house of ACTC president Edward Anandarajah, subjected to attack in the early hours of Tuesday

The president of the ACTC, Mr Anandarajah, added that the protest planned at Nelliyadi will take place as schedule despite the threats he and his colleagues were facing. 

The TNPF has also been the initiator of the protest campaign against land grab. The Sri Lankan police blocked the first protest against land grab in front of Jaffna bus stand with a court order. However, the protest campaign received support from the Tamil National Alliance, which organised the protests that followed in Valikaamam North, in Thiru-mu’rika’ndi and in Mannaar with the support of TNPF, DPF, USP and the NSSP. 

Edward Anandarajah and his family escaped from the attack carried out by a squad that threw stones and crude oil into his house, causing damage to properties around 2:00 a.m.

Almost at the same time, a similar attack was reported on the house on Kandeepan Thangarajah, a central committee member of the TNPF. 

In addition to his participation in the protests against land grab and the mistreatment of Tamil Prisoners of War and political prisoners, Kandeepan Thangarajah has also voiced against the destructive sand scooping taking place at his village, Kudaththanai. 

The pattern of the attacks have exposed that the SL military intelligence in Jaffna has engaged its squads to disturb the civil protests by targeting the organisers. 

The organisers of the protest have also been harassed in recent days by the Sri Lankan Police who were insisting to cancel the protest, news sources in Vadamaraadchi said.

MaRa’s jara UPFA MP Amunugama-the sex starved Casanova

(Lanka-e-News-17.July.2012, 3.00PM) We wish to reveal to the people the services rendered by Dilum Amunugama , a UPFA Kandy district MP to the people clandestinely over and above his official tasks. We deem that we shall be failing in our duty towards the public if we do not uncover his wonderful ‘services’ . In our first photograph is Amunugama at his first marriage registration ceremony when he married Krishanthi De Soysa from Kandy on June 30th 2010 . In our second photograph is same Amunugama when he married a famous beauty queen Miss Sri Lanka Aruni Rajapaksha on 11th April 2011. The photograph depicts his second registration ceremony. However within 9 months of his first marriage he had not divorced his first wife legally. Of course any dog can satisfy its lust with any bitch. Likewise any man living together with any woman with mutual consent is also no issue to those whom celibacy is part of their lives. But it becomes an issue when the Casanova transgresses the law and norms of decent society. Here is Amunugama the UPFA politico , the sex Maniacal pervert who has violated the law and disgraced decent society by his sexual exploits. Particularly because this Amunugama is a representative of the people in Parliament , and is therefore of the Rajapakse ‘clan’ and propensities, it is s very serious issue . What is manifest by all this is , when those within the Temple Trees including Father and sons are enjoying puerile frolic and fun , his Golayas ( kin and henchmen) of the Medamulana area are trying to earn a name for their ‘bosses’ by scrupulously following in the footsteps of their bosses , committing rapes and sexual crimes with gay abandon whereby there has arisen a situation in the country where a young girl cannot walk safely on the road. If these legislators are breaking the laws flagrantly marrying outside the law , very soon the country would have to face monumental problems. It is well therefore to ensure that the long arms of the law would reach for them irrespective of the political pressures brought to bear on the legal processes.

Another of Casanova Amunugama’s marriages... Following our exposure regarding the illegal polygamous marriages of Dilum Amunugama M.P of the UPFA Rajapakse Govt. under the caption “MaRa’s jara UPFA M.P Amunugama-the sex starved Casanova”, we are inundated with information pertaining to this SL sex maniac’s adventures to the detriment of society and country. In addition to what we revealed in our previous article , we are in receipt of information that Amunugama has married yet again.  In the first phase of his seeking elections, he has stated that all those youths , males and females who were with him will be found jobs in the Finance Ministry. A girl Sriyani Sayakkara , the eldest daughter in a family whose father is dead , who was given a job as a receptionist in the Finance Ministry , is the latest in the series of illegal brides of Amunugama . He had registered the marriage with her two months ago, in much the same way as before.The latest wife is about 29 years old. She is an old student of Kandy Puspadana Balika . Based on unofficial information they are now residing at Aniwatte . According to a police officer of Kandy who spoke to Lanka e news , Amunugama is a notorious sex starved Casanova. He is having a separate room for himself in a Guest House belonging to a police officer of the police dogs division situated at Heerasgala Road , Kandy, he added. There are facilities made available in that room for Amunugama to enjoy with the girls he brings there. Though this Guest house is abounding with unlawful and evil activities , no raids are conducted on it because of Amunugama’s influence. Despite the fact that an SSP is living in the vicinity of the Guest house and he is aware of all the nefarious activities in that Guest house he is powerless and disappointed that no action can be taken because Amunugama’s illicit romantic hideout is in this Guest house.

“If You Think Journos Are Pigs Who Eat Shit Why Are You Here To Eat Shit With Us Pigs?, Ivan Slams Gota

By Colombo Telegraph -July 17, 2012 

Last Thursday five editors, Sinha Ratnatunge -Sunday Times, Prabath Sahabandu – The Island, Siri ranasinghe – Lankadeepa, Champika Liyanarachchi – Daily Mirror and Victor Ivan – Former Editor Ravaya were invited for a “confidential” dinner with the President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Only the President, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and Lalith Weeratunge were present.

Victor Ivan

They arrived first 45 minutes nothing of any significance was discussed. Victor Ivan then told the President instead of talking only the good of this government shall we now focus on the bad. He then asked Gotabhaya if you think journalists are pigs who eat shit why are you here to eat shit with us pigs? To which Gotabhaya replied “I did not mean you all when I said that I only said that to Frederica.

Victor asked; what is this??? You have threatened to sue her and the newspaper? If I were frederica I would sue you. Gotabhaya sat “red-faced” looked “very upset” hardly said a word.  Did not at any stage deny using foul language not even having used the F letter word. The President did not utter one word. Later, over dinner he was overhead telling Daily Mirror editor, Champika, “the language used was too much”

But, giving an interview to Lakbima News editor Rajpal Abeynayake , Goatabhaya said; Nothing I said was with any direct reference to her. I did not say so and so, Ms. so and so — I am doing this to you, or going to do this to you, or whatever…  I said nothing directly to the editor who called me. Whatever I said, I didn’t say ‘I am going to do this and this to you’  or anything like that! So you can see they are exaggerating and the reader, without knowing any of this background, gets an entirely different picture.

When asked, But did you use foul language on the lady? Gota replied; I did not do so. I used words such as ‘bloody’ or whatever, not to refer to her but to refer to the incident. I never used foul language on her – but I used certain words in the context that she provoked me unreasonably, in referring to the incident, as I have pointed out above. I mean these are words that are used very commonly in America (USA) for instance, in normal usage. In fact a very high ranking officer of the American government (name withheld by this writer) met me and said about the TV programme Hard Talk and the person who does Hard Talk on BBC: ‘You know we are in the same boat… being questioned by that a_shole.’ This person was referring to Stephen Sakur who does the BBC programme Hard Talk. So this is very common usage, in USA for instance, and they use these words in normal talk — but these people are trying to make a big issue out of it to get at me, because they hate me about the war. In any case I used certain words with reference to the incident; I did not use foul language to abuse her. ( Read the interview here)

Speaking to The Nation, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa described the story that led to the exchange between the two as ‘a non-issue’.He admitted that he did swear during the exchange but claimed he was not directly using those words at Jansz. “I was using the words in general terms, on people who betray the country. However, I let my emotions get the better of me and I regret that,” he said. (Read the story here )

It was only the Sunday Island reported the above reported “confidential” dinner, but with a spin with a wrong date.  The Sunday Island political columnist CA Chandraprema wrote; On Friday night, newspaper editors Victor Ivan, Prabath Sahabandu, Siri Ranasinghe and Sinha Ratnatunga were invited to dinner at Temple Trees. The sudden meeting, outside the regular meetings that the president had with newspaper editors was a fire fighting exercise to deal with the fallout from the blackguarding that defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa had given Sunday Leader Editor Frederica Jansz. Jansz had published a transcript of the conversation that had taken place between her and the defence secretary last Sunday and that made quite a sensation. The defence secretary’s outbursts are well known, but what was new was his reference to ordure and the use of the f-word. He has never been known to use such words.  Be that as it may, the defence secretary too had been present at the dinner given by the president on Friday, and his version of the story is that the Sunday Leader had not published all that he said and that the published conversation had only excerpts of the full conversation. Like everybody else Gotabhaya Rajapaksa too should have the right of reply. ( read the Sunday Island political column here )

Colombo Telegraph contacted three close confidents of the three editors who participated the “confidential dinner” and all of them are confirmed that Victor did confront with Gotabhaya and but Gotabhaya never gave his side of the story or deny Sunday Leader editor’s description of the story as Sunday Island political columnist says.

Related posts;

Gota Is Mentally Sick, A Family Friend Reveals

Gota Speaks Out: My Niece Says, ‘See Maami Because Of Your Matters, I Am Dragged Unnecessarily Into This!’

‘Keep Frederica Jansz Safe’, ‘Embassies In Sri Lanka Should Raise Her Case’ – ARTICLE 19

The Writers In Prison Committee Of PEN International Joins Article 19 In Its Concerns For The Safety Of Frederica

Gota Has Gone To The Dog: SriLankan Airlines And A Puppy Dog For Gota’s Wife

“They Will Kill You – You Dirty Fucking Shit Journalist” “You Are Pigs Who Eat Shit” – Gota Threatened Again

‘You Dirty F**king Journalist, You Are Pigs Who Eat Shit’

Engaging the diaspora for reconciliation

TUESDAY, 17 JULY 2012 
By Salma Yusuf
When history repeated itself on 6 June 2012, it became clearer that something is amiss in our post-war nation building efforts. One and a half years on, the itinerary of a Presidential visit to the United Kingdom was once again altered when an invitation to deliver the keynote address at the Commonwealth Economic Forum organized by the Commonwealth Business Council was cancelled on the morning of the event. The Commonwealth Economic Forum was organized as one of the events to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Celebrations in London.

The incident was harshly reminiscent of the events of December 2010 when the President’s address at the Oxford Union was suddenly called off. The massive protest expected in the University premises put the Oxford Union in the awkward position of having to make the decision that it did. The then President of the Oxford Union, James Kingston, in an email response to a query raised by D.B.S. Jeyaraj, published in an article authored by the latter in these pages on 9 June 2012 stated the following: ‘I was advised there was a serious public order risk, and a serious risk of major disruption to the activities of the local community. At 5000 protestors, it would have been the largest demonstration seen in the history of Oxford, and the risks would have increased accordingly.’

THE GRAVITY OF THE SITUATION

The revelation of the projected turn-out at the December 2010 protest as being the largest in the history of Oxford is noteworthy for more reasons than one – the ability of the Sri Lankan Tamil Diaspora to potentially generate the largest demonstration in the history of the Oxford Union is one, and the ability for it to alter Presidential itineraries is another. The most worrying aspect, however, is the indicator it serves to provide – perhaps a barometer, albeit non-scientific, of the intensity of passion that still exists in certain members of the Tamil Diaspora abroad with regards to grievances.

Come 2012, and similar such efforts to gather a number as large as 2000 at the Mansion House where the Commonwealth Economic Forum was to be held, signals the unwavering commitment and sentiments that were displayed one and a half years ago at the protests staged at the Oxford Union, and more importantly, three years after the ending of the war. Further, it has been reported in the media that members of the Tamil Diaspora had travelled from other countries in the region, namely, France and Germany to join and strengthen the protests.

THE UNDISPUTED CONSENSUS

The reactions, the analyses and the interpretations of such incidents have been wide and varied, yet agreement can be forged across the spectrum of views at least on the following: the Diaspora communities ought to be engaged with some seriousness in our post-war nation-building and reconciliation efforts.

The most credible manner of engaging the Diaspora is through addressing the rights of minorities locally, both systematically and genuinely. Rights of minorities need to be coupled of course with assurances for the possibility of peaceful return and life in the country. This is once again illustrative of how domestic policy and foreign policy are inextricably linked.

INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT: AN OFFICE OF DIASPORA AFFAIRS

The final report of the LLRC recommends that the Government constitute a Multi – Disciplinary Task Force that will include representatives from the Presidential Secretariat, External Affairs, Defence, Foreign Employment, the Private Sector, and Academia, to propose a programme of action to harness the untapped potential of the expatriate community, and to respond to the concerns of the so-called ‘hostile Diaspora groups,’ and to engage them constructively with the Government and other stakeholders involved in the reconciliation process.

There may be merit in going one step further to recommend the setting up of a specially designated Office of Diaspora Affairs. The roles and responsibility of the Office must include the emphasis on highlighting the importance of Diaspora engagement in reconstruction and capacity-building; and an identification and assessment of Diaspora organizations and individuals, and contributions they can make towards reconciliation, peacebuilding and nation-building. It must be stressed that Diaspora contributions ought not be only limited to the financial or commercial, but also include technical and professional expertise.  The Office must ensure that the Diaspora contribution matches the needs, priorities and capacities that exist in the country.

The Office must also seek to encourage visits to Sri Lanka for disillusioned members of the Diaspora community to make assessments for themselves on what is taking place and what remains to be done.

salmayusuf@gmail.com

Drop Tamil Eelam agenda: Chidambaram to Karunanidhi

CHENNAI: Union home minister P Chidambaram on Sunday reportedly conveyed to DMK chief M Karunanidhi the central government's displeasure over a move by the ally to pass aresolution to demand Tamil Eelam at a meeting of the Tamil Eelam Supporters Organisation (TESO) in Chennai on August 12.

The TESO, which comprises supporters of Eelam (separate Tamil land in Sri Lanka) and was revived by Karunanidhi after three decades, is seen as a political strategy to boost the flagging morale of his party, which lost the 2011 assembly polls, as well as to reiterate his importance as a Tamil leader. But such a meeting, to be organised by a key ally of the UPA government, could prove a huge embarrassment for India, whose stated international policy is for cordial ties with Sri Lanka. The nearly half-anhour discussion between Chidambaram and Karunanidhi took place at the DMK chief's CIT Colony residence in Chennai on Sunday.

Women’s’ Rights Group On Sri Lanka’s 700 Sexual Abuse Of Girls

By Colombo Telegraph -July 17, 2012

Issuing a statement the Women and Media Collective says the organisation strongly urges these institutions as well as others to recognize that violence against women and children is not acceptable under any circumstances. Prevention of violence against women and children is a social responsibility. We call on the government to take all necessary steps to guarantee that the rule of law is upheld, that Sri Lanka’s obligations at national and international levels on the rights of women and children are adhered to, and that perpetrators are brought to justice.

Below we produce the statement in full;

Over the last few months, there has been a spate of media reports on incidents of violence against women and children. Police spokesperson, Mr. Ajith Rohana has stated that over the past 6 months over 900 such incidents have been reported of which at least 700 incidents are related to sexual abuse of girls. These include gang rape and sale of young girls for sexual abuse.

Some of the incidents that have been highlighted in the media are:

• The rape and murder of women in Kahawatta (2011/12).
• The abuse of a Russian woman in Tangalla by the Tangalla Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman and 5 others. (December 2011).
• The abduction and rape of a 13 year old girl by the son of a wealthy businessman in Anuradhapura. (January 2012)
• The rape of a 14 year old girl by the Chairperson of the Akuressa Pradeshiya Sabha and one of his relatives. (March 2012).
• The rape of a 13 year old girl by a member of the Tangalla Municipal Council along with 5 other persons. (June 2012)
• The rape of another 14 year old girl by the Chairperson of the Akuressa Pradeshiya Sabha over a period of two days at a guest house owned by him. (June 2012)
• The rape and murder of a 6 year old girl by a male relative and two of his friends in Wellawatte. (June 2012)

There have also been regular reports in the media of sexual abuse of school children by teachers, principals as well as some religious leaders and, by family members and relatives. These violations are reported to have been committed by those who hold responsibility for protecting young children.

The increase of reports of such incidents in the media points to a general degeneration of social norms and principles on the one hand, and highlights the gravity of non- functioning of safeguards to ensure the safety of women and children in this country.

Some of the factors that may be contributing to this situation are the increase in the numbers of the suspended sentences given to perpetrators of violence against women and, the overly long periods of time taken to hear and conclude such cases. In addition, reports indicate that persons accused of such crimes are repeatedly able to obtain bail, thereby giving rise to concerns about granting of bail for such crimes

in the first instance.

Police Spokesperson, Mr. Ajith Rohana is reported to have said ‘We cannot blame anybody but the parents who are responsible for the children’ (Sunday Leader, July 8,

2012). He is further reported to have stated that ‘both the parents go to work leaving the child alone in the house making them vulnerable to outsiders or in other cases the parents migrate overseas leaving the child at the mercy of fathers, stepfathers and uncles who take advantage’.

This appears to be a serious charge that only parents are to blame for such incidents. We ask, does this imply then that perpetrators of these horrendous crimes are absolved of any ‘blame’? Or, does this mean that parents should refrain from going out of the house to be to earn an income for the family? For example, short term overseas employment migration is most often an economic decision taken by parents, and is facilitated and supported by the state for the high and important remittances of these workers. Statements such as the ones above suggests that the state should then necessarily officially declare a lack of confidence and trust in close male relatives of the children left behind/left alone.

We ask, surely, the responsibility to ensure the safety of children and women does not lie only in the hands of parents? Surely, in a civilized society, the responsibility lies categorically on all members of a society, but especially on those who are appointed and tasked with ensuring protection and security. Should we not acknowledge that there are many men who fulfill their familial obligations and are not abusers of their children and women?

It is a matter of shame that a society and culture which upholds the concept ‘mother is the Buddha in the home’ is in fact a society in which perpetrators of heinous

crimes against women and children can live with little fear of the law.

Sri Lanka is a signatory to many in international Conventions and Treatise amongst which are the International Convention of the Rights of the Child (CRC), the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the Convention on the Rights of Migrant Workers and their Families. We have in place a Women’s Charter, an Act for the Prevention of Domestic Violence, Penal Code provisions against rape and incest. We urge that the government acts without delay to make meaning of these obligations and commitments in relation to the rights of women and children. We urge state institutions such as the Ministry of Women’s Affairs and Child Development, the Ministry of Justice, the Child Protection Authority and the Department of Police to act immediately to stop this wave of violence against women and children.

The Women and Media Collective strongly urges these institutions as well as others to recognize that violence against women and children is not acceptable under any circumstances. Prevention of violence against women and children is a social responsibility. We call on the government to take all necessary steps to guarantee that the rule of law is upheld, that Sri Lanka’s obligations at national and international levels on the rights of women and children are adhered to, and that perpetrators are brought to justice.

The Women and Media Collective

Sri Lanka