Rajapakses trying to resolve judiciary issue via murderous theory: Four Lawyers including CJ targeted -Wijedasa’s attempted killers revealed

(Lanka-e-News- 21.Dec.2012, 11.30PM) Lanka e news inside information division is in receipt of a wealth of vital information pertaining to the individuals and the Van that arrived to attack the residence of BASL President Wijedasa Rajapakse yesterday night. The vehicle used is the infamous white Van associated with murders and abductions notorious for Govt. engineered crimes. As always , these orders had been issued by Gotabaya Rajapakse , a byword for murder and brutality . This white Van and the murder squads are under the operation of Gota backed by Anura Senanayake, senior DIG who provides the necessary police protection to these criminals and operations.

Prior to this Van arriving at Wjedasa Rajapkse’s house , all OIC’s of police stations in the vicinity were directly ordered by DIG Senanayake to remove all road barriers . As our inside information division is in possession of reports on these illicit orders , if there is anyone who contradicts this , we challenge them . It is shameless Senanayake the sycophantic sordid follower of the regime who had also instructed to belittle and play down the incident as trifling after the shooting. Accordingly , the media spokesman initially said it is a lighting of crackers.

Our inside information source had identified some of those murderers who were in the white van that was dispatched yesterday at the behest of Gota : They are , Army intelligence unit Corporal, Samantha Kodagoda who is one of the chiefs and Nimal Karunatileke , who is a soldier also attached to the same intelligence unit . Another white van inmate was , an erstwhile Captain now promoted as Major , who arrived in the white Van to kill Kolonnawa Mayor Ravindra Udaya Shantha last march , and was arrested but subsequently released from Wellampitiya police custody , by Anura Senanayake at that time who took Shantha away along with him.

Gotabaya had named four individuals , and given instructions to be followed for two weeks to these white Van criminals. They had been ordered to stop the victims without killing if possible. Otherwise, if there is a necessity to kill them , even then go ahead and somehow stop them, he had told.
According to our inside information reports , the four individuals targeted are : PC Wijedasa Rajapakse, Lawyer Gunaratne Wanninayake, and Lawyer Upul Jayasooriya. The fourth individual is the Chief justice (CJ) . 

There is a vital piece of information in connection with targeting the CJ . That is , since yesterday , another chief has been appointed to the security division of the CJ. He is SP Mannage who is placed above Kotachchi who was hitherto the chief of the security detail . This appointment has been made by Anura Senanayake.
As we revealed yesterday , with the extension of service of Anura Senanayake , the S D unit had been brought under the control of him by Gota. Today , this unit had been entrusted to his henchmen. Effecting sudden changes to the SD unit that is providing security to judges without the permission of the CJ is obviously not to augment their security, rather to weaken the security and make them vulnerable to the targets of the killers . This is abundantly clear. Towards these illegal arrangements and plots , it is the SC judge Shiranee Thilakawardena the pro MaRa legal profession betrayer who is providing support. As exposed by us two days ago , she is enlisting the police to the judges’ sector breaching traditions in order to prepare the groundwork for this conspiracy. 

We cannot but reveal that the IGP is keeping aloof from the conspiracy of Gotabaya Rajapakse . Currently this conspiracy is being hatched with the participation of Gota , MaRa and Anura Senanayake. 

Based on Temple Trees inside sources , in order to justify the actions aimed at threatening and frightening Wijedasa Rajapakse , the regime is trying to follow the same line of action it followed after the assassination of Lasantha Wickremetunge when the Govt . in order to repel the charges that were being leveled against it in that murder , orchestrated an assault on Divaina Editor Upali Tennekoon who was with the Govt. A similar re -enactment can be staged by the Govt. in this instance too , the Temple trees sources pointed out. That Upali’s place in the previous incident may be taken by Pathiba Mahanama today, the same sources added.

Brisbane doctor asks: 'Why was I deported?'

Brisbane human rights activist Brian Senewiratne pictured with South Africa’s Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

Tony Moore-December 19, 2012

An 81-year-old Brisbane doctor, deported from Singapore last week, has questioned whether the Australian government played a part in his forced removal from the nation.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade yesterday said it had no involvement in human rights activist Brian Senewiratne being deported on December 14.

Dr Senewiratne was on the way to speak at two private functions in support of Sri Lankan refugees when he was deported from Singapore Airport.

After being given a general notice by a police officer which said he breached "current immigration policies", Dr Senewiratne questioned why he was deported from Singapore.

"I read it and said 'What are the current immigration policies?" he said.

He said the Singapore police and immigration staff declined to answer the question.

Dr Senewiratne said he wanted to know what involvement the Australian government had with the decision.

"What contact did the Singapore authorities have with the Australian government before they deported our Australian citizen?" he said.

Dr Senewiratne provided no evidence to suggest the Australian government was in any way involved.

"The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade had no prior knowledge of Dr Senewiratne's deportation," a DFAT spokesman said.

"Nor did we provide any information to either government that might have contributed to his deportation."

Dr Senewiratne is the former senior physician at the Princess Alexandra Hospital and a long-time supporter of the cause of Tamil refugees from Sri Lanka.

He said he has travelled through Singapore "about two dozen times" before.

Dr Senewiratne, born in Sri Lanka and educated in London before shifting to Australia 37 years ago, has been a long-term critic of the existing Sri Lankan government.

In March, 2009, he was deported from Malaysia, where he was to deliver a speech about what he described as the genocide of Sri Lankan Tamils, which he had previously given in Toronto.

Last week, Dr Senewiratne left Brisbane at 11.45pm on December 13 to arrive in Singapore on his way to to two "closed door" private meetings in Johor Bahru and Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia about asylum seekers.

"I wasn't going to going into the streets with a megaphone and ask that the Sri Lankan embassy be demolished," he said.

"They were closed door meetings of invited guests only."

Dr Senewiratne says he intended to speak in Johor, drive to Kuala Lumpur to speak again before flying out to Indonesia, where he worked as a consultant doctor in villages.

However, Dr Senewiratne was detained by immigration officials as soon as he arrived in Singapore.

"I was locked up in a 10 foot by 10 foot room with a locked door, with no food, drink and most importantly, no toilet," he said.

"There was a door where you needed a coded key to get in."

At the time of Dr Senewiratne's deportation, the Australian Government was undertaking complex talks with Sri Lanka over dealing with asylum seekers.

Foreign Affairs Minister Bob Carr and Australian government officials arrived in Sri Lanka for three days of talks from December 16.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said there was no link between the events.

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/brisbane-doctor-asks-why-was-i-deported-20121219-2bneu.html#ixzz2FkZsmON4

International Boycott day – Protests held globally against clothing 'Made in Sri Lanka'

Consumers and human rights activists across the globe staged protests in front of clothing outlets on December 15, 2012 to warn holiday shoppers to “check the label” and boycott products made in Sri Lanka.

Boycott Sri Lanka Campaign activists in U.S. cities handed out leaflets, held signs and talked to customers in Philadelphia, New York, Boston, Washington, Raleigh, and San Francisco. They picketed outside GAP and Victoria’s Secret stores advocating for human rights and educating consumers that money spent on Sri Lankan-made clothing helps fund the genocidal war on the Tamil people. Similar boycott protests occurred in Chennai, India and Toronto, Canada.

“It was a huge outpouring of support for the boycott campaign, and customers showed interest and concern over the increasingly terrible conditions for the Tamil people in Sri Lanka. It is the indomitable spirit of this boycott Sri Lanka movement that will expose the apartheid Sri Lanka and get the Tamils justice!” said Dr. Ellyn Shander, MD, Campaign Chair for International Boycott of Sri Lanka.

In 2009 the Sri Lankan armed forces killed over 75,000 Tamil civilians with indiscriminate attacks and starvation, according to the recent internal UN review. After the war ended, the Sri Lankan Army held over 300,000 Tamil civilians in closed, military-controlled internment camps according to Amnesty International. Reports by The London Times said that thousands died from starvation and terrible conditions. While the UN’s Panel of Expertscalled for an international investigation of war crimes during and after the war, the Sri Lankan government continues to deny independent investigators and have restricted access to journalists to the former war-torn areas. “Recently released UN documents indicate the death toll in Sri Lanka is the worst mass atrocity of the 21st century, surpassing the genocide of Srebrenica and Bosnia and present-day Syria combined,” Dr. Shander emphasized.

“Sri Lanka is a highly militarized state that is sustained by the government’s dependence on the garment industry, Sri Lanka’s largest source of foreign exchange,” stated Dr. Shander. Over 50% of Sri Lanka’s exports reach the U.S., mainly as garments, while another 33% of the exports enter the European markets.

“While holding innocent Tamil civilians under military control, these soldiers and paramilitaries continue to harass with rape, illegal arrest, and extrajudicial killings. The government recently arrested and tortured Tamil students who demonstrated for the right to mourn their dead. The Sri Lankan government continues to station 16 of its 19 divisions occupying the traditional Tamil homeland in the North East of the island,” said Dr. Shander.

With nearly half the clothing exports from Sri Lanka being sent to the U.S., the rally organizers have targeted GAP and Victoria’s Secret stores as venues for their boycott campaign. Protesters held signs saying “Big GAP in Ethics, Boycott Blood Garments made in Sri Lanka.” “Though these corporations market themselves as socially responsible brands, a large number of their clothing items originate in Sri Lanka, thus helping the government fund its military,” added Dr. Shander.

Protestors at the rallies urged American corporations to begin moving their production of clothing to other countries that do not commit rights abuses. The European Union has already withdrawn their trade preference for Sri Lanka due to human rights violations. In order to call attention to Sri Lanka’s brutal treatment of Tamils and prevent further violations, protestors asked consumers to check the labels and not purchase any products made in Sri Lanka.

For more information and pictures of the campaign checkwww.boycottsrilanka.com or visit the Facebook page athttp://www.facebook.com/boycottsrilankanow.

Contact info: Dr. Shander, 203-561-0414

Should Shirani B resign? Will Rajapaksha regime allow standards to be set up?

(Lanka-e-News-21.Dec.2012, 10.30PM) 'Yes Shirani Bandaranayake must go, but after the setting up the standards!' Thus we are hearing a new argument now. This slogan, which justify Rajapaksha impeachment and the select committee report, is knowingly or unknowingly aimed at derailing the struggle for democratisation of the country and exposing the Rajapaksha regime. The struggle is gathering momentum day by day. The regime also coming up with various dubious counter attacks every day. It is very clear that if the slogan 'Chief Justice should resign' succeeded will take all steam out of the movement. That is how politics work. Today the slogan independence of judiciary encompasses the issue of whole issue of democratic governance. 

To demand that CJ must go, independence of judiciary must remain is like saying chicken must go not the egg! Once the Chicken goes there are no eggs. If Rajapaksha regime will succeed in removing the Chief Justice there will be no independence of judiciary or any space for setting up standards. Politicaly correct slogan has to be 'Regime must go!' 

The whole impeachment saga was a politically motivated action plan by the Rajapaksha regime in order to bring judiciary under its wings. The reason for impeachment is not to establish a clean governance but to increase the corrupt governance. Only political naïve can call for Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake to resign saying that it will set the standards. Or rather she can set the standards before her resignation. Will Rajapaksha regime allow Shirani Bandaranayake to set up the standards before she go? 

Nobody who understand basics of politics can believeeven for a moment that Rajapaksha regime will allow these so-called standards to be established in Sri Lanka. Impeachment is an only one more step in the direction of establishing total Rajapaksha control over all arms of governance of Sri LankaTaking jtrees for the jungle can be a huge error in this instant. Just look what is happening right now: Attorney at Law Gunarathana Wanninayaka threatened at a gun point; Gun shot fired at Wijedasa Rajapaksha's residence; state media is disgraceful mud singling campaign not only against the CJ but against the BASL as well, Students arrested sent for rehabilitation without any formal charges and so on. This is the picture we need to keep in mind when discussing the impeachment. 

To argue that Rajapaksha regime will allow internationally accepted standards of impeaching judges is simply a deception if not a hypocrisy. 

If Rajapaksha regime or any others wants to set up standards then the first step has to be the withdrawal of the flawed and illegal impeachment and bias select committee. If any one wants to fight for the standards first step has to be stood by the Chief Justice at this given moment. She is the one who is fighting for standards. Politics is not some thing in the sky. Today the struggle is against the Rajapaksha regime's plan for intimidated judiciary.
We need to look at what is happening on the ground. If the impeachment was an isolated incident by a law abiding regime then it is possible to take an abstract position. But as we all know that form the attempts to intimidate Mannar magistrate Anthony Pillai Judeson to gunshots fired at BASL president Wijedasa Rajapaksha's house just two days ago there is a plan of action by Rajapaksha regime to intimidate the judiciary. 

Today the struggle to defend the independence of judiciary is symbolised by one single fight: removal of the flawed impeachment and her right to fair hearing for the Chief Justice. There are no other barricades to stand by. The main contradiction is the country today is impeachment: CJ Vs MR.

Call for Shirani Bandaranayke's resignation saying that 'lets have standards, once she leave is tantamount to complete misreading of the regime's plan. Is it possible to appoint an independent Chief Justice under the 18th amendment of the Rajapaksha regime? What will happen once Shirani B. resigns? Rajapaksha will appoint one of his cronies to lead the Bench. Before we take a stand on whether Srirani Bandaranayake resigns or not we need to find answers to the question raised above: What is the regime's strategy regarding the democratic governance in general and independent judiciary in specific? The answer is simple: no democracy no independence of judiciary. This is the context of struggle of impeachment taking place. If the impeachment wins Rajapaksha strategy goes ahead. If it fails, that wills tolls the bells for Rajapaksha, sooner or later. Chief Bandaranayake has become the symbol of this struggle today. We should call for the removal of impeachment not the Chief justice.

S. Vasudevan, USA

Sri Lankan appeal court stops vote to impeach chief justice

By Ranga Sirilal and Shihar Aneez

COLOMBO | Fri Dec 21, 2012 11:27pm IST

Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake (2nd R) gestures as she leaves the Supreme Court for the Parliament to appear before the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) appointed to look into impeachment charges against her, in Colombo December 4, 2012.

Credit: Reuters/Stringer

(Reuters) - Sri Lanka's appeal court on Friday blocked parliament from voting to impeach the country's chief justice, the latest step in the case that risks a destabilising clash between President Mahinda Rajapaksa's government and the judiciary.

Shirani Bandaranayake was found guilty by a parliamentary panel earlier this month of financial irregularities and a failure to declare assets, after the Supreme Court head and opposition parties withdrew from the proceedings citing unfair process.

The United States, the United Nations and the Commonwealth have raised concerns about the process and called on Rajapaksa to ensure the independence of the island nation's judiciary.

Parliament was to vote next month to impeach Bandaranayake, Sri Lanka's first woman chief justice. Rajapaksa can use his more than two-thirds majority in the 225-member legislature to remove her from her post.

The appeal court ruling stops parliament voting on her impeachment while it decides whether her appeal against the charges by the parliamentary panel is justified.

"The court has determined no further action should be taken," said a lawyer who asked not to be named.

Earlier this month, Sri Lankan lawyers boycotted courts, crippling the judicial system in protest at the impeachment proceedings.

On Friday, hundreds of lawyers demonstrated near the Supreme Court against the move and attacks on the judiciary after shootings outside the houses of two leading lawyers this week.

Rajapaksa has ordered an investigation into the attacks.

SUMMONS

In her 26-page application to the appeal court, Bandaranayake said the parliamentary committee had not allowed her enough time to respond to the charges, and had failed to set out its procedures or allow her to cross-examine witnesses.

The accusations against her arose after she ruled against a bill proposing an 80-billion rupee development budget which she said had to be approved by nine provincial councils.

The ruling angered some of Rajapaksa's backers, who accused the judiciary of overstepping its authority. Bandaranayake's supporters complained of political interference.

Parliament speaker Chamal Rajapaksa, the president's brother appointed the parliamentary panel with seven of its 11 members from the ruling party to investigate 14 charges against Bandaranayake. She was found guilty of three of the first five charges.

The appeal court said on Friday it would summon Chamal Rajapaksa, parliament's secretary general and the 11 members of the parliamentary panel to a hearing next month.

Last month, the speaker rebuffed a Supreme Court summons on impeachment. Chandima Weerakkody, the deputy speaker said the speaker and the panel members were not bound by the order.

"This is similar to the prior situation. So I feel that the earlier decision of the speaker will stand," he told Reuters.

(Writing by Shihar Aneez; Editing by Sophie Hares)

Jaffna: Sathyagrahaya held successfully despite of intimidation; ' intelligence group ' destroyed platform roof

Jaffna: Sathyagrahaya held successfully despite of intimidation; ' intelligence group ' destroyed platform roof

The Tamil National alliance led Sathyagrahaya calling for the release of arrested Jaffna University students went ahead despite the intimidations by an 'unidentified group '. The night before the start of the Sathyagrahaya ( 21) goons of the paramilitary had destroyed the roof of the platform built for the event. The destroyed roof was found in a near by garbage canal. This is a blatant disregard and disgraceful attack on peoples basic right of peaceful assembly.

A day earlier Tamil National Alliance Jaffna district parliament member Mawai Senathiraja informed the hSathyagrahayaannounced by Tamil National Alliance Parliament member S.Sritharan, will be held on Friday appealing the release of four Jaffna university students arrested under terrorism prevention law.

A spokesman for the TNA has told Vanni Post that they suspect military intelligence for the dastardly act.

A photo of the Sathyagrhaya follows:

TNA commenced hunger strike against oppression

We will never release Jaffna University students: Jaffna Commander Hathursinghe

[ Friday, 21 December 2012, 12:02.30 PM GMT +05:30 ]

Jaffna District Army Commander Hathurusinghe announced Jaffna university students are dreaming that we will release students currently in the detention and also they all have currently boycotted their academic activities.

Commander made this statement during the meeting held with Jaffna University academics at the Palali headquarters on Friday morning. Students currently in the detention center continuously stress that LTTE leader Vellu Pillai Prabahakaran in alive and he will establish his regime soon as possible. Due to this it was unable to release these students. I kindly request official to recommence university academic activities. Commander also requested parents to brief their students on death of LTTE leader. (2nd lead) Jaffna District Army Commander Maj.Gen.Mahinda Hathurusinghe announced army will never release Jaffna University students until to awaken them from the dream of establishing Tamil Eelam. Among the students two were brigadier level officers of LTTE organization. Commander made this announcement addressing meeting on demanding to release students of Jaffna University students held at 10.00 am in the Palali cam today. Addressing the gathering commander went on to say, All these suspects were dreaming on arrival of LTTE leader Velupillai Prabahakaran. They all were in stance to follow the policies of LTTE organization. During the time of arrest we rescued more than 50 photographs of LTTE at the university premises. This incident clearly proves that these students continuously involved in LTTE activities. They also maintain direct relationship with LTTE leaders Nediyawan and Vinayakam residing in the migrated nations. Secretary of the Jaffna University students union Tharshananth and Solaman are brigadier level officers of LTTE organization. There are difference between JVP and LTTE struggle. LTTE struggled for separate state. We will never allow establishing separate state in this country. International community defines LTTE as terrorist organization. Commander over ruled university lecturers and parents when they tried to raise question on arrested students. Commander finally stated only 15 thousand military personals were deployed in the Jaffna peninsula. மாணவர்கள் விடுதலை செய்யப்பட்டதன் பின்னரே பல்கலை ஆரம்பிக்கும் என கனவு காண வேண்டாம்;யாழ் கட்டளை தளபதி பல்கலைக்கழக மாணவர்கள் விடுதலை செய்யும் வரை யாழ் பல்கலைக்கழக கல்விச் செயற்பாடுகள் ஆரம்பிக்கப்படும் என காத்திருப்பது கனவிலும் கூட நடக்காது என யாழ் மாவட்ட கட்டளை தளபதி ஹத்துருசிங்க தெரிவித்துள்ளார். யாழ் பல்கலைக்கழக சமூகத்திற்கும் யாழ் மாவட்ட கட்டளை தளபதிக்கும் இடையில் இன்று காலை 10 மணியளவில் பலாலி படைத் தலமையத்தில் இடம்பெற்ற கலந்துரையாடலிலே அவர் இதனைத் தெரிவித்துள்ளார். கைது செய்யப்பட்ட மாணவர்கள் தமிழீழ விடுதலைப் புலிகளின் தலைவர் பிரபாகரன் உயிருடன் இருப்பதாகவும் அவரின் ஆட்சி விரைவில் அமையும் எனவும் அவர்கள் கூறிவருகின்றனர் இதனாலே இவர்கள் தொடர்ந்தும் தடுத்து வைக்கப்பட்டுள்ளனர் எனவே பல்கலைக்கழக மாணவர்கள் விடுதலை செய்யும் வரை யாழ் பல்கலைக்கழக செயற்பாடுகளை ஆரம்பிக்கப்படாது என காத்திருப்பது கனவிலும் கூட நடக்காது எனவே விரைவாக கல்விச் செயற்பாடுகளை ஆரம்பிக்க வேண்டும். அத்துடன் தடுத்து வைக்கப்பட்டுள்ள மாணவர்களை சந்திக்கப்போகும் போது பெற்றோர்கள் தங்கள் பிள்ளைகளிடம் விடுதலைப்புலிகளுடன் தொடர்பில்லை , நாம் இனிமேல் இவ்வாறான செயற்பாடுகளை செய்ய மாட்டோம் என கூறுங்கள். அவ்வாறு அவர்கள் கூறுவார்களாயின் அவர்களது விடுதலைக்கு விரைவில் கைகூடும். இவ்வாறு அமையுமானால் அவர்களின் விடுதலை தொடர்பில் நானும் கலந்துரையாடி அவர்களை விரைவில் விடுவிக்க முடியும் என்றார்.

Oil lamps refrained to light in university

Oil lamps refrained to light in university

Friday , 21 December 2012

Minister Kehiliya Rambukelle said, there is no restriction for the four Jaffna university students to light lamps commemorating their relations and their blood relations, but they should do it in their homes.

Jaffna university students are arrested. Until their release, the other students are boycotting the sessions. Hence the education activities are completely hampered. What is your opinion regarding this issue, was queried from Minister and in reply he made the above statement.

They have lighted lamps in Jaffna university compound, students’ hostels. Tiger movement holdings were discovered.

Tiger movement is prohibited. They have lighted lamps to the tigers killed from war. This cannot be permitted. Law and order is common to everyone. Students should adopt this.

He said students who deviated law and order, disciplinary action had been taken.

SL Commander threatens VC-led team visiting Palaali

[TamilNet, Friday, 21 December 2012, 07:46 GMT]
Following the refusal of the Deans of the University of Jaffna to meet the SL commander of the occupying forces at Palaalai military base on Wednesday, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Jaffna on Friday morning led a team of some academics and the parents of the four detained student leaders to meet the SL commander at Palaali. The SL Commander Maj. Gen. Mahinda Hathurusinghe threatened the visiting team that if they insist on the release of the detained students for the re-opening of the University, then there will be no chance of the students getting released. He ignored the pleading and crying parents of the students, who attempted to prostrate before him. 

He ridiculed about two of the detained students, Tharshananth, the secretary of the Jaffna University Student Union and Solomon a student activist, as ‘Brigadiers’ of the diaspora forces. He named three persons in the diaspora, Rudrakumaran, Nediyavan and Vinayagam, whom he imagined or wanted to project as driving forces behind the Jaffna University students. 

The Jaffna University students ‘dream’ that Pirapaharan would come and lead their struggle, Hathurusinghe told the visiting team. 

Responding, an academic Dr Satkunarajah, who accompanied the Vice Chancellor Prof Vasanthi Arasaratnam to the meeting, came hard on Huthurusinghe.

Dr Satkunarajah told Hathurusinghe that it was such an attitude of the SL forces against the Jaffna University students right from early 1980s that escalated the crisis to its later stages. Whether the SL commander is re-enacting it now, he asked. 

The meeting of the VC-led team going to Palaali took place at the orders of the SL Defence Secretary and presidential sibling Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, informed sources said. Only selected media persons were allowed to cover the meeting. 

Meanwhile, the SL Police spokesman in Colombo was telling media that the four Jaffna University students are not detained, but have volunteered to go through a ‘rehabilitation’ programme by the SL military.

SRI LANKA: Storm signals across the Palk Bay 

 

By Col R. Hariharan

Some of the recent policy decisions of Sri Lanka affecting Indian commercial interests are sending disturbing signals that have the potential to affect Indo-Sri Lanka relations. Will these storm signals add to the political stress created by the non implementation of the much maligned 13^thAmendment to the Constitution?

Sri Lanka watchers are probably already debating this question. (For an analysis of the rationale behind 13A stress see South Asia Analysis Group Sri Lanka Update No: 225 December 7, 2012 - “Sri Lanka: Consolidation of Rajapaksa Inc ” at http://www.southasiaanalysis.org/node/1083 )

India-Sri Lanka relations, despite occasional hiccups have remained cordial all along because a sense of pragmatism among the national leadership in both countries prevailed over petty agendas and emotional hang-ups. This has given the relationship a unique character in South Asia. However, this had not precluded stress building up in times of national crisis in either country. The Eelam War IV (2006-09) was a recent example of when the two countries successfully managed it, though Indian government’s credibility within India had suffered because of it. (For a detailed analysis of this narrative see South Asia Analysis Group Paper No: 5294 dated Nov 13, 2012 “Adding substance to SAARC: India-Sri Lanka experience” athttp://www.southasiaanalysis.org/node/1055).

If the present policy trend is left unchecked, it could affect Sri Lanka’s credibility among the Indian non-political segment particularly the trading community. The loser would be Sri Lanka, as it needs India’s whole-hearted economic support to keep a burgeoning economic down slide within manageable proportion in the coming months. Of course, this is in addition to the need for India’s political support to handle when the ghosts of Sri Lanka’s aberrations of governance catch up at the UN Human Rights Council session in April 2013.

The first issue relates to the Sampur thermal power project hanging fire since December 2006 when the governments of India and Sri Lanka, and National Thermal Power Corp (NTPC) of India and Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) signed a memorandum of understanding to construct a coal-fired 500 Mega Watt power plant in Eastern Province.  The time-plot of the disastrous progress which has not yet left its paper trail is given below. It shows how casually such a huge project has been handled:

 Read moreabout SRI LANKA: Storm signals across the Palk Bay – Update No. 227 

Cowardly War Carried Out By Sri Lanka

By S. V. Kirubaharan -December 21, 2012 

S. V. Kirubaharan

The latest reports of the UN Secretary General’s – UNSG, on its work in Sri Lanka tell us many genuine facts which are strongly evidenced.

Those who know the story of the battle between the Singhalese princeDutugemunu and the Tamil King Ellalan (Elara) will see there is no difference between it and the war that ended on 19 May 2009. In fact, the Sinhalese prince Durutugemenu won his battle against Tamil King Ellalan by cunning and cowardly action.

Nearly 2000 or more years ago, a Sinhala young prince known as Dutugemunu who belonged to the Kingdom of Rukunu in the South of the island, wanted to conquer the land of the Tamils in the Central part, Anuradhapura of the island. So the young prince challenged the seventy years old Tamil King Ellalan for a one to one fight.  When Ellalan agreed for the fight, Dutugemunu breached the ancient rules of combat and targeted Ellalan’s war elephant. While Ellalan was falling off his war elephant, Dutugemunu hurled his arrow at Ellalan and won the battle.

The report of the UNSG Internal Review Panel report – action in Sri Lanka published on 14 November 2012, tells us how the Sri Lanka government lied to the international community about the realities of this war and hoe they violated modern day rules of combat. If the rules of combat – international humanitarian law had been respected and if international pressure had been effective and had resulted in meaningful action, the Sri Lankan government would have lost the war long ago.

Sri Lanka persistently maintains that there were only 70,000 people in Vanni at the last days of the war. But it has been proved that nearly three to four times more people than that remained there at that time.

To carry out a deadly war without international witness, Sri Lanka asked the UN workers to move away from the conflict areas. No journalist or any NGOs activities were allowed to remain in those areas.

Sri Lanka carried out indiscriminate bombing and shelling everywhere including hospitals and the no-fire zone. Food and medical supplies to those areas were cut off but due to international pressures, small quantities of food and medicine reached the people.

Civilians were malnourished, traumatised, exhausted and often attacked from Land, Sea and Air. These attacks were carried out with arms and ammunition which were not allowed to be used in this conflict.

Civilians were allowed to live in a poor sanitation condition, including no toilet facilities.

Civilians’ bunkers were filled with mud and poisonous insects. Many pregnant women gave birth to their children in them and seriously injured patients were confined in them for days with no medical treatment.

The UNSG Internal Review Panel report, paragraph 33 read as follows:

 “33. Throughout the final stages of the conflict, Member States did not hold a single formal meeting on Sri Lanka, whether at the Security Council, the Human Rights Council or the General Assembly. Unable to agree on placing Sri Lanka on its agenda, the Security Council held several ‘informal interactive dialogue’ meetings, for which there were no written records and no formal outcomes. At the meetings, senior Secretariat officials presented prepared statements that focused largely on the humanitarian situation. They did not emphasize the responsibilities of the Government or clearly explain the link between Government and LTTE action and the obstacles to humanitarian assistance. Nor did they give full information on the deaths of civilians. For example, in a 27 February briefing, the USG-Humanitarian Affairs said “dozens of people per day at least are being killed and many more wounded” but did not provide the COG casualty figures or mention that most casualties appeared to be the result of Government fire and were occurring in the NFZ. The Security Council did not issue a press statement until three days before the end of the conflict. At the Human Rights Council, in Geneva, a number of Member States tried over the final weeks of the conflict to gather the minimum of 16 Council members required to support calling a Special Session on the situation in Sri Lanka.” (Excerpt from UNSG Internal Review Panel report)

The report of the UN Secretary General’s Panel of experts on Accountability in Sri Lanka agrees that 40,000 civilian’s death and added that credible information is that over 70,000 civilians were killed.

Now the UNSG’s Internal Review Panel report – action in Sri Lanka clear this doubt that nearly 80,000 civilians were killed during the last stages of the war.  Paragraph 34 read as follows:

 “34. On 19 May, with the death of the LTTE’s leadership, the Government claimed victory in the war. The final phase of the decades-long Sri Lankan conflict was catastrophic. The Panel of Experts stated that “[a] number of credible sources have estimated that there could have been as many as 40,000 civilian deaths”. Some Government sources state the number was well below 10,000. Other sources have referred to credible information indicating that over 70,000 people are unaccounted for.” (Excerpt from UNSG Internal Review Panel report)

The UN Secretary General’s Panel of experts on Accountability in Sri Lanka and also his Internal Review Panel report clearly mention, how Sri Lanka with the help of China, Russia, India, Pakistan and Cuba cunningly used the Special session of the UN Human Rights Council to insert their own resolution which praised their cowardly war tactics.

UN reports also point out how Sri Lanka cheated a few States in the UN Human Rights Council, indicating that the joint communiqué issued by the UN Secretary General and Sri Lankan President included the crucial matter of accountability. In reality, Sri Lanka was not serious or in the least bothered about accountability.

UNSG Internal Review Panel report paragraph 36 reads as follows:

“36. Meanwhile, on 19 May, the same day the war was declared over, at the Human Rights Council a total of 17 Member States belatedly gave their support for a Special Session which was subsequently scheduled for 26 and 27 May. The Sri Lankan Government did not want a Special Session, but once it was scheduled the Government quickly submitted its own draft resolution. By doing so before the Member States who had advocated for the Special Session were themselves able to submit a text, under the procedural rules the Government ensured its own draft was the initial basis for the Council’s deliberations. The Special Session ultimately adopted a slightly adapted version of the Sri Lanka Government draft, which commended the Government for its support to IDPs, welcomed Government commitment to human rights, and urged the international community to cooperate with the Government.  The resolution did not mention accountability, although it did endorse the Joint Statement.” (Excerpt from UNSG Internal Review Panel report)

Terrorist and cowardly state

The UNSG Internal Review Panel has used the terminology “internment camp” in their reporting showing how the IDPs were suffering in those camps in Sri Lanka. Furthermore, the report says the following in paragraph 41:

“41. The conflict and its aftermath saw UN staff suffer abuses in contravention of their UN privileges and immunities, and of international human rights and humanitarian law. National UN staff prevented by the LTTE from leaving the Wanni lived through months of Government and LTTE shelling, and witnessed dependents being killed or injured. Staff were screened and interned in camps. At least two staff members were abducted and tortured by Government forces, and then formally detained by the police. Many NGO staff were also killed during the conflict. In March 2012, on UN premises in Geneva, members of the Sri Lanka Government delegation threatened and harassed NGO activists attending the Human Rights Council session.”(Excerpt from UNSG Internal Review Panel report)

What I have mentioned above and many other UN Reports including the reports of the international NGOs endorsed that Sri Lanka has carried out a cowardly war, ignoring the modern day’s rule of combat – international human rights and humanitarian law.

Better late than never, it has come to light that Sri Lanka is not only a Terrorist state, but also a cowardly state. Two thousands years ago, what Dutugemunu cowardly practicised has been repeated by the modern Dutugemenu(s). Their days in power are numbered.

Ps.

My recent articles worries a few. Some have warned me too. The common phenomena is that,  “everyone who comes into this world has to die one day. Until the time comes, it cannot happen. When the times come, no one can escape. Until that, one should not fail in his/her duty.”