Rajapaksa denies Army killed Balachandra

A file photo of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa.-

March 1, 2013

Even India was “harassed” by UNHCR over Kashmir, he says

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has denied that the Army killed LTTE chief Prabakaran’s 12-year-old son Balachandran.

“Had it happened, I would have known [it]. It is obvious that if somebody [from the armed forces] had done that, I must take responsibility. We completely deny it. It can’t be,” he told The Hindu in an exclusive interview.

On new evidence of wrongdoing in the final stages of the war in 2009, collated by international organisations and media outlets, he said that putting out such reports and videos was their job. “We must not merely look at one side. They must not merely listen to one group and the Opposition [in Sri Lanka]. So they [the Opposition] are trying to get the support of other countries to create an ‘Arab Spring’ here. That won’t happen in Sri Lanka.”

Provincial elections

Asked whether he would hold the Northern provincial elections in September, as he had told this newspaper, Mr. Rajapaksa said: “Yes, we will hold [the poll] in September. That’s why we have postponed the other [provincial] elections too. I did not want to face the criticism that I was doing it only because I had no intention of holding the Northern provincial elections.” The North would have powers which are “not more, not less” than those enjoyed by the eight other provinces.

On the coming U.S.-sponsored resolution at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), Mr. Rajapaksa said Jaffna was provided with all infrastructure just three years after the war ended. “Who did this within three years? Anybody who has come and seen it has talked about it positively and has commended us.”

Even India was “harassed” by the UNHRC over Kashmir, he said. “Sri Lanka is like a volley ball. Everyone is taking turns punching it to cover up their sins.”

On the issue of a political solution for the Tamil people, he said that unless the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), an umbrella group of Tamil parties, joined the Parliamentary Select Committee, there could be no way forward. “Without TNA [on the committee], I will not be able to do anything… Earlier, all the leaders gave their solutions from the top. It has failed. The 13th Amendment has failed. Everything has failed,” he said.

Mr. Rajapaksa allayed fears that MPs of the majority community would hijack the agenda, pointing out that some individuals and parties in the government would not allow it to happen.

The President said he had not discussed with India its support to Sri Lanka at the UNHRC. “India must know its duty, as a neighbour…, as a friend of Sri Lanka. I can’t dictate to India.”

Referring to External Affairs Minister Salman Kurshid’s comments in Parliament on accountability for alleged human rights violations in Sri Lanka, he insisted that Sri Lanka had held people accountable for excesses. “We have filed cases… We have handed down punishments. But this can be done only as per the laws of this country…I have released 14,000 [LTTE] prisoners, who had serious charges against them like murder, after a process of rehabilitation. Had I filed cases against the 14,000 people, what would have happened? I am a Buddhist. We have tolerance and compassion. There are still some more people [of the LTTE] in prison. We are examining ways…to release them.”

Sri Lanka’s relations with India were fine after the 2012 vote in Geneva. “There are many incidents to show that the relationship is good. We don’t hold… Indian fishermen who routinely fish in our waters…Thousands of fishermen are crossing and fishing…We sent so many Indian prisoners back home. Despite incidents in Tamil Nadu [where Sri Lankan pilgrims were sent back], there has not been any incident [involving] Indians in Sri Lanka. I understand that there are people who want India to have some confrontation with Sri Lanka… It is all politically motivated,” he said.

WikiLeaks: Sinhala Community Will Treat Tamils Even More Poorly With Prabhakaran Gone

By Colombo Telegraph -March 2, 2013

“Mixed but moderate responses in Tamil Nadu followed the news of the death of Velupillai Prabhakaran, leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), from relief to indifference to occasional outright denial. Despite the efforts of political parties to turn concern over the Sri Lankan war into votes in Tamil Nadu, the issue had little impact on the recent elections. Fears of organized uprisings for the defeated LTTE turned out to be unwarranted, as sporadic and ineffectual episodes of protest fizzled out, and Tamils were left with only colorful conspiracy theories to mark the passing of the famed chief of the Tigers. The historic ties between Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka, only 30 miles apart, failed to inspire both voters and potential protesters, but security concerns still muted the commemoration of the 18th anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination by an LTTE suicide bomber. Unease remains over what the few remaining LTTE supporters in the state might do.” the US Consulate Chennai (India) informed Washington.

The Colombo Telegraph found the related leaked cable from the WikiLeaks database. The cable analyses the death of Velupillai Prabhakaran, leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and the Tamil Nadu reaction. The cable was written on May 22, 2009 by US Consulate Chennai.

The US Consulate wrote; “S.C. Chandrahasan, a leader of Tamil Nadu’s Sri Lankan refugee community, said that news of Prabhakaran’s death was met with sadness by many of the refugees who, despite their distaste for the LTTE’s tactics, believe that Sri Lanka’s Sinhala community will treat Tamils even more poorly with Prabhakaran gone. Chandrahasan added that the dominant sentiment is resignation, and that he does not believe there will be unrest in the refugee community in the wake of the LTTE’s defeat. The fate of the Tamil internally displaced persons (IDPs), and not a Tamil ‘Eelam’ or separate state, has now become the main rallying cry for the Sri Lankan Tamils Protection Movement, which organized rallies in Tirunelveli and Tuticorin (in southern and coastal Tamil Nadu), peaceably calling for UN intervention to monitor the treatment of Tamil IDPs in Sri Lanka.”

“Some die-hard Prabakharan supporters in Tamil Nadu refuse to accept that the LTTE leader is dead. Assurances that Prabakharan was ‘hale and healthy’ came from the Tamils’ Protection Movement, as the MDMK’s Vaiko refused to accept that the LTTE commander had been killed, and many speculated that the image shown on television was of one of Prabhakaran’s body-doubles.” the Consulate further wrote.

The US Consulate wrote; “May 21 marked the 18th anniversary of the assassination of Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi by an LTTE suicide bomber just outside of Chennai in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu. This year no member of the Gandhi family traveled to the site to mark the anniversary. Media speculation centered around two possible explanations: that either the Gandhi family wanted to avoid the potential embarrassment of facing pro-LTTE protests or that security considerations kept them away. Karti Chidambaram, son of Home Minister P. Chidambaram, cited ‘security concerns’ as the reason for the absence of the Gandhi family at the Sriperumbudur memorial.”

Placing a comment the US Consulate wrote; “The Sri Lankan civil war has long cast a shadow over Tamil Nadu. Revulsion over the Rajiv Gandhi assassination in 1991 moved support for the LTTE from polite society to the fringes of political discourse. Sentiment shifted temporarily back in the direction of the LTTE last year as Tamil civilian casualties mounted in Sri Lanka. The change in sentiment was shallow and short-lived: the parties that most vocally took up the Tamil cause lost badly in the recent elections. But the refusal of some in Tamil Nadu to believe Prabhakaran is dead demonstrates the depth of pro-LTTE sentiment on the far periphery of the state’s political culture. Their numbers are likely quite small, but they may be willing to extend aid and comfort to elements of the LTTE fleeing their military defeat on the island. Tamil Nadu, which is a short boat ride away and where Sri Lankan Tamils can fairly easily blend, is a logical destination for the remnants of the defeated terrorist organization.”

Read the cable below for further detail;

Tamil pupils transported to Army cinema to watch Singhalese movie

02March2013

The Sri Lankan Army has opened a cinema at their Jaffna headquarters, and what better way to inaugurate the building than to provide free transport to Tamil primary school children and their teachers to watch a screening.

The army organised the screening of a Singhalese children’s movie at the cinema, with a soldier explaining the story in Tamil in advance.

Around 275 students from Year 1 to 11 are reported to have been transported to the screening.

SF-J Cinema Open for Jaffna School Children Free of Charge
[2013-02-27 15:45:25] Students of St. Mary’s Vidyalaya got a rare opportunity of watching an exemplary Sinhalese Children’s film at the new cinema hall recently opened at the Security Forces - Jaffna (SF-J) Headquarters premises on Wednesday (27). Civil Affairs and Public Relations Office, Jaffna organized the programme on directives of the Commander SF-J. About 275 students from Grade 1 up to Grade 11and 15 teachers including the principal of the school Mr. S.Q.P. Morraies came to watch the film on Wednesday morning. A soldier gave a comprehensive idea about the film in Tamil language before it was screened. Children and teachers were provided free transport and tea by the Headquarters SF-J.

Global Tamil Forum's 3rd Anniversary Conference

About Our President-Prof. Dr. S. J. Emmanuel

President’s Speech

A warm welcome to all, distinguished guests and friends particularly those who have braved the journey to London from Sri Lanka and to members of the GTF from around the world. I salute and thank you all here, for your continued contribution with dedication and commitment to help us in our hard walk to freedom, It’s a struggle based on truth and  justice for accountability, reconciliation and peace in Sri Lanka

I want to place on record, the sincere appreciation and gratitude  of the Global Tamil Forum to the Members and Officials of the British Parliament, who have helped to make this event possible today. 

Three years ago, we had our inaugural conference in this parliament thereby highlighting not only the historic responsibility of the British to take a leading  role in the third and international phase of the Tamil struggle. But also reminding ourselves in the Global Tamils Forum, to look to the British and British Parliament, supported by British Tamils to stand on the front-lines of the struggle. 

Hence the British Parliamentarians and officials giving us the opportunity again to host this conference here at a critical juncture – at a time, when international scrutiny on Sri Lanka is intensifying is a positive sign that the British Parliament  and its organizations are  accepting their role and responsibility in our struggle.

Turning to our homeland we see things getting worse everyday. Instead of a post-war move towards rebuilding the country for the better, Sri Lanka's  Government of the Rajapaksha Dictatorship has turned out to be an authoritarianism, that tolerates no opposition or criticism, neither from within the country nor from the outside world. Disappearances of civilians including many journalists are on the increase and even civic and religious society leaders have a fear gripping them. Some of the civic and religious leaders whom we invited for this event, even from among the majority Sinhalese, are unfortunately not here because of genuine fear of the Government. 

The changes to the Constitution and the recent impeachment of the Chief Justice Besides exposing the tension and break down of relations between the Legislative and the Judiciary, has shown to the whole world to what depth of authoritarianism,  the present Government can descend to.

While parading as a respected member of the international community, and receiving enormous financial aid and military support to fight its projected war against “tamil terrorism” and wishing to be in the limelight of international events like the CHOGAM, it still remains uncooperative, if not arrogant, to international demands on good governance and respect for human rights. This is one other reason why Sri Lanka needs a fundamental constitutional reform not only for permanent peace to end the ethnic conflict but also for true democracy and future prosperity of the island. 

Working to highlight this need for Sri Lanka is our common responsibility. Your convictions and views about the present crisis within Sri Lanka and about what has to be done by the international community is an indispensable support for our efforts – the efforts of all the diaspora Tamils.

We have programmed our recent efforts as a four-pillars Project 

1. to lobby international support to expose human rights violations and war crimes of the Sri Lankan Government,

2. to bring closer to one another all Tamil organisations within and without Sri Lanka to a common political ground and to formulate a common statement to articulate Tamils legitimate aspirations

3. to engage with civil society leaders from the non-Tamil society in the south of the island,

4. and to provide a stable international humanitarian  support to our people to rebuild their lives in their homeland. 

Hence todays event, crying out for justice and accountability, is not a stand alone event. It is an important part of our four pillar program to work towards finding a permanent political solution for the country. It is a solution that we owe to the whole country, to all Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims – especially to the hundreds of thousands who were either targeted during the last six decades of mob and state-violence, or who were massacred mercilessly and inhumanly at the last stage of the war. We owe a solution to those who continue to pay the ultimate price for survival, even today with their lives.

GTF is three years old and was born as a consequence of the last two phases of the Tamil struggle. Appealing to the majoritarian democracy within the Sri Lankan parliament And non-violent protests for 30 years failed misereably. And defending the Tamils and their homeland from State terrorism brought more and more death destruction and displacements and finally, due to the miscalculation of the Tamil struggle for human rights merely as Tamil terrorism  helped Sri Lanka towards a mass massacre of Tamils. 

It is on this background and as a consequence of these two phases of the struggle, GTF was founded to serve as a diaspora leadership in the new international phase of the Tamil struggle. It is a unique network of Tamil diaspora organizations, to work in conjunction with the Tamils and their leadership in the island and to provide a leadership service among the diaspora and at the international level for the continuation of the struggle.

Being a network of country-organizations, whose directors meet as a board at least twice a month, and at the same time to be engaged at the international level with Governments and Organisations, we have a steering committee and an office in London. Through the dedicated efforts of the steering committee and of the office in London we prepare the engagements with governments and non-governmental organizations.

It is not an easy task for various reasons. Our mode of operation, unlike that of a country organization, is determined by its unique and double character of being an international network with international engagements – all organised from the Steering Committee and Office in London. This is at times misunderstood and criticized. 

But we will try hard, I can assure you, with our inclusive approach but disciplined with our constitution, and  above all committed to the noble cause of Tamil liberation to improve as we go along..

We are proud of our country organizations, engaged both in keeping the diaspora Tamils active and united  in this struggle As well as informing and lobbying the respective governments and people for our cause.  

Engaging in international diplomatic work has been a steep learning curve for many of us. We have learnt sincerity and pragmatism in pursuing our goal is important, Conviction and persistence in arguing our case is paramount, consistency in what we say wins us credibility, and compromise for the greater good is needed for a successful solution. 

Whilst being mindful of all the above realities we have been consistent in taking forward our work with the  conviction that we will be judged by  not only in what we say, but also in what we do, and how we contribute for a permanent political settlement for all our people.  

We have made good progress on many fronts,become a trusted partner for the democratically elected Tamil political parties on the ground. We are exploring the common political ground with all the Tamil üarties and civic leaders towards formulating a common statement and we are engaging with the progressive forces of the South In which fundamental constitutional reform takes the centre stage. Only that we believe can pave the way for all communities in the island to realize their legitimate aspirations, and live in a true democracy in their homelands.

The voices of support for our efforts has emerged from Tamil Nadu to South Africa, from Europe and the American continent. We, Tamils, are delighted with the unified voices of Madame Jayalalitha, Kalaighar Karunanithi, Vaiko, Pala Nedumaran and others. We welcome India's increasing interest in the Tamil issue and we firmly believe India's involvement is important to ensure justice and a permanent political settlement for Tamils. The mounting international pressure and scrutiny on Sri Lanka led by the United States, United Kingdom, European Union and others and calls for independent international investigation are clear evidence that the international community is simply losing its faith on President Rajapakshe. 

As I said three years ago at the inaugural dinner here in London, we are on the high road to freedom for our people. Dogs can bark from either side of our path. Challenges and suffering we will encounter but we will not be deterred or discouraged. With a deep conviction that truth and justice will ultimately triumph Against all forces which try to rob our God-given dignity and rights with your support and encouragement, my dear friends, We will march on courageously for Truth and Justice.!.

Change CHOGM venue – Miliband

By Sulochana Ramiah Mohan-2013-02-28

 

UK MP and former Foreign Secretary, David Miliband, supporting further action on Sri Lanka at the 22nd Sessions of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva, in a video message, urged the UK and other Common-wealth members to call for a change of venue for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) scheduled to be held in Colombo.

MP Miliband was one of the key international speakers who partici- pated at the Global Tamil Forum (GTF) third anniversary celebrations held at the Committee Room 14, Houses of Parliament in the UK yesterday.

He said, "The UNHRC's call on Sri Lanka to address accountability and reconciliation was an important first step in holding the GoSL to account."

However, as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, has reaffirmed recently, there needs to be a credible independent international inquiry into allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity arising from the armed conflict.

"Now is the time for international bodies such as the UN and the Commonwealth to demonstrate their relevance by promoting and upholding core values of democracy, the rule of law and human rights. Therefore, I support further action on Sri Lanka at the Geneva session and urge the UK and all Commonwealth members to call for a change of venue for 2013 CHOGM, so that the principles of these institutions are not undermined," he said.

Chairman of the Conservative Party, MP Grant Shapps, who represented Prime Minister David Cameron, delivered the Premier's message. It read: " In view of Sri Lanka's very difficult recent history, all parties must work together to heal their country. I hope those gathered together at the GTF conference can play a positive role in ensuring we achieve that goal and wish them every success."

UK Deputy Prime Minister, MP Nick Clegg, addressing the gathering said, "Sustainable peace in the island can only be built on the foundations of accountability and reconciliation. However, since the end of the armed conflict in 2009, there remains a distinct lack of protection for human rights and the cultural and political rights of many people in the country, particularly for Tamils. The UK was right to co-sponsor the UNHRC resolution and we must continue to insist on the key objectives."

UK MP Douglas Alexander – Shadow Foreign Secretary, said the recent impeachment of the Chief Justice, the ongoing human rights abuses, which include attacks on journalists and the freedom of expression have all raised continuing international concern. "The Labour Party has continued to prevail upon the British PM and the UK Government the need to establish such an inquiry and we are now urging the British to raise these continuing concerns directly with the Sri Lankan authorities before reviewing the UK's representation ahead of the 2013 CHOGM scheduled to be held in Sri Lanka," he said.

While several local politicians and popular persons were invited, only TNA MP M.A. Sumanthiran was able to attend the anniversary forum. MP R. Sampanthan delivered a video message to the invitees. Bawa Abdul Kader, former Deputy Chairman of the Sri Lanka's Teachers' Union was also present. Sandhya Ekenligoda, wife of disappeared cartoonist Prageeth Ekneligoda, who was invited for the event was unable to be in the UK, due to delay in the issuance of visa.

International Human Rights Law Professor, William Schabas, who appeared in the first Killing Fields documentary, Prof. Joshua Castellino, Head of Law Department at Middlesex University, Dr. Manivannan, Associate Professor and Sri Lanka specialist at the University of Madras, India, Yasmin Sooka, one of the UN Secretary-General's Panel of Experts on Sri Lanka and Executive Director of the Foundation for Human Rights in South Africa, Yolanda Foster of Amnesty International, David Mepham, UK Director Human Rights Watch (HRW) on HRW's new report 'We Will Teach You a Lesson,' Erik Solheim, Former peace negotiator, Gordon Weiss, former UN Spokesman in Sri Lanka and author of The Cage and Frances Harrison Former BBC Foreign Affairs Reporter also attended the conference.

GTF President, Dr. S.J. Emmanuel delivered the welcome prayers and Siobhain McDonagh MP, Chair of Event and Vice Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Tamils (APPG-T) delivered the welcome speech.

Mr. Blake Do You Want Mercenaries Or To Twist The Arms Of US Citizens?

Strand Campus King’s College London, with Kumar after the discussion - 'Sri Lanka and Great Power Politics: China, India, USA - Strategic Concerns in the Indian Ocean'

By Uvindu Kurukulasuriya -February 11, 2012

Uvindu Kurukulasuriya

Blake is in Sri Lanka again. This time with US Under Secretary of State Maria Otero.  Are they in Sri Lanka to inform the Rajapaksa brothers that their US citizenship was revoked or to ask for mercenaries to fight the Afghan war?

I am curious, because one can see the US hypocrisy regarding war crimes accountability issues through their own reports. If you read leaked US diplomatic cables together with other US official documents related to Sri Lanka you can clearly see that the US is changing their policy towards Sri Lanka from time to time. For instance from November 2 to 8, 2009, Senate Foreign Relations staff members Nilmini Gunaratne Rubin and Fatema Sumar visited Sri Lanka and held meetings with senior government officials, international organisations, political leaders, civil-society activists and journalists to discuss post war reconciliation, resettlement of internally displaced persons (IDPs), the humanitarian situation and media freedom. They also visited the South, East and the IDP camp at Manik Farm. Once they left the country the US Ambassador to Colombo Patricia A. Butenis wrote; “The StaffDel noted in their out brief with the Ambassador that the current SL environment was post-war and not post-conflict, with reconciliation still a challenging issue. They found ground reality in Sri Lanka “more nuanced” and “more complicated” than expected. They recommended that the U.S. think strategically and long-term and take a holistic approach in determining U.S. specific levers on key issues, and commented that by focusing only on human rights, we shoot ourselves in the foot.”

So why do they not implement the Senate recommendation and revoke US citizenships? Instead of doing just that, without any shame one day after the publication of the Senate report, December 8, 2009 during a meeting with Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, Assistant Secretary Robert Blake raised the possibility of Sri Lanka contributing to US – led coalition operations in Afghanistan, noting that it would be a significant step in support of improving military–to–military engagement

After the Senate Foreign Relations staff members’ visit the “Committee on Foreign Relations United States Senate” published a report on December 7, 2009 called “Sri Lanka: Reaching U.S. Strategy After The War” dated December 7, 2009 for their one hundred and eleventh Congress first session.Under the subject “Recommendations on Sri Lanka”, with some other recommendations, it said that the Obama administration should;  tighten visa restrictions and revoke US citizenship of any persons who are shown to have committed war crimes in Sri Lanka, whether they acted on behalf of the LTTE or the Government of Sri Lanka (Recommendation 6).

Now the question is what have they done to implement that recommendation? Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, his brothers and opposition candidate General Fonseka are responsible for alleged war crimes against the Tamils, according to a cable sent by US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Patricia Butenis. The cable, dated January 15, 2010, updated the Secretary of State on war crimes accountability following the end of the country’s long and bloody conflict.

These brothers Gotabhaya and Basil are US Citizens. Sarath Fonseka is a US Green Card holder.  So why do they not implement the Senate recommendations. Have they taken any steps to implement that recommendation?
Both Rajapaksa brothers have already accepted that the war had not been clean. Ambassador Butenis wrote; In response to the “incident’s report,” Basil Rajapaksa candidly remarked, “I am not saying we are clean; we could not abide by international law – this would have gone on for centuries, an additional 60 years.”

After Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s meeting with Senate Foreign Relations staff members, the US Ambassador wrote; “Gotabhaya Rajapaksa noted that in defeating the LTTE terrorists the war had “not been clean,” but was still a success.”

SLFP Treasurer and  District Organiser for the Matara District former foreign minister Mangala Samaraweera while serving as a ruling party member of Parliament on February 26, 2007 told US Ambassador Blake that the Government uses a group called the “Lion Cubs” to engage in these extrajudicial activities. Blake wrote; “Samaraweera confirmed that the Government uses a group called the ‘Lion Cubs’ to engage in these extrajudicial activities. It is widely rumored in Sri Lanka that Ex-Army Commander Fonseka, with the knowledge and approval of Defense Secretary Gothabaya Rajapaksa, has set up special cells within military intelligence to go after suspected LTTE cadres and sympathisers in Colombo, Jaffna and other places. We have also heard reports of a similar shadowy group called the ‘Hambantota Cats.’ The recently-appointed Cabinet Minister for Environment has publicly called for the use of extra legal means to root out LTTE sympathisers. Samaraweera lent credibility to these reports by relating grisly details about the methods these groups use to dispose of the bodies of their victims at sea.”

On December 14, 2009 Fonseka had accused Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa of ordering at the end of the war the shooting of any LTTE leaders who might try to surrender under flags of truce, to US Ambassador Butenis (See colombotelegraph.com for full cable). In another cable on November 2, 2009, the US Ambassador told Foreign Minister Bogollagama of developments regarding Fonseka, including cancellation of his invitation to attend the recent Chief of Defence conference in Hawaii due to US concerns about his involvement in human-rights violations during the conflict with the LTTE.

So why do they not implement the Senate recommendation and revoke US citizenships? Instead of doing just that, without any shame one day after the publication of the Senate report, December 8, 2009 during a meeting with Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, Assistant Secretary Robert Blake raised the possibility of Sri Lanka contributing to US – led coalition operations in Afghanistan, noting that it would be a significant step in support of improving military–to–military engagement. Are they really concerned or do they want to play with human rights?

uvindu@jouranalist.com

Lies, Damn Lies and Mahinda Samarasinghe at the UN HRC

 Click-Picture

 

Lies, Damn Lies and Mahinda Samarasinghe at the UN HRC

Image courtesy JDS

Lanka Campaign has just released a very good compilation of rebuttals to points made by Min Mahinda Samarasikinghe’s address to the UN Human Rights Council yesterday, which can be read and viewed here.

Sri Lanka Campaign @SLcampaign

Here Sri Lankan civil society responding to Mahinda Samarasinghe's speech @groundviews @cfhaviland#HRC22 #UNlk http://www.scribd.com/fullscreen/127776803-Civil-Society-Collective&access_key=key-3szuxcd2ta360nmtijl …

2:52 PM - 28 Feb 13

In addition to the content, the production of this document, and its publication online, is itself an interesting development which flags the growing influence of web and social media in countering the wily terminological inexactitudes of the Rajapakse regime and its leading apologists.

Civil Society Collective 

WikiLeaks:Fonseka Did Discuss The “White Flags Story” with US

Two New Witnesses Claim They Independently Saw “The White Flag Incident” 

Pulidevan ------------------LS-------------------------..........................................Nadesan

............................

WikiLeaks:Fonseka Did Discuss The “White Flags Story” with US

By Colombo Telegraph -October 10, 2011 

Fonseka- did not know the flurry of phone calls

A classified US diplomatic cable under the name of Patricia A. Butenis, the US ambassador to Colombo shows, the Presidential candidate General Sarath Fonseka stood by the controversial “white Flag” story published by the Sunday Leader.

The cable written on December 14, 2009 at 13.50pm by the ambassador Butenis and classified as “Confidential” recount the details of a lunch meeting she had with UNP deputy leader Karu Jayasuriya and Sarath Fonseka on December 14, 2009.

“After Fonseka arrived, the former general discussed his interview in the Sunday Leader news paper on December 13, in which he had accused Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa of ordering at the end of the war the shooting of any LTTE leaders who might try to surrender under flags of truce.” she wrote to Washington. The ambassador further wrote “Fonseka claimed he did not know until two days later about the flurry of phone calls between Gotabhaya, the Norwegian ambassador, and the LTTE leadership regarding surrender and said he had been told details by journalists. Nevertheless, he said he took full responsibility for the actions of the men in uniform.” The Colombo Telegraph publishes the full cable below.

The editor Sunday Leader Frederica Jansz was given an interview by Fonseka and it was published under the name title of “Gota Ordered Them to Be Shot” – Genaral Sarath Fonseka” on December 13, 2009. Read the story here

After the story broke, the government began to portray Fonseka’s allegation as an act of treachery.  The story of the massacre was irrelevant. What mattered was that by speaking out Fonseka was betraying Gotabaya, the army and the country.

Frederica Jansz - subjected to smear campaigns

A government backed campaign to publicise particularly in Sinhala, a distorted version of the story, and present the General as a traitor.  The objective behind the campaign was to convince the General that his accusations were eroding his popularity and to force him to back down in the interest of winning more votes. This campaign began immediately after the newspaper went on sale with radio shows denouncing the story as an act of treachery by early Sunday morning.

It was only as the government’s denunciation campaign intensified with TV, radio, and internet sites declaring the former war hero a traitor that Fonseka’s advisors  Mangala Samaraweera, Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Vijitha Herath in particular advised him to retract part of the story.

At a meeting with the Chairman of The Sunday Leader, Lal Wickrematunge on Monday, December 14, senior UNP leaders together with Samaraweera and the JVP insisted that a retraction was necessary as the story had damaged Fonseka’s reputation as a patriot.

Read Frederica Jansz’s strory here

Read the full US embassy cable below;  Read More

German Parliamentary Group calls for more pressure on Sri Lanka

Tamil Guardian 01 March 2013

The Social Democratic Party’s parliamentary group at the Bundestag has proposed a motion to urge the German government to act on Sri Lanka. The motion details the accusations made by UN reports, including torture and abuse, extra-judicial killings and violence against women, singling out Tamil women as victims of the military and the police. Tamil protests in the north-east late last year were mentioned in the motion, which called on Germany’s development project, focussed on conflict prevention and peace consolidation, to play an active role in improving cooperation between the government and Tamils. The motion further says that the government lacks political will to neutrally address war crimes and crimes against humanity and to reconcile Tamils with the Singhalese. It calls upon Germany to play an active role in the UN Human Rights Council and urge Sri Lanka to address issues, including the abolishment of the Prevention of Terrorism Act, address human rights violations, end torture and arbitrary arrests, and to stop the culture of impunity and punish all perpetrators of crimes. See motion in full here.

SPD-Fraktion thematisiert Menschenrechtslage in Sri Lanka

Menschenrechte und humanitäre Hilfe/Antrag - 28.02.2013

Berlin: (hib/AHE) Die SPD-Fraktion dringt auf diplomatischen Druck gegenüber Sri Lanka zur Einhaltung der Menschenrechte und rechtsstaatlicher Standards. „Sri Lanka befindet sich auf dem Weg zu einem Einparteienstaat, in dem sich der Präsident auf eine Armee stützt, die heute größer ist als zu Zeiten des Bürgerkriegs“, schreiben die Abgeordneten in einem Antrag (17/12466), der am heutigen Donnerstag auf der Tagesordnung des Bundestagsplenums steht.

In jüngster Zeit mehrten sich zudem die Angriffe der Exekutive auf die Unabhängigkeit der Justiz, schreiben die Abgeordneten. Menschenrechtsverletzungen seien „besorgniserregend“ und die srilankesische Regierung lasse es an ernsthaften Bemühungen zur Versöhnung der früheren Bürgerkriegsparteien vermissen. Die Abgeordneten fordern die Bundesregierung unter anderem auf, „allen Versuchen der Exekutive, die Unabhängigkeit der Justiz in Sri Lanka einzuschränken,

entgegenzuwirken“ und im UN-Menschenrechtsrat anzuregen, die Amtsenthebung der Obersten Richterin Shirani Bandaranayake untersuchen zu lassen. Die srilankesische Führung sei außerdem aufzufordern, „schwerste Menschenrechtsverletzungen wie extralegale Hinrichtungen, willkürliche Verhaftungen und Folter konsequent zu bekämpfen und das Zusatzprotokoll zur UN-Anti-Folter-Konvention zu ratifizieren“.

Auch unterwegs aktuell informiert mit der kostenlosen App "Deutscher Bundestag"und unter m.bundestag.de.

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