| US disappointed regarding SL’s rejection | |||
2013-03-15
The US stated their regret when Ambassador Eileen Chamberlain Donahoe addressed the 22nd Session of the HRC held in Geneva this afternoon.
Full Statement :
UPR Report Adoption / Sri Lanka
Statement by the Delegation of the United States of America
As Delivered by Ambassador Eileen Chamberlain Donahoe
Human Rights Council 22nd Session
Geneva
March 15, 2013
The United States welcomes the return of the delegation of Sri Lanka to the Council and appreciates the opportunity to comment on their response to the UPR review.
We welcome the Government’s statement of its intention to accept recommendations to combat gender-based violence, to carry out an independent and credible investigation into the allegations of violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, and to strengthen the independence of institutions, including the Human Rights Commission, Police Commission, and Election Commission.
During the review, a number of States called for the implementation of the recommendations of Sri Lanka’s own Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC). We are disappointed that the Government rejected all UPR recommendations from States that called upon it to implement the LLRC recommendations. Further, the Sri Lankan delegation attempted to reframe Sri Lanka’s human rights commitments in terms of the government’s National Plan of Action, which does not address the broad spectrum of recommendations put forward by the LLRC report, and by lobbying other delegations to revise their UPR recommendations to exclude reference to the LLRC report after they had been orally presented.
Major changes were made to the substance of recommendations after the interactive dialogue. This is inconsistent with the transparent, interactive character of the UPR. We are also disappointed that the Government rejected nearly all recommendations regarding engagement and cooperation with UN special procedures mandate holders. We urge the government to expeditiously implement both the UPR and LLRC recommendations.
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Peace for the World
First democratic leader of Justice the Godfather of the Sri Lankan Tamil Struggle: Honourable Samuel James Veluppillai Chelvanayakam
A Brief Colonial History Of Ceylon(SriLanka)
Saturday, March 16, 2013
Statement by the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and counter-terrorism
Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism
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Introduction Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while counter-terrorism, Mr. Ben Emmerson © (a) To make concrete recommendations on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, including, at the request of States, for the provision of advisory services or technical assistance on such matters; (b) To gather, request, receive and exchange information and communications from and with all relevant sources, including Governments, the individuals concerned and their families, representatives and organizations, including through country visits, with the consent of the State concerned, on alleged violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism; (c) To integrate a gender perspective throughout the work of his/her mandate; (d) To identify, exchange and promote best practices on measures to counter terrorism that respect human rights and fundamental freedoms; (e) To work in close coordination with other relevant bodies and mechanisms of the United Nations, and in particular with other special procedures of the Council, in order to strengthen the work for the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while avoiding unnecessary duplication of efforts; (f) To develop a regular dialogue and discuss possible areas of cooperation with Governments and all relevant actors, including relevant United Nations bodies, specialized agencies and programmes, with, inter alia, the Counter-Terrorism Committee of the Security Council, including its Executive Directorate, the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Terrorism Prevention Branch of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and treaty bodies, as well as non-governmental organizations and other regional or subregional international institutions, while respecting the scope of his/her mandate and fully respecting the respective mandates of the above-mentioned bodies and with a view to avoiding duplication of effort; and (g) To report regularly to the Council and to the General Assembly. The current Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism is Mr. Ben Emmerson, Q.C. (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland), who has assumed his mandate on 1 August 2011. The first Special Rapporteur (1 August 2005 - 31 July 2011) was Mr. Martin Scheinin (Finland). Full statement | |
Saturday , 16 March 2013
Army Commander Jagath Jayasuriya said, the forces are much disarrayed concerning the allegations charged in Geneva against the Sri Lanka army.
This statement was indicated in the report published by the army media unit.
Army Commander Lte.General Jagath Jayasooirya has appealed the forces to be vigilant by the vested interest manifestations advanced.
He said, unilateral allegations against the Army now made in Geneva, as baffle all of us, who decisively waged the humanitarian operations in Vanni at that stage when I was the Vanni Commander because neither myself, nor my Security Force Commander or for that matter, any Division or Brigade Commander, to say the least, in the province, received a single complaint against the Army for any of those quarters.
It is much needed to contemplate why in that stage such allegations were not against the army or directed against particular field commanders.
“It has been the practice of various interested parties since the culmination of the war to make barrage of criticism against our troops, based on a rash of unfounded allegations, malice and ulterior motives.
Jayasuriya said that those parties never want to heap praise on the Sri Lanka Army for its decisive eradication of the world’s most feared terrorist outfit, the LTTE at the expense of many heroic lives.’
Saturday , 16 March 2013
Anti-Muslim Posters Campaign In Kandy
March 16, 2013
An increase in the emergence fresh anti-Muslim posters in the Kandy district has left Muslim community in deep sorrow, Tamil language website Jaffnamuslim.com reports.
The fresh posters whipping up racism such as “Remove slaughterhouse from the Kandy town”, “Kandy will not be allowed to be turned into another Akuressa” and “Don’t purchase things from Muslim shops” have created a fear psychosis among the Muslim people in the area, not knowing what is in store for them. 
Related posts;
| No land tax for foreigners? |
By Umesh Moramudali
The government is planning to do away with the tax imposed on foreigners when buying land in Sri Lanka, through the proposed amendments to Finance Act, the United National Party (UNP) alleged yesterday.
Addressing the media in Colombo, UNP Parliamentarian and economist, Dr. Harsha de Silva, alleged the legislation will be presented to Parliament next week and accordingly, the 100% tax imposed on foreigners when buying lands here, will be removed once the amendment receives the nod of Parliament.
He also said the amendment will contradict the government's earlier claim to ban selling lands to foreigners, altogether: "This will not only allow foreigners to buy lands here, but also removes the tax imposed on them, compelling them to buy more lands in Sri Lanka." Dr. de Silva demanded a clarification from the government explaining the reasons to remove the tax.
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How to Deal with Racism
Photo courtesy The Platform/Raashid Riza
The Lord Buddha once said “When someone fires an arrow into you, you don’t try and find out who fired the arrow and what they are all about. You concentrate on getting that arrow out.”
What do we do to combat against racism and stereotyping we see so much of in our society? We think that those who spew such hate are a minority and that their opinions and actions are not representative of the majority that wants to co-exist and live in peace. So do we let things be or fight back? What is the best way to deal with racism?
By thinking that we cannot change things, that certain situations in life are beyond us and that we must leave that to elected officials, we do what we unfortunately do best. We let people (usually with hidden interests) manipulate our emotions and pull wool over our eyes. So we react. Reacting requires less thinking and more importantly, less questioning.
Those that hold racist views say what they need to, those that don’t agree react and then our collective anger is used against us because we validate what they say. Anger is a weapon only to your opponent. It will be used against you. Anger makes us use more emotion and less logic.
If someone insults or ridicules you, your faith, your race or just about anything, don’t react, respond. You see, reacting is exactly what the other side wants you to do. By refusing to react, by being patient, by having a sense of humor, by trying to understand why the other side thinks that way and more than that, having an unfailing belief in god and karma, that is how one should respond to whomever attempts to hurt you. It takes two hands to clap and if one side doesn’t take the bait, you know which side has more character.
Speak up when you come across something that is blatantly racist. We often ignore or laugh off slurs because we don’t want to create a scene. What we should do is to calmly question that belief and take the opportunity to initiate discussion.
We sometimes forget that the most powerful tool of change in this world is our self. Be a role model to others. Treat everyone fairly and with respect – the exact same way you would want to be treated too.
Another thing we can proactively do is to create community dialogue on racism. If it’s an issue, gather people around you in any forum possible – be with through awareness programs through volunteering, using social media or even write about it. Volunteering and sport is a great way to bring people of all ages, races and gender together to work together for a greater cause. It not only builds camaderie and team spirit amongst individuals, you also have them work for something that goes beyond any stereotype.
We see stereotypes everyday in books, television, movies, teledrama’s, on social media platforms and we fail to understand how what we see and hear while growing up becomes something we believe in and carry with us through life. If you see a stereotype, address it, talk about it with your kids and if possible report it.
The most important lesson we all need to learn and teach our children is this: Respect. While we should feel proud that we belong to a certain culture, it does not mean that we have the right to disrespect or feel superior to another group. We should share our food, culture, traditions and knowledge with all groups because we make our common heritage richer by doing so.
I read an interesting piece by William Saletan on The Slate and this struck me the most compelling and I will leave you with it: “Hatred and bloodshed will go on until you stop taking the bait. Lay down your stones and your anger. Go home and pray. God is too great to be troubled by the insults of fools. Follow Him”
Sri Lanka bars Buddha tattoo Briton for 'disrespect'
Lanka has denied entry to a British tourist at Colombo's international airport because he showed a lack of respect for Buddhism, reports say.
An immigration official told a local newspaper that when the man was asked about a tattoo of Buddha on his arm he had spoken "very disrespectfully".
Such views would have been a "threat to his own safety" in Sri Lanka, he added.
The authorities are tough on perceived insults to Buddhism - the religion of the island's majority ethnic Sinhalese.
Last year, three French tourists were given suspended prison sentences for taking photographs that showed them pretending to kiss a statue of Buddha at a temple.
In 2010, the American R&B star Akon was refused a visa after protests over one of his music videos, which featured scantily-clad women dancing in front of a statue of Buddha.
An official at Bandaranaike International Airport told AFP news agency that the report of Friday's incident involving the British tourist was correct.
More than 100,000 British citizens visited Sri Lanka in 2012, accounting for 10% of the total number of tourists. The UK is also the country's second-largest trading partner after India.
An immigration official told a local newspaper that when the man was asked about a tattoo of Buddha on his arm he had spoken "very disrespectfully".
Such views would have been a "threat to his own safety" in Sri Lanka, he added.BRITISH NATIONAL DENIED ENTRY TO SL OVER OFFENSIVE TATTOO
March 17, 2013
Sri Lanka has denied entry to a British tourist at Colombo’s international airport because he showed a lack of respect for Buddhism, reports say.
An immigration official told a local newspaper that when the man was asked about a tattoo of Buddha on his arm he had spoken “very disrespectfully”.
Such views would have been a “threat to his own safety” in Sri Lanka, he added.
The authorities are tough on perceived insults to Buddhism - the religion of the island’s majority ethnic Sinhalese.
Last year, three French tourists were given suspended prison sentences for taking photographs that showed them pretending to kiss a statue of Buddha at a temple.
In 2010, the American R&B star Akon was refused a visa after protests over one of his music videos, which featured scantily-clad women dancing in front of a statue of Buddha.
An official at Bandaranaike International Airport told AFP news agency that the report of Friday’s incident involving the British tourist was correct.
More than 100,000 British citizens visited Sri Lanka in 2012, accounting for 10% of the total number of tourists. The UK is also the country’s second-largest trading partner after India. (BBC)
புத்த பகவானின் உருவம் பச்சை குத்தியிருந்தமையால் விமானநிலையத்தில் திருப்பியனுப்பப்பட்ட சுற்றுலா பயணி!
[ சனிக்கிழமை, 16 மார்ச் 2013, 11:20.49 AM GMT ]
இங்கிலாந்தைச் சேர்ந்த 43 வயதான பிரான்சிஸ் என்ற நபரே இவ்வாறு திருப்பியனுப்பப்பட்டுள்ளார்.
குறித்த நபர் நேற்று நண்பகல் 1.12 மணியளவில் ஸ்ரீலங்கன் எயார்லைன்ஸ் UL 504 என்ற விமானத்தில் இலங்கை வந்துள்ளார்.
இவரது இருகைகளிலும் புத்த பகவானுடைய உருவம் பச்சை குத்தப்பட்டிருந்ததையடுத்து அதிகாரிகள் அவரை அழைத்து விசாரணை மேற்கொண்டுள்ளனர்.
இதன்போது பச்சை குத்துவது தனது தனி நபர் உரிமை என அவர் அதிகாரிகளுக்கு தெரிவித்துள்ளார்.
எனினும் இதை ஏற்றுக்கொள்ள மறுத்த அதிகாரிகள் இலங்கையில் இத்தகைய விடயங்களை அனுமதிக்க முடியாதெனக் கூறி அவர் வருகை தந்த விமானத்திலேயே லண்டனுக்கு திருப்பியனுப்பியுள்ளனர்.
| Buddhist Monk committed suicide |
| [ Saturday, 16 March 2013, 05:04.12 PM GMT +05:30 ] |
 DIG of Sigiriya police station announced Buddhist clergy, Hingurakgoda Saththananda thero (53) hanged himself in a room at Kandalama Pimbaramaya Viharaya in Dambulla area on Friday. |
 His body currently kept at the Denzil Kobbekaduwa base hospital.Police officials suspicious over this death and informed Mattale police. A special police team from Matale conducting further investigations this regard. |
Video: Budhist Monk Is Roughed Up By A Group Of Tamil Nationalist In Tamil Nadu
A Sri Lankan Buddhist monk is being roughed up by a group of Tamil nationalist in Tamil Nadu today. A group of monks from Sri Lanka, Thailand and Indonesia went to thanjavur for research. These monks are currently pursuing archaeological studies in Delhi University.
The Brahadeewarar temple, called the Big Temple, is dedicated to Lord Siva. It was built by the great Chola King Raja Raja 1 (985 -1012 A.D). it is an outstanding exmple of Chola architecture. Recognizing its unique architectural excellence, UNESCO has declared it a World Heritage Monument.
The Sri Lankan Tamils issue has generated heat again in Tamil Nadu in recent weeks following the alleged cold-blooded killing of LTTE chief Prabakaran’s 12 year-old son Balachandran.
Meanwhile DMK president M. Karunanidhi on Saturday expressed his disappointment over the Centre’s silence on announcing its stand on the US-sponsored draft resolution against Sri Lankan in the United Nations Human Rights Council for its war crimes.
US resolution burnt in front of US Embassy in London
Hundreds of Eezham Tamils gathered in front of the US Embassy in London on Friday evening, burnt the copy of the US resolution tabled at the UNHRC session in Geneva and the copy of the LLRC recommendations of Sri Lanka, based on which the USA has tabled the resolution. All the speakers at the protest welcomed the student uprising in Tamil Nadu opposing the US designs as an inspiration to global Tamils in continuing the struggle of Eezham Tamils. Viewing the US resolution as one that is facilitating the agenda of the genocidal State and regime of Sri Lanka in the annihilation of the nation of Eezham Tamils, the demonstrators demanded protection and solutions based on identity, territoriality and sovereignty of Eezham Tamils as a nation in the island. The protestors who gathered at a short notice braved rains and detractors pinning hopes on the USA. 
Speaking at the demonstration, senior writer and columnist, Mr. Ithayachandran said that youth upsurge of such a scale in Tamil Nadu for the cause of Eezham Tamils takes place nearly after four decades. The youth would have risen up in 2009, but Mr. Karunanidhi sabotaged it, he said.
Speaking on the US resolution, Mr Ithayachandran said that even the usage ‘urges’ found in the 2012 US resolution on directing Sri Lanka has become ‘encourages’ in the 2013 resolution, and this shows the real orientation of the line of thinking adopted by the US resolutions.
He pointed out that the genocidal land grab, carried out by the Sri Lankan state for the past 65 years has been accelerated within the past 18 months.
The Geneva process, taking up the resolution, brings Sri Lanka to the table, but nonetheless the resolution itself, by promoting the LLRC recommendations is actually an act calling for the completion of the genocide of the Eezham Tamil Nation, Sasithar said adding that this is going to be UN seal of approval for the genocide of the Eezham Tamil Nation, being carried out by the Sri Lankan state.
“This time, it seems like Tamil Nadu students are determined to cause an attitudinal change,” said TU Senan, a leftist activist representing the Tamil Solidarity campaign group in UK. “This is a big inspiration. This struggle should be taken forward. There will be attempts to sabotage such uprisings, as it happened back in 2009 in Tamil Nadu. So, the students should plan carefully how they are going to take it forward overcoming the attempts to sabotage the trend,” he said.
The Tamil Nadu students have our 100% support, said Ms Bharathy of the TYO-UK
“We will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Tamil Nadu students because they are giving voice for our struggle and it is inspiring to see all the students joining hands together for our cause,” she said.
“We don’t support any resolution, such as the US-LLRC resolution, because it does not recognise the sovereignty of Tamil people. We came down here to send this message across,” Ms Bharathy further said.
Another student activist of the TYO-UK, Ms. Suganthy, coming hard on the LLRC-based resolution as a genocide-facilitation, said, “We are very much inspired by the protest and the hunger strike taken up by the Tamil Nadu students […] We will stand with the students in Tamil Nadu.”
According to Mr. Kandiah Rajamanoharan, a social activist and a representative of the TCC-UK, making the culprit the judge and giving time to the Sri Lankan state to complete the genocide, is what the USA is doing year after year in Geneva.
All the countries of the International Community know in their heart that what is taking place in the island is genocide. But, instead of giving time to the SL State to complete the genocide, they should recognise the fact as it is and come forward to support the Tamil struggle towards the independence of Tamil Eelam, which only will be the practical and just solution to end the misery of Tamil people in the island,” he further said.
When contacted by TamilNet, sections of Eezham Tamil Leftists in London said that many of them were not aware of the protest as the call for the protest was on a very low key.
Had it been circulated widely there would have been a mammoth crowd of like-minded Tamils who had been dormant with simmering feelings, the Tamil Left circles said, adding that organisers of such trend-setting protests should not depend on conventional elements and outfits, but should reach out to the alternative ones.
Attitudinal changes will not come by meekly compromising with fundamentally dangerous processes, arguing that there is at least something in them or by talking to diplomats who are bound by positions taken by the Establishments. People showing their power with consistent uprising at the right time could only force attitudinal changes in the Establishments, the Tamil Left circles further said.
Speaking at the demonstration, youth activist Mr. Sivanthan, who had walked across Europe raising awareness and who had been on a campaign recently in a caravan vehicle to Geneva, said that the London protest in front of the US Embassy amidst opposition from the detractors, is only a beginning and it should take momentum in the diaspora in the coming days, months and years.
He urged the world Tamils, especially the youth, to get the inspiration from the students of Tamil Nadu in taking the message across the world, in addition to showing solidarity with them.
“Of all the demands, what inspired me a lot was the way they exposed the LLRC-based resolution that is being tabled for the second time by the USA in Geneva,” Sivanthan said adding that he fully supports the 9-point demand put forth by the intelligent students in Tamil Nadu.
Do not give up, it is a sharp demand and is a just demand. It has clearly identified that what USA seeks is only regime change and not resolving our problems, Sivanthan further said.
Friday, March 15, 2013
It was not only Balachandran! – New evidence unearthed by the GTF
Thursday, 14 March 2013
New photo and video evidence has emerged today of war crimes committed by the Sri Lankan forces during the final stages of the war. Global Tamil Forum has released video footage further corroborating the summary executions depicted in the ‘Sri Lanka’s Killing Fields’ documentary.
This new evidence clearly identifies the victims in the photo squatting with hands tied their backs, including a young boy possibly aged between 10 to 13 years old, before they are shot dead.
The new video footage, which will be aired in Tamil Nadu on Puthiya Thalaimurai (PT) TV at 6pm Indian time, shows some of these men/boys being shot at close range. You can see amongst the dead bodies, this young boy with a distinct bandage on his left arm being shot dead, bleeding from his head. You can also identify at least another two from the photo (when they were alive) and then in the video being shot or already shot dead.
Although some parts of this extended video were in the Channel 4 documentary, even that didn't show people who can be identified clearly alive, like the way we can in this photo, and then their dead bodies lying in a 'killing field'.
This new evidence raises further concern that not only men and women, but even young children were not spared, in spite of surrendering or being captured. As reported last month, the evidence of Balachandran (LTTE Leader’s 12-year old son), who was in Sri Lankan Army custody and then summarily executed, was brought to light in the latest ‘Killing Fields’ documentary “No Fire Zone”. This new evidence indicates that this was not an isolated incident of child fatality. It highlights the severe breaches of international laws and conventions during the war and will re-open questions regarding who was in-charge and gave these orders.
Lee Scott MP, Chairman of the UK Parliament’s All Party Parliamentary Group for Tamils (APPG-T) and Siobhain McDonagh MP, Vice Chair of the APPG-T, as well as Suren Surendiran, GTF Spokesperson, have given extensive interviews to Puthiya Thalaimurai (PT) TV, which will also be broadcast along with the video.
With the 22nd Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in progress and a spotlight on Sri Lanka with another resolution from the United States, this evidence will add to pressure for Sri Lanka to address accountability for war crimes and crimes against humanity during the final stages of the war in 2009 and will intensify the calls for an international, independent investigation.
Details regarding the attachments:
Photo - A group of men and boys squatting with no shirt and hands tied behind their back. The boy at the back row at the right extreme with a blue band tied on his left arm.
Now please watch the attached video, particularly between 2.26 mins to 2.28 and 3.00 mins to 3.02. At these particular points of the video you will see the dead body of the same boy, it seems. If you also pause at 3.01 minute of the video, you will see the boy's left arm where the blue band being still there.
In the same photo, notice at the back row the man at the left extreme with a band on his head, wearing a banyan. now watch the video between 4.49 mins to 4.51. The dead body with a similar banyan with stripes appears to be the same man on the photo.
The same goes to the chap in the front row left extreme with a beard and slightly baled. it appears in the video the last person who is being shot at looks like him.
Although some parts of this extended video was in the Channel 4 documentary, even that didn't show clearly people who can be identified being alive as the way we can through this photo and then their dead bodies in a 'killing field'.
On all counts this incident needs to be independently investigated for
(1) - Why these men and boys were killed after capture or after surrender?
(2) - Who gave the orders?
(3) - Why is government of Sri Lanka refusing to let an independent investigation?
(4) - Which international laws and conventions were breached?
(5) - If we don't serve justice to these victims and their living loved ones, what makes us believe the same will not be repeated in Sri Lanka and/or the in any other country?
These killings go to show it was not just Balachandran who was just shot but even other children and young men were not spared, whether they surrendered or captured.
Photo - A group of men and boys squatting with no shirt and hands tied behind their back. The boy at the back row at the right extreme with a blue band tied on his left arm.
Now please watch the attached video, particularly between 2.26 mins to 2.28 and 3.00 mins to 3.02. At these particular points of the video you will see the dead body of the same boy, it seems. If you also pause at 3.01 minute of the video, you will see the boy's left arm where the blue band being still there.
In the same photo, notice at the back row the man at the left extreme with a band on his head, wearing a banyan. now watch the video between 4.49 mins to 4.51. The dead body with a similar banyan with stripes appears to be the same man on the photo.
The same goes to the chap in the front row left extreme with a beard and slightly baled. it appears in the video the last person who is being shot at looks like him.
Although some parts of this extended video was in the Channel 4 documentary, even that didn't show clearly people who can be identified being alive as the way we can through this photo and then their dead bodies in a 'killing field'.
On all counts this incident needs to be independently investigated for
(1) - Why these men and boys were killed after capture or after surrender?
(2) - Who gave the orders?
(3) - Why is government of Sri Lanka refusing to let an independent investigation?
(4) - Which international laws and conventions were breached?
(5) - If we don't serve justice to these victims and their living loved ones, what makes us believe the same will not be repeated in Sri Lanka and/or the in any other country?
These killings go to show it was not just Balachandran who was just shot but even other children and young men were not spared, whether they surrendered or captured.
Another Sri Lankan ‘Killing Fields’ video shows captive kid executed
The boy lying dead in the photograph (edited to reduce the gore) above is the same as the boy shown (below) in group of Tamils earlier held captive by the Sri Lankan troops
R. Bhagwan Singh
Chennai: Deccan Chronicle carried in its edition of Wednesday the picture of a Tamil boy amid a group of older men, held captive with hands tied behind, looking worried.
The visual was provided by the London-based Global Tamil Forum (GTF), with its spokesperson Suren Surendiran insisting that the Sri Lankan troops killed in cold blood several captive Tamils during the end phase of the Eelam war, including children.
“Not just LTTE chief Prabhakaran’s 12-year-old son Balachandran, but many other children were killed in similar fashion in captivity. This video nails the Sri Lankan government for serious war crimes”, Surendiran told DC.
“These evidence were sourced from the Sri Lanka Military and part of this was received from a member of the Sri Lankan Military Intelligence. What this shows is that the Government of Sri Lanka has access to various evidences within its own military establishment.
However they still deny that there were grave breaches of international human rights and humanitarian laws if proven could amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity”, he said. “Some of these summarily executed persons were children and disabled persons according to these latest photographic and video evidence.
And it is the same military that committed such despicable cruelty and crimes against humanity that is currently stationed in the north and east where predominantly Tamils live”, the GTF spokesman said.
Another ‘Killing Fields’ video shows captive kid executed
A boy about 10 years old was among a group of Tamils held captive and executed by government troops during the final phase of the Eelam war in north Sri Lanka in May 2009, a video clip released on Thursday by the London-based Global Tamil Forum showed. The visuals of the boy looking scared in a group of equally worried older men, all of them with their hands tied behind, and his subsequent execution with his brain smashed to smithereens by a bullet in the head, has drawn all-round consternation here.
Deccan Chronicle carried Thursday morning the picture of the boy in captivity. The visuals of his gruesome death reached DC later and are printed now on these pages. The London-based Global Tamil Forum (GTF), which made available the visuals, has stepped up its campaign at the ongoing UNHRC session in Geneva for an “independent international investigation” into the war crimes in the island.
This latest evidence too was sourced from the Sri Lankan military, said GTF spokesman Suren Surendiran, adding, “Some of these summarily executed were children and disabled persons as seen in these latest photo and video evidence”. He reiterated the demand that “at least now” India should strengthen the current UNHRC resolution “to include such investigation and to implement any international mechanisms to immediately protect the Tamils from these undisciplined military”.
“Many, including the Global Tamil Forum, humbly request chief minister Madam Jayalalitha to offer Chennai as an alternative to Colombo to host the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), which is due to take place in November 2013. We also request all the political parties in Tamil Nadu to support such an offer so that the Indian government can formalise it within the Commonwealth”, Mr Surendiran said, stressing that the Rajapaksa regime “should not be given an opportunity by the international community to whitewash its war crimes by hosting the CHOGM”.
Well-known forensic expert Dr P. Chandra Sekaran, former director of state forensic department, said he had closely examined the picture of the boy — who he estimated was aged nine to eleven — shown alive in captivity and the one shown shot dead in another picture, were one and the same. Both had the same facial features, such as the nose structure and the tragus of the ears. “There is no doubt it’s the same boy. He was shot in the head, from behind”, said the expert.
“These terrible visuals further strengthen the demand for independent international investigation. Unfortunately, this vital demand is missing in the resolution now before the UN human rights council”, said Henri Tiphagne of People’s Watch, Madurai-based rights organisation. He expressed the hope that such visuals proving the war crimes in the Lankan strife would be able to increase the international pressure.
“There are many other similar pictures that have been verified by experts, which suggest that the Sri Lankan military executed prisoners. This is in absolute violation of the Geneva Conventions. In particular, the execution of children violates international law”, said Ms Meenakshi Ganguly, South Asia Director, Human Rights Watch.
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