Thailand ignoring slaves at sea, says EJF report on Burmese migrants

Burmese men kept as forced labourers on shrimping boats in Kantang, Thailand, says Environmental Justice Foundation

Annie Kelly-Wednesday 29 May 2013

Thailand is facing fresh allegations of using slave labour in its fishing industry with the launch of a new investigation into the sale, abuse and exploitation of migrant workers on Thai fishing ships.

The Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF), an environmental and human rights NGO, highlights the case of 15 Burmese men who had been rescued from boats in its report Sold to the Sea: human trafficking in Thailand's fishing industry (pdf). All of the men claim to have been deceived by labour brokers and forced to work up to 20 hours a day for months at a time with little or no pay on shrimping boats in Kantang, a city in the south of Thailand.

The men had been subjected to bonded labour, forced detention, and abuse and beatings by senior crew while working on ships operating in Thai waters, according to EJF.

Two of the men reported seeing fellow migrant workers tortured and executed for trying to escape, and witnessing the murder of at least five other men. Another man reported multiple murders and bodies being thrown out to sea with the crew forced to watch.

The report claims that while the men were in police custody, the owner of the boat that had held the men, as well as the broker who had sold the men to the ship, were given access to the rescued workers by local police.

 video

Link to video: Sold to the sea – the plight of migrant fishermen in Thailand

Statements from the Burmese migrants also claim that Thai police profited from their further exploitation by forcing them to work on a rubber plantation allegedly owned by a senior official in the local force.

"We have been genuinely surprised by the levels of collusion by agents of the state, who instead of stopping these awful human rights abuses are ignoring and even benefiting from it," said Steve Trent, executive director of EJF.

"We were shocked by the extreme levels of violence inflicted on and witnessed by migrant men held as captive workers on these boats and how easy it was for us to conduct this investigation and collect our evidence. This was all out in the open. This is not an isolated case, but indicative of the widespread acceptance and use of modern slavery in an industry that feeds a global appetite for seafood."

Thailand has been repeatedly accused of slavery and human traffickingin its shipping industry. A 2011 report (pdf) by the International Organisation for Migration documented widespread trafficking within the fisheries sector in Thailand, with migrant fishermen being kept working on board for years without pay. A report in 2009 (pdf) by the UN Inter-Agency Project on Human Trafficking found that 59% of interviewed migrants trafficked aboard Thai fishing boats reported witnessing the murder of a fellow worker.

EJF is calling for Thailand to be downgraded to a tier three country in the upcoming US state department's Trafficking in Persons (Tip) report, which grades the scale and severity of people trafficking globally.

Thailand has been lobbying to retain its tier two status despite last year's Tip report concluding (pdf) that Thailand has not shown evidence of increasing efforts to address human trafficking and is not in compliance with minimum standards for its elimination.

A relegation into tier three would rank Thailand among the countries with the worst records on human trafficking including Zimbabwe, Saudi Arabia and Yemen. It could lead to restrictions on US foreign assistance and access to global financial institutions such as the World Bank.

"If you look at the structure of this industry, which is almost wholly dependent on migrant labour, it's clear that the state is turning away so its economy can continue to benefit from these abuses," said Trent.

"Thailand is looking to keep their European and North American markets open by trying to convince the world that they are taking the necessary measures to counter widespread slavery and forced labour, but these continuing abuses need to be dragged out of the shadows. This can no longer be allowed to continue."

An International Labour Organisation (ILO) report this month identified the fishing industry as one of the most open to coercive and deceptive labour practices due to the isolation, length of time at sea and transnational nature of the work, as well as the high percentage of migrant labour used.

However, the ILO office in Thailand said that although the EJF report highlights the "worst of the worst" abuses, it is difficult to assess how comprehensive the problem is within Thailand's fisheries sector.

"We have been working very closely on this issue for a number of years and in our survey of over 600 fisheries, we have found a number where there are decent working conditions and others where there is a problem with exploitation and forced labour," said Max Tunon, co-ordinator of an ILO project on migrant workers in Thailand.

"While this report is important [in] highlighting the very bottom end of the scale, it is important to frame it within the broader range of experiences within the sector and recognise that a significant percentage of those working in the industry are not trafficked."

He said the government is working to ensure that it is not relegated to tier three status in the upcoming Tip report. "While it is not true to say that real and definitive progress has been made, it is also not entirely fair to say the government is turning a complete blind eye to this. In the last year there has been a lot of willingness and urgency around this issue, although more definitely needs to be done."

The 15 men whose testimonies are included in the EJF report are being held in a government centre in Ranong. Thai police are investigating the boat owner and labour broker. EJF says it has raised the allegations concerning the local police with Thailand's department of special investigation, which is yet to announce whether it will launch an official inquiry.

Victory for Everyday Sexism Project: Facebook bows to campaign over sexist 'hate speech' posts

Facebook has agreed to review its community standards around hate speech following a campaign led by the Everyday Sexism project

WEDNESDAY 29 MAY 2013

Facebook has agreed to update its policies regarding hate speech following a campaign led by the Everyday Sexism Project, which criticised the site for hosting offensive content.

In a statement issued on its site, Facebook said its “systems to identify and remove hate speech have failed to work as effectively as we would like”, and that content on the site has been “evaluated using outdated criteria”.

Starting “immediately” the company promises to review and update their “Community Standards around hate speech” and “increase the accountability of the creators of content”.

The statement marks a clear success for a week-long campaign organised by the Everyday Sexism Project, Women Action & the Media, and activist and writer Soraya Chemaly.

In an open letter published by the Huffington Post, Chemaly asked Facebook to take “swift, comprehensive and effective action” against the “representation of rape and domestic violence” on the site.

Chemaly asked the tech site to categorise “speech that trivialises or glorifies violence against girls and women as hate speech” and cited many examples including ‘fan’ pages with titles such as “Kicking your Girlfriend in the Fanny because she won't make you a Sandwich” and “Violently Raping Your Friend Just for Laughs”.

In response to the campaign at least 15 companies have pulled advertisements from the site, including Nissan and Nationwide UK. 

The appearance of brands’ advertisements next to offensive imagery reflects Facebook’s ad-targeting technique that matches brands to individuals, not to specific pages.

Following Facebook’s announcement, Women Action & the Media released a statement saying: “We are hopeful that this moment will mark an historic transition in relation to media and women’s rights”. The group hopes the move by Facebook will “set industry precedents for others to follow”.

Facebook has previously sought to distance itself from responsibility for its users by not moderating content that is deemed “offensive”, but its U-turn on policy marks a change in its approach. 

Facebook generated revenues of $1.46bn from advertising in the first three months of 2013. 

Cattle Slaughter And Self-Immolation

Video:

By Laksiri Fernando -May 29, 2013 

Dr. Laksiri Fernando

From a long term perspective, cattle slaughter or animal slaughter in general is something that not only Sri Lanka but also the whole world should get rid of while finding sustainable alternatives for protein or nutrient intake in human diet. There is more awareness in the world today on the subject of animal rights or animal cruelty than any time in the past, for example two decades ago. Sri Lanka and India are best positioned to embrace this understanding than many other countries thanks to their Buddhist and Hindu religious traditions. But this understanding should not be applied superficially or for narrow political purposes.

One of my granddaughters, just nine years old, was showing me recently the similarities between the human face and the faces of many other animals highlighting that we all have similar face parts such as two eyes to see, a nose in the middle and a mouth underneath and two ears on both sides and asking me the question whether the animals do have a brain behind. My answer was instinctively affirmative. This was just few days before the dramatic self-immolation of the Buddhist monk, Bohowatte Indraratna thero, demanding the prohibition of cattle slaughter in Sri Lanka.

Consumption and Restrictions

Cattle Slaughter and Self-Immolation by nelvely

Colombo plans Sinhala military settlement in Valikaamam North

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 28 May 2013, 23:51 GMT]
While the uprooted Eezham Tamils of Valikaamam North confront the occupying Sri Lankan State against the seizure of their lands in the former ‘High Security Zone’ (HSZ), the Sri Lankan military is moving fast with its secret plans of establishing permanent Sinhala military settlements to bring in families of the Sinhala soldiers into the former HSZ in Jaffna. Informed paramilitary sources in Jaffna told TamilNet Tuesday that a Sri Lankan commander has been assigned the task of converting the former HSZ into a Sinhala Military Zone (SMZ), consisting of Palaali military base. Already, more than 5,000 houses have been constructed in Mu'rika'ndi in Vanni and families of Sinhala soldiers are being provided housing there. There are at least 30,000 Sinhala soldiers stationed in the Jaffna peninsula. 

All the Establishments of the global powers have been abetting the militarisation project of the Sri Lankan State, which is converting the occupied region consisting of fertile lands and significant fish beds into a Sinhala Military Zone. 

The Sri Lankan military occupied High Security Zone (HSZ) along the northern coast of Jaffna peninsula, that evicted a large number of Tamil civilians from their homes for two decades now [Satellite image courtesy: Google Earth]

The SL State has been ‘developing’ the SMZ with power supply from a Chinese corporate, renovating the port and the airstrip with Indian assistance and clearing the mines with Western aid. Tourist resorts and Buddhist scared zones have also been set-up. 

Alternative political activists in Jaffna, who welcomed the recent two-pronged legal efforts by the lawyers in Jaffna and the lawyers in Colombo against the seizure of lands by the SL military in Jaffna, said that the Sri Lankan state remained confident in thwarting the legal efforts, which are confined to the parameters of the Sri Lankan unitary constitution. 

“The Tamil diaspora is failing to address the issue by challenging the Establishments that continue to abet the structural genocide,” they further said. 

Meanwhile, in an effort to play down the level of the militarisation, the Sri Lankan military commander in Jaffna, Major General Mahinda Hathurusinghe, is engaged in a propaganda stating that the SL military is reducing its presence to maintaining only three military bases in Jaffna. 

But, in practice, more lands are being occupied also outside the former HSZ to establish military camps. 

The paramilitary sources also said that the SL Navy was silently militarising the coastal areas in the Jaffna peninsula and that the Tamil people are being indirectly forced to sell their properties and vacate the islets. 

In the meantime, the SL presidential sibling and defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has warned the government of his brother Mahinda Rajapaksa that giving police and land powers to the provinces meant that the Northern Province comprising the districts of Jaffna, Mullaiththeevu, Vavuniyaa, Mannaar and Ki'linochchi could pose a ‘major security challenge’ to the SL unitary state in the future.

CJ Impeachment Appeal – SC Sets Aside Ex Parte Order Obtained Through AG’s Irregular Tactics

May 29, 2013 |

The controversial appeal by the Attorney General to the Supreme Court, challenging the Appeal Court ruling that the so-called ‘findings’ of the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) appointed on respect of purported allegations against Chief Justice Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake was taken up today (29.05.2013). Appeal case No. SC (Appeal) 67/2013 was listed before a bench consisting of Justices Saleem Marsoof, P. A. Ratnayake, Sathya Hettige, Eva Wanasundera & Rohini Marasinghe.

Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake

The benches are constituted by the Chief Justice, the powers of which are now being exercised by Mohan Pieris, who was controversially installed in office amidst outcry from almost the whole legal profession and civil society, withBandaranayake being excluded from exercising her functions.

Attorney General Palitha Fernando, PC appearing with Additional Solicitor General, A. Gnanathasan, PC, Deputy Solicitors General, Shavindra Fernando and D. Nawaz, Senior State Counsel Nerin Pulle and State Counsel M. Jayasinghe sought to support the appeal.

J. C. Weliamuna with Sunil Watagala, Senura Abeywardena and Mevan Bandara appeared for the Respondent Vijitha Herath, Member of Parliament.

M. A. Sumanthiran with Viran Corea and Niran Anketell appeared for the Respondent R. Sampanthan, Member of Parliament.

Senior Counsel M. A. Sumanthiran and J. C. Weliamuna complained to court that the granting of special leave to appeal had been sought and obtained without respondents being noticed as required by law. They pointed out that Motions have been filed complaining of the serious irregularity.

Sumanthiran informed the Supreme Court that when steps were taken by the Registered Attorney of his client to check the position, he had been informed that the appeal record could not be even checked as it was lying in the chambers of the de facto Chief Justice (Mohan Pieris). The attention of court was drawn to the fact that this itself is highly inappropriate – for Pieris to have anything to do with the case.

Weliamuna also complained that it was never expected for steps to be taken behind the back of parties to the case by the AG, to get special leave to appeal in such an improper manner.

Counsel for the above Respondents pointed out that in all other cases, the Supreme Court complies with the fundamental entitlement of all parties to be noticed before reconsidering a court ruling by granting special leave to appeal.

Counsel for the Respondents informed court that they cannot agree to the integrity of the Supreme Court being compromised in this way. They stated that the correct thing to do would be to set aside the wrongful, irregular order granting special leave to appeal and to have the controversial appeal resupported with ALL parties noticed and given the opportunity to object, especially in the context of the AG taking steps to try and upset the Appeal Court ruling, not having even been a party to the original case.

The Court noted that Chief Justice Bandaranayake, the petitioner in the Appeal Court case had filed a Motion emphasising that she remains the legal Chief Justice and refusing to participate in the purported appeal proceedings. Counsel for the Respondents informed that ALL Respondents should have been noticed.

The judges looked at the case record and said that notices to the Respondents have not been delivered and queried whether the Respondents may have refused to accept notice. In response, counsel pointed out that if that was the case, an endorsement to that effect would have been made. There was no such endorsement.

Court was urged by Weliamuna and Sumanthiran, not to deny to the Respondents in this case, the rights ordinarily and always granted by the Supreme Court Rules and practice of court to parties in all other cases. It was also pointed out that there is no urgency in the appeal now, to the extent that the Appeal Court ruling was disregarded and the harm that would have been prevented by compliance with the ruling has already been done.

It was submitted that the practice of court is to re-issue notice. Weliamuna informed court that his client (Vijitha Herath) filed an affidavit informing that he knew about the case from newspaper reports. On 09.05.2013, lawyers checked the SC Registry and found that papers were not sent. When the Registrar (who was present in court) was asked about this, she claimed that it is about another notice that she spoke.

Palitha Fernando then took up the position that when a notice is dispatched, it should be presumed to have been received. He expressed keenness to have his appeal heard without the ex-parte order granting leave to appeal being reversed. Weliamuna urged the court to consider the obvious fact that there is no reason at all for his client not to participate in any hearing of submissions on whether to grant special leave to appeal, since he had participated in all connected cases.

Sumanthiran also pointed out to court that the issue of whether the AG (not being a party and merely amicus curiae in the original case) could only have been properly canvassed at the stage of support for grant of special leave to appeal (and not after leave is granted). This opportunity he submitted, was wrongfully denied to parties to the case. Weliamuna also submitted that this is a very serious issue and that any further proceedings to hear the final appeal on the basis of a blatantly wrongful order would be completely illegal and unconscionably improper.

The judges adjourned for over an hour saying they wanted to consider what to do. They returned and set aside the order granting special leave to appeal.

Court noted that on a motion of the Appellant, notices have been dispatched. However, a perusal of the docket reveals that most notices have not been delivered. Court took cognisance of the fact that Dr. Bandaranayake has indicated that she will not be participating in the appeal. The order was made, setting aside the order made ex-parte and the 11th and 12 Respondents (Vijitha Herath and R. Sampanthan) were granted the right to file caveat and appear in objection to grant of special leave to appeal.

The Court also took notice of the way in which notice has been dispatched, and held that despite the AG’s position that it was not necessary, the interests of justice required that the ex parte order be set aside with respect to the complaining Respondents.

The Court directed that the 11th and 12th Respondents should file caveat giving notice of intention to object to grant of special leave to appeal within one week.

The application was fixed for support for leave to appeal on 10.06.2013 before Justices Saleem Marsoof, Sathya Hettige and Eva Wanasundera.

Sumanthiran and Weliamuna submitted that any issue of final hearing of an appeal would only arise if special leave to appeal is granted on 10.06.2013.

Fourth TNA MP summoned to TID

by Our Jaffna Correspondent

2013-05-28 

The Terrorist Investigation Department (TID) has asked Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Parliamentarian, Appathurai Vinayagamoorthy, to appear for an interrogation on 25 May, sources said.

However, the parliamentarian, citing a health condition, had refused to appear before the TID on the said date.

He has now been asked to appear on a given date in June, sources added.

Meanwhile, Secretary of the Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) of the Kilinochchi District,
S. Pasupathipillai, was invited by the TID for an...

estioned for nearly three hours from 9 a.m. to 12 noon, sources said.

Vinayagamoorthy is the fourth TNA Parliamentarian to be questioned followed by three other TNA Parliamentarians, S. Sritharan, Suresh Premachandran and Sivashakthi Anandan, in the past two months.

Colombo University Teachers Union Wants Senate To Boycott The Meeting Today

May 29, 2013 |

“Stand with us in solidarity to show our dissent to this appointment. You can start by boycotting the senate meeting today as a symbolic gesture of your support.” the Executive Committee of the Colombo University Federation of Teachers Unions wrote to the members of the Colombo University Senate.

UGC Chairperson - Hirimburegama - (Center)

We publish below the letter in full;

Dear Senate Member

We write to you to draw your attention to the unprecedented controversy that has been created due to the appointment of the vice chancellor of the University of Colombo. Please take a few minutes of your time to go through this letter and give serious consideration to the issues we raise. If you feel that there is merit in the arguments we present here, please stand with us in solidarity to show our dissent to this appointment and boycotting the senate meeting today as a symbolic gesture of our defiance.

1. University of Colombo is the oldest and most prestigious institution of higher education in this country. In the past it has been led by senior members of the academic community, with great stature and vision such as Prof. Nicholas Atygalla, Prof. B.A. Abeywickerama, Prof. P.P.G.L. Siiwardene, Prof. Stanley Wijesundara, Prof. Nandadasa Kodagoda to name a few, who have commanded the highest respect, both within and outside the university system. To continue this tradition, we believe that whoever is appointed to this post as the Vice Chancellor of the University of Colombo, should be a person of exemplary academic achievements, preferably having achieved the rank of Professor in the university system, and also having a track record of leadership and administrative experience.

2. It has been argued that Dr. Hirimburegama posses the minimal qualifications required for the post. Most of you have sat at interview boards to recruit people to post graduate courses, Departments etc., In these instances we use minimal qualifications to shortlist the candidates for the interview. But do we recruit the person(s) with minimal qualifications to the post when there are highly qualified candidates who can be recruited? Think of situations that you know of, where we have failed to follow this important principle in the past and have recruited persons with minimal qualifications for positions in the academic ranks and how they have performed subsequently? That is the level of stringency we apply even when we recruit a probationary lecturer the lowest academic rank in the University because we wish to maintain high standards. Yet, when it comes to the Vice Chancellor of the University are we prepared to overlook this important principle? Shouldn’t we always strive to get the best candidate?

3. As the new Vice Chancellor happens to be the husband of the Chairperson of the University Grants Commission and former vice chancellor of the University of Colombo it will seriously undermine the autonomy and independence of the University of Colombo. The UGC chairman has already violated the University act by sending all three names recommended by the council to his Excellency the President instead of recommending a single name for appointment which is clearly stated in the act. Further, she has actively canvassed for her husband, to be appointed as the Vice Chancellor of the University of Colombo which is highly unethical and that goes against the norms of decency (see the article that appeared on The Colombotelegraph on the 23^rd May, 2013. (http://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/last-night-dinner-at-sbs-residence-mr-to-appoint-ugc-chairpersons-husband-as-the-vc-of-university-of-colombo/)).    

“Stand with us in solidarity to show our dissent to this appointment. You can start by boycotting the senate meeting today as a symbolic gesture of your support.”

Thank you for taking the time to go through this. We hope you will do the right thing.

Executive Committee

Colombo University Federation of Teachers Unions (CUFTA)

List of the Senate Members;

‘Sri Lanka’ poetry: Rajapaksa man edits, India publishes, SL-Canada mission launches

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 29 May 2013, 03:15 GMT]
National Book Trust of India (NBT), a publications outfit of the New Delhi Establishment had entrusted the editorship of an anthology of ‘Sri Lanka’ poetry to the well-known defender of the genocidal State, Prof Rajiva Wijesinha. New Delhi’s External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid ceremoniously received the book presented by the editor recently. The book “Mirrored Images” will be launched in Toronto, Canada, on Friday at a function jointly organised by Colombo’s High Commission in Ottawa and Consulate General in Toronto. Prof Chelva Kanaganayakam of the University of Toronto will deliver the keynote address at the event, the Sri Lanka High Commission invitation to select audience said. 

Rajiva Wijesinghe, permanent secretary to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Human Rights

Indian External Affairs minister Salman Khurshid receiving a copy of the book edited by Rajiva Wijesinha [Photo coutesy: Ceylon Today]

Prof Rajiva Wijesinha, as Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Human Rights of Sri Lanka, was in the forefront as spokesperson engaged in denying the war crimes committed by the genocidal State. In 2010, he was a candidate in Mahinda Rajapaksa's UPFA alliance and was appointed as a national list member of Sri Lanka's Parliament. In 2011, he was also appointed as adviser on Reconciliation to Mahinda Rajapaksa. 

The NBT anthology entrusted to his editorship contains poetry written originally in English, Sinhala and Tamil.

“I have noted similarities, simply because I think it is important to note what we all have in common. Remarkably, none of the poetry suggests the animosities that have obviously existed at all levels of society,” Ceylon Today cited Prof Wijesinha speaking on the anthology.

“Good writing shares certain values that transcend differences that are seen as contingencies. In recognition of that, I hope that this volume contributes to the development of a common Sri Lankan identity,” Ceylon Today further cited Prof Wijesinha.

With all what had happened and with all what is practically taking place, a common ‘Sri Lankan’ identity is just the other word for ultimate structural genocide, commented diaspora activists in Canada.

There was a time when Eezham Tamil poetry anthologies, many of them published in Tamil Nadu, were the inspiration for the liberation movement. Now New Delhi takes up the mission of coming out with ‘counter anthologies’ and publications to simulate a common ‘Sri Lankan’ identity for the genocidal State it is partnering with, the activists commented further.

A leading Eezham Tamil poet told TamilNet that when approached by New Delhi’s National Book Trust, he didn’t give permission to them to include his poetry in the anthology edited by Rajiva Wijesinha.

The 13th Amendment

By Saro Kadirgamar -May 29, 2013 

The Daily Mirror has been conducting a public opinion poll on the above subject to feel the pulse of the people. 53.1% for abrogation, 33.3% for retention and 10.3% for retention with amendments. It is interesting and heartening for those who wish for justice and reconciliation that the results do not reflect the ethnic and religious percentages of the population.

The current President and his party at no time rejected it, and indeed he promised 13+ | AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool

Devolution or power sharing is a tried alternative to secession and has been successfully implemented in countries large and small. The call for devolution by the Tamils who have enjoyed a historic presence in the country pre-dates the 13th Amendment and the war.

Had the power sharing arrangements agreed to by the previous Governments been honestly implemented, we could have averted an ethnic war. It is imperative that the Tamil and Muslim people of this country be acknowledged as stakeholders in the development of this multi racial, multi religious and multi cultural country and their identities preserved. It is a lack of understanding by the majority that led to the cry for separation. It is conveniently forgotten that Tamils rejected the cry for separation by Mr. Suntharalingam and his Eelam party at the polls in 1962. What went wrong since then?

All these extremists who call for dumping he 13th Amendment should keep in mind that in their next birth they may not be born into the same comfort zone but they may be reborn as a member of a minority community.

Whilst the 13th Amendment was introduced during a UNP regime under unfortunate circumstances, the current President and his party at no time rejected it, and indeed he promised 13+. There are many safeguards which could be introduced to prevent secession, the most important being inclusiveness extended to minorities.

A spurious argument put forward in support of abrogating the 13th Amendment is “emotional blackmail” in that it would be a betrayal of our gallant forces and the sacrifices made by them. The forces fought to  put down terrorism and not to deny minority rights and support majoritarianism. This is why Sri Lanka gained international support during the war.

Therefore this Wesak season, let the President address this problem in accordance with Buddhist principles of justice, free of ethnic considerations.

The way the President  decides and acts will certainly reflect on his personal integrity and credibility both within the country and internationally.

For Truth and Reconciliation

‘And Then They Came For Me’: Lasantha’s Ex-Wife’s Book On Him

May 29, 2013 |

A book on the life and work of slain Sri Lankan Editor and journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge will be launched this week.

The biography, titled “And Then They Came For Me’ is written by Wickrematunge’s ex-wife, journalist Raine Wickrematunge and captures in vivid detail his life story beginning with his early life, his entry into journalism, his political work, the triumphs and tragedies of the Sunday Leader journey, his brilliant investigative work and the many trials and tribulations he and his newspaper faced, ending with his murder in January 2009. The book is also full of touching, funny and sometimes hilarious anecdotes from his personal and professional life that throw light on the man behind the public persona.

Executive Director of the International Press Institute Alison Bethel McKenzie has said in her foreword to the book, “The memory of Lasantha, who was the editor of Sri Lanka’s pioneering Sunday Leader newspaper, has been burned into the minds of his colleagues around the world not only for his commitment to exposing corruption and laying bare the truth behind the actions of Sri Lanka’s government, but the circumstances surrounding his death.

“Who better to write this fitting tribute than Lasantha’s ex-wife Raine Wickrematunge, a journalist in her own right? A wonderful writer, the book is filled with details and nuances of Lasantha’s life. It is a book too long in the making and is a must-read for anyone aspiring to journalism or anyone disillusioned about having chosen this most noble of professions…”

On May 3 each year, UNESCO marks World Press Freedom Day and the release of the book in the month of May, the author says, is a fitting tribute to Wickrematunge who championed the cause of a free press in Sri Lanka.

Published by AuthorHouse and priced at £11.95 (e-book £7.95), ‘And Then They Came For Me’ is available for purchase from http://g.ua/W8rp (AuthorHouse site) or  from http://amzn.to/10EtSjt  (the Amazon online bookstore).

Spot Fixing Sri Lanka Style: Revisiting the Enumeration of Vital Events

Spot Fixing Sri Lanka Style: Revisiting the Enumeration of Vital Events

Image courtesy Thuppahi blog

Groundviews

The Social Architects-28 May, 2013

In November 2011, Sri Lanka’s Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, said that discovering how many civilians “died or went missing during the last few months of the conflict” would be “a first step towards reconciliation.”[1]

The government’s Enumeration of Vital Events (EVE) attempted to answer that question by collecting information about people who have died, disappeared and emigrated from Sri Lanka since 1982. The survey was overseen by the Ministry of Defence, but was conducted by the Department of Census and Statistics (DCS).[2]

More recently, Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN), Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha, said[3] the following at the UN’s Human Rights Council (HRC):

“Addressing concerns relating to accountability, the only authoritative and credible source of information relating to the demographics and those killed and untraceable in the Northern Province during the period 2005 – 2009, the Enumeration of Vital Events 2011 in the Northern Province (EVE 2011) by the Department of Census and Statistics (DCS) conducted during the months of June and July 2011, has estimated that the total number dead from 1 January to 31 May 2009 is 8998, including deaths caused due to old age/sickness, natural deaths, deaths due to accidents/homicides/suicides and other causes. Out of this, 7896 are probable conflict related deaths, which include LTTE cadres killed in action, LTTE cadres and civilians who escaped from the conflict zone and had travelled to other parts of Sri Lanka/overseas, civilians likely to have been killed in cross fire and civilians killed by the LTTE whilst escaping from LTTE control, false reporting, found to be alive, deaths reported but not during the period of Humanitarian Operation and those who have gone overseas/moved to other parts of Sri Lanka/ untraceable etc. It would be recalled that from Jan – May 2009 around 2,400 Sri Lankan security forces personnel were killed and around 11,000 wounded, which indicates the intensity of the LTTE resistance at the time. The GoSL has embarked on a fresh survey on deaths, injuries, untraced and property damages as recommended by the LLRC NPoA and this survey is expected to provide vital information to respond to many questions raised related to deaths, injuries and those untraced during the conflict.”

Ambassador Aryasinha’s recent remarks, the present administration’s hostile stance towards accountability or a proper recounting of the war’s final phases and the total collapse of the rule of law have compelled TSA to revisit Sri Lanka’s Enumeration of Vital Events.

The Methodology

Revisiting the Enumeration of Vital Events by nelvely