Rajapakse miracle in the making ! police higher ups contribute via murders and extortions : Hotel project and swelling bank accounts out of blood money
(Lanka-e-News-13.June.2013, 7.00PM) In the on going investigations into the most ruthless abductions and gory murders committed for blood money amounting to many millions of rupees on the instructions of the notorious defense secretary, Gotabaya and on the plans of the DIG Vaas Gunawardena who is now in the custody of the CID , it has come to light that another police higher up , C E Wedisinghe SP of Kelaniya division had also aided and abetted the criminal police and political bigwigs.

On the day Bambalapitiya millionaire businessman , Mohomed Muzamdeen Mohomed Shyam was abducted ( before he was killed) , he had been taken to the top floor of the western north division DIG’s office in Peliyagoda in the night . DIG Vaas and SP Wedisinghe had arrived there at about 1.30 a.m. (night) to arrange the collection of cash amounting to Rs. 20 million that was in the account of the victim. The telephone call exchanges between the two police officers which had been recorded at the Towers of Dialog and Mobitel have also been uncovered during the investigations. In addition, the investigations are also being focused on a Colombo police crime division OIC who has allegedly extended support to Vaas’ murders and crimes.

Rs. 327 lakhs of rupees in Vaas Gunawardena’s account ; over Rs. 50 lakhs in his legally married wife’s account and a further over Rs. 50 lakhs in his son’s account had been discovered until yesterday. His wife and his son ought to be questioned in this connection. 

It has also been revealed that Wedisinghe SP who was in close association with Vaas for some time , had been extorting from businessmen in millions after intimidating and frightening them .

The modus operandi had been : Bamunusinghe SI who is now in custody speaks to the businessman first and frightens them , then Wedisinghe SP talks to the businessman and assures he would ‘shape it’ with the DIG and collects Rs. 10 to 20 lakhs from each. Bamunusinghe had in his confession disclosed these facts. 

Out of the extortion monies collected this long , Bamunusinghe SP is constructing a super luxury Hotel comprising 19 rooms at Ranminithenna , Kataragama . He had already spent over Rs. 20 million towards it , Whether this forms part of government’s development project is yet to be probed . Only Gotabaya will know. 

The Kataragama local body had made a complaint that this hotel is being constructed on a government land after forcibly taking possession of it. The local body had complained that illegal sand excavations are being carried out for this construction and police officers are also being unlawfully used after making them desert their official legitimate duties. Despite these complaints the authorities have turned a deaf ear to them.

It is significant to note that the underworld criminal leader , 'Kotte Nishantha' alias 'Chakku' who was used by Vaas Gunawardena for extortion activities has still not been arrested. Vaas who is now in custody is to be produced before court tomorrow to extend the detention order .

Military intelligence unit members abducts Lalith and Kugan [ Thursday, 13 June 2013, 10:00.11 AM GMT +05:30 ] Member of the Socialist Party Janapriya Kumarage informed court that members of army intelligence unit have abducted his friends Lalith and Kugan. Case on disappearance of Lalith and Kugan taken up at the Jaffna Magistrate P.Sivakumar yesterday. He also said several individuals specially police and military personals continuously investigate Lalith and Kugan while they engage party activities in the Jaffna peninsula. This case postponed till September 5.

Soldier who raped 6-year-old identified BY PREMALAL WIJERATHNE-2013-06-13 The soldier, who had allegedly raped a girl, just 6 years and 8 months old, at Nedunkerni, Jaffna, was identified by witnesses and the victim at the Vavuniya Magistrate's Court, recently. The soldier was attached to an Army camp at Nedunkerni. Police said, the suspect was arrested by the CID and remanded over the incident, alleged to have taken place on 14 May. The suspect was produced before Vavuniya Magistrate on 7 June for an identification parade. Police said, the victim is a Year-2 pupil. When the victim's mother, with some neighbours, had gone in search of her daughter as she got late to return after school, they had found the girl in the jungle by the side of the road, about 65 metres away from the house. The victim had fallen on the ground and was groaning in pain. Her pair of shoes and socks too were found in the vicinity. The victim had claimed she was dragged into the forest by a man who came on a bicycle. Her mother had made a complaint to the Nedunkerni Police. A judicial medical test revealed the victim had been sexually abused. She was admitted to the Vavuniya Hospital. The same soldier had tried to rape a small girl on an earlier occasion, on 8 May, at Dehiattakandiya. He had been released on bail over that case. The suspect, after being identified, was ordered to be remanded till 21 June. The CID is inquiring into the incident. Military personal committed suicide over love affair

[ Thursday, 13 June 2013, 09:41.52 AM GMT +05:30 ]

Soldier serving at the Kyts military camp committed suicide over love affairs on Thursday.

Victim has maintained love affair with 19 years old female soldier at the same camp. Victim committed suicide when he was aware about his lover’s sexual relationship maintained with another military personal. During the time of investigation girl strongly refuses the allegation and said that she never maintained sexual relationship. Victim identified has S.P.M.Pisandha Dharshana (23) resident of Nugegoda. Body of the military personal has been sent to the Kyts base hospital. Military police conduct further investigations on this suicide attempt.

Order to arrest DIG Vass Gunawardena’s wife and son

Thursday, 13 June 2013

The IGP has ordered the arrest of DIG Vass Gunwardena’s wife, Shamali Priyadharshani Perera and son Ravindu Gunawardena to question them over several murders. DIG Vass Gunawardena is currently held by the CID on a detention order and being questioned on carrying out several contract murders.

The CID interrogations have revealed that the DIG was involved in more than one murder. His wide and son are to be arrested to question about one such murder.

The CID has requested permission from the IGP to arrest the SSP in-charge of Peliyagoda, Widisinghe following details revealed by Vass Gunawardena.

Disturbed by Vass Gunawardena’s situation, his master, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has ordered the CID Director not to investigate any other murders apart from the killing of businessman Mohomad Shyam. It has so far been revealed that the killing of four persons in Galle and two persons in Kahawatte was carried out by Vass Gunawardena with the Defence Secretary’s consent.

DIG Vaas’s wife’s case postponed

12 June 2013 

The hearing of the case filed against the wife of DIG Vass Gunawardena, Shayamali Gunawardena, for allegedly assaulting Nipuna Dhanushka Ramanayake of the Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT) has been postponed to January 20th.

She was alleged of assaulting the said student with a group of police officers following a dispute between him and her son, Ravindu Gunawardena.

The fundamental rights application filed by Nipuna Dhanushka Ramanayake in 2009 regarding the incident was scheduled to be taken up before Magistrate Court by a three judge bench yesterday (11) , however due to the absence of a judge caused by an illness the hearing was postponed.

Meanwhile, 6 suspects who were arrested being accused of conspiring to abduct and kill business tycoon of Bambalapitiya Mohamad Sham have been ordered to be kept under detention for another 90 days and questioned further until the investigations are over.

The suspects include a SI, 3 Constables and 2 civilians.

Crime Investigation Department has received permission yesterday (11) to detain and question DIG Vass Gunawardena for 3 days.

SSP of the CID Shani Abeysekera informed the court that DIG Vass Gunawardana and 6 other suspects will be detained under Terrorism Prevention Act and questioned further.

The CID also seized two pistols from the Peliyagoda police, which was issued to two security guards of DIG Vass Gunawardana.

CID has also took two vehicles into custody which were used in the incident, and a vehicle belonging to the Colombo Police Crime Division.

The court was also told that the motor car used by the murdered businessman is now in the custody of Mirihana police.

The court ordered the CID today (12) to report the progress of the investigations to the court on 18th this month.

The two civilian suspects have given an hours long statement before the Colombo Additional Magistrate A.S. Sahabdeen, reports say.

Investigations following Vaas’ detention despite Gota’s objections unearth list of 57 potential businessmen victims

(Lanka-e-News-12.June2013, 11.45PM) The interrogation into the heinous crimes committed by DIG Vaas Gunawardena following his arrest has unearthed a wealth of information pertaining to his gory criminal record .

2 vehicles and firearms of the police department which DIG Vaas had used to commit abductions and murders for blood money have also been taken into custody. The firearms include mini Ushi firearms,T56 weapons and 4 Czechoslovakian Browning pistols have been issued by the police in the respective divisions of the police headquarters.

Investigations following Vaas’ detention despite Gota’s objections unearth list of 57 potential businessmen... by nelvely

Bangladesh factory collapse: More buildings declared unsafe

-                    VIDEO

13 June 2013 Last updated at 02:21 ET

Two months after the collapse of a factory in Bangladesh, new building inspections have revealed that six out of every 10 factories there are unsafe.

More than 1,000 people were killed when pillars supporting the Rana Plaza factory building gave way.

Most of the clothing produced in Bangladesh is sold in Europe and the US but, as Yalda Hakim reports from Dhaka, factories that have been declared unsafe are still full of workers.

Jaffna Tamils’ Land Grab FR Cases: Justice Sripavan Advises DSG How To Grab Lands Correctly

June 12, 2013 |

Several FR cases to prevent the acquiring of a massive area of traditional lands of Jaffna Tamils (an extent about 2/3 of the whole of Colombo) was taken up in the Supreme Court today before Justice K. Sripavan and Justice Sathya Hettige. The third judge who was to sit in that courthouse today was absent.

Justice K. Sripavan

Lawyer K. Guruparan appeared for the petitioners and wanted to support the cases. However Deputy Solicitor General Shavindra Fernando of the Attorney General’s Department appeared for the government and pointed out that the petitions filed were not in order and needed to be amended to correct lots of mistakes before they could be even considered. Court gave the petitioners time to take steps to amend the petition and file proper papers.

The FR cases are now refixed to be supported on the 15.07.2013.

In the meantime Justice Sripavan inquired from the Deputy Solicitor General, why the government can’t make arrangements to correct the technical illegalities complained about by the petitioners and proceed to acquire the lands correctly.

Earlier, a separate group of over 2000 Jaffna Tamils challenging the correctness of any steps to take over their traditional lands altogether was supported in writ applications filed in the Appeal Court and notice was issued on the government to file objections if any to relief being granted.

The Colombo Telegraph is reliably informed that there is speculation in Tamil circles as to why these petitioners chose to file FR cases in the more politicized Supreme Court now run by de facto Chief JusticeMohan Pieris, rather than go by the other option of writ petitions to the Appeal Court.

Many thousands of Tamils would have their traditional lands in the Jaffna Province taken away from them by the ruling Rajapaksa regime unless they succeed in getting relief against the attempt  to take over their lands, which they are at present forcibly prevented from enjoying or even entering.

Related posts;

Appeal Court Issues Notice On Respondents In Cases By 2176 Jaffna Tamils Seeking Relief Against Land Grab By Rajapaksa Regime

702 More Jaffna Tamils Petition Appeal Court To Prevent Damage To Their Tesawalamai Rights By Land Grab Of Rajapaksa regime

Acquisition Notices: Militarization Through Grabbing Of Tamil Lands

1474 Northern Tamils Petition Appeal Court To Help Prevent Grab Of Their Homes By Rajapaksa Regime

26th Annual FeTNA Convention
Toronto, Canada

FeTNA 2013

For the first time ever in its 26 year history, the FeTNA convention will be held in Canada from July 5 to 7 at the Sony Centre located in downtown Toronto.

Strengthening solidarity of Tamils, the convention will attract Tamil scholars and special guests from USA, India, Malaysia, Europe and more. FeTNA Convention will include events that explore Tamil literature, arts, discussion panels on current issues, forums for young professionals, networking events for entrepreneurs, and light music show.

Ampaa’rai Sinhala administration schemes Buddhicisation of Saiva-Vedda site

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 12 June 2013, 00:16 GMT]
Occupying Sri Lanka’s Government Agent in the Eastern Province’s Ampaa’rai district, Mr Neil de Alwis, who held a meeting with the Va’n’nakkars (trustees) of the historic Saiva shrine at Ukanthai-malai last Wednesday, has asked the trustees to cooperate with the SL authorities in constructing a Buddhist stupa, at a one and a half acres plot of land, 400 meters close to the Saiva shrine, informed sources in Ampaa’rai told TamilNet this week. The SLGA was particular in urging the trustees that this news should not be leaked to media. The disappointed trustees find themselves at a delicate situation, unable to reveal the truth to the Saiva devotees of the sacred abode. The Ukanthai-malai temple of Saiva-Vedda tradition is located at a rocky hillock in Lahugala division. 

The SL Government Agent has further indicated that the SL authorities were of the view that the Saiva temple is situated within the sanctuary ‘protected’ by the SL State and that the State could go ahead with the construction of the Buddhist temple regardless of the objections from the Saiva community. 

Earlier, when Tamil devotees wanted to construct a Mutt for the pilgrims, the SL authorities had refused permission to construct the building, citing the ‘protected sanctuary’ status of the place.

The SLGA told the Va’n’nakkars that the Buddhist stupa would be constructed south of the temple pond (theerththak-kea’ni) situated in front of the Murukan temple at the footstep of the rocky hillock. 

Va’n’nakkar is a unique Tamil term used in Batticaloa Tamil dialect for the trustees of Saiva temples. 

The Ukanthai-malai temple is a synthesis of Vedda (aborigine) and Saiva religious traditions. The Veddas were the original custodians of the Va’l’li-amman temple on the hilltop and Murukan temple at the entry to the hill.

There are several myths associated with the temple.

In the Vedda tradition, the hill, which is likely to be a prehistoric site, is called Va’l’li Malai. 

There are a number of natural waterholes in the rocky hillock that are considered holy by the Saiva-Vedda population of the region.

Where Is The Code Of Ethics For MPs?

By Kath Noble -June 12, 2013 

Kath Noble

It would be funny if it weren’t so disgusting. In the week that the Government distributed a code of ethics for journalists, one of its MPs made possibly the most unethical statement of the year, from the safety and comfort of Parliament.

I am of course talking about Arundika Fernando and his claim to have seen missing journalist Prageeth Ekneligoda in France.

I don’t know about you, but if I had been introduced to the man who has become the symbol of the Sri Lankan media’s descent into hell – thanks to the extraordinarily courageous campaigning of his wife Sandhya – I would remember where it happened. I would make a note of it, maybe even take a photo. I would certainly ask the person who introduced us how on earth Ekneligoda had found his way out of the country undetected, what he was doing now, and why it was that he felt so amazingly confident in his disguise as to join Sunanda Deshapriya (wearing an oh-so-discreet turban, as Fernando has since added by way of supposedly reassuring detail!) in trying to disrupt a pro-Government rally outside the United Nations. I would also tell somebody to investigate further, because such a huge deception should not be allowed to pass.

And I am not even a Government supporter.

Fernando, he would have us believe, didn’t bother with any of that. He just forgot about it, then several months later when MPs got together to talk about the amount they should charge newspapers by way of registration fees, he dropped it into the debate.

This after the Government’s name has been dragged through the mud at the international level, not only because of the disappearance of Ekneligoda but also for the admission in a Sri Lankan court by former Attorney General and now Chief Justice Mohan Peiris that his statement to the Human Rights Council that Ekneligoda is alive and well rather than murdered by the State or forces associated with it was based on absolutely no evidence whatsoever.

Prageeth Ekneligoda

Frankly, if Fernando is telling the truth, he should be prosecuted for treason.

And if he is lying, he should be prosecuted for torture. Because that is what it would be, telling a woman that she should continue to hope for the return of her husband without good reason. (Good reason doesn’t include trying to browbeat Sandhya Ekneligoda into giving up her protests against the Government.)

Either way, it is definitely irresponsible.

Indeed, this is exactly the kind of irresponsibility that the Government has suddenly decided has to be dealt with in journalists.

Apparently, journalists report things that simply aren’t true and poor old politicians don’t have any means of redress – some idiot has made it illegal to kill them, and I think beating them up and burning their presses and studios is probably outlawed as well. (Maybe that’s something Mahinda Rajapaksa could look into while he still has his two thirds majority in Parliament?)

To be honest, I didn’t realise that the Government had such a frightful burden to bear. I was sure that it had plenty of even perfectly lawful ways of setting the record straight, not least its own massive media empire.

In any case, there is already a code of ethics for journalists, adopted by the Press Complaints Commission with the approval of all of the major media organisations.

What is different about the one that was circulated last week?

The original document prepared by journalists includes all of the necessary elements, like the need for accuracy in reporting and for verification of stories prior to publication. It calls for the issue of corrections and apologies where appropriate, and specifies the conditions under which people must be offered the right to reply. It urges restraint in covering issues of a particularly shocking nature, such as violence and obscenity, requires care to be exercised to avoid promoting communal or religious discord, and lists details that should not be included in a story, such as the identity of the victims of sex crimes and repetition of methods of suicide. It also states that journalists should not use financial information that they become aware of before it is published.

One of the most useful parts explains what constitutes the public interest, in the pursuit of which a certain degree of invasion of privacy or the use of methods such as secret recordings may be acceptable. It also encourages investigative journalism in the public interest.

Whether journalists stick to these guidelines is not the point. That is a matter of compliance, not the code of ethics itself.

As The Island has pointed out editorially, if the Government really feels the need to act, it had better start by ensuring the good behaviour of its own publications and broadcasters, and only then consider developing rules for others.

However, back to the new draft.

What the Government has done is add to the existing very sensible document a set of totally ridiculous criteria that it would like to use to rule out altogether the publication or broadcast of a whole lot of things. Included here are stories that ‘offend against the expectations of the public’, whatever those may be, and stories that ‘may promote anti-national attitudes’ or ‘contain criticism affecting foreign relations’. Since the term ‘anti-national attitudes’ is nowhere defined, experience suggests that this would be interpreted by the Government to mean any and all criticism of its actions. And whatever the definition, the stories need not even promote ‘anti-national attitudes’ – this only has to be a possible outcome. Vaguer criteria are almost impossible to imagine. As for the clause expressing concern about foreign relations, there can be no doubt whatsoever about the Government’s intentions, since even the reproduction of transcripts of its own announcements at press briefings would damage its standing in the world.

In addition to these extraordinary criteria, the new draft also outlaws stories that ‘contain materials against the integrity of the Executive, Judiciary and Legislature’. Again, what on earth does this mean?

The only conclusion that can be drawn from this whole exercise is that the Government is quite happy to look keen to crush the media (and pretty thick, incidentally!).

It is apparently completely unconcerned at the prospect of looking keen to trample on Sandhya Ekneligoda.

Arundika Fernando made this even clearer when he addressed the media, accusing her of behaving in an unpatriotic manner in calling on the Government to bring her husband home, as if that were not the obvious course of action in the circumstances. Prageeth Ekneligoda disappeared just days before the last presidential election, in preparation for which he had been working for the common candidate of the Opposition, Sarath Fonseka.

Whatever his politics, it is the Government’s job to explain what happened to him, not by making wild assertions but with the use of actual proof.

*Kath Noble may be contacted at kathnoble99@gmail.com. 

On Sri Lanka, US Rapp Disappointed on Accountability, Watching Pillay Go

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, June 11 -- When the US Ambassador at Large on War Crimes Issues, Stephen J. Rapp, appearedat the UN on June 11, Inner City Press asked him about accountability for war crimes in Sri Lanka, particularly fouryears ago in 2009. Video here from Minute 21:11.

  Rapp said that the US sponsored two resolutions at the UN Human Rights Council in March 2012 and March 2013 which "express our disappointment that provisions of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission haven't been implemented, in regard reconciliation... between Tamil and major communities in Sri Lanka and particular disappointment on accountability for the alleged grave atrocities near the end of the conflict on both sides."

  With UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay now scheduled to visit Sri Lanka, Rapp said that the most recent resolution invites Pillay "and the Special Rapporteurs to work with" Sri Lanka's Rapapaksa government "to overcome these deficits."

  Rapp said the US will be "watching that very carefully" to decide what steps are necessary. Video here from Minute 22:57.

  Inner City Press has begun inquiring with Indian diplomats at the UN about the possible appointment by Manmohan Singh of a special envoy on devolution in Sri Lanka, based on India's role in the 13th Amendment in 1987. We hope to have more on this soon. Watch this site.

Tamils want more devolved power in Sri Lanka's north

Photo: Contributor/IRIN

TNA leader Rajavarothayam Sampanthan

COLOMBO, 11 June 2013 (IRIN) - Ahead of Sri Lanka's planned provincial election in a former war zone, the country's main ethnic minority Tamil party is pushing to have as much power devolved from Colombo as possible. 

The island nation has grappled for decades with the question of the devolution of power to its nine provinces, particularly the Northern and Eastern provinces, considered by Tamils to be their homeland. 

Tamils Want More Devolved Power in Sri Lanka's North by nelvely

The Forgotten Conflict And Post-War Justice And Accountability In Sri Lanka

By Srini Sitaraman -June 12, 2013

Dr. Srini Sitaraman

On 21st March 2013, the United States introduced a resolution on war crimes and crimes against humanity aimed at Sri Lanka for its role in the prosecution of war against the Liberation of Tamil Tigers of Elam (LTTE) in the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC).

An earlier resolution sponsored by the United States in March 2012 called up on the Lankan government to “implement the constructive recommendations made in the report of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission” (LLRC), and take all necessary steps to “initiate credible and independent actions to ensure justice, equity, accountability and reconciliation for all Sri Lankans.” The US sponsored resolution also requested that the government of Sri Lanka to expeditiously follow a plan to implement the recommendations made by the United Nations.

In response, the Sri Lankan government has openly defied international recommendations and decided to deny access to independent investigations of human rights atrocities in its conduct of the war against the LTTE from September 2008 to May 2009. The prevarications and justifications of the Sri Lankan government are rather brazen and shameful; besides the delay tactics in implementing the LLRC recommendations violates the letter of international law in every which way possible. Another culprit in this complex story is Sri Lankan’s large neighbor, India, which has not held up its share of the bargain and is complicit in Sri Lanka’s use of indiscriminate and excessive violence to crush the LTTE along with it thousands of unarmed civilians. Although India voted in favor of U.S. sponsored UNHRC resolutions in 2012 and 2013, it did so after so much agonizing and did not decide until few hours before the vote as to whether it was going to vote for or against. India along with China and Russia have shielded Sri Lanka from independent UN investigations and UN visits to Northern Sri Lanka in the name of state sovereignty and non-interference in the internal matters.

The actions of the Indian government also demonstrate unimaginable moral equivalence and Machiavellian positioning. We can be sure that strategic and realist considerations are driving India’s deep-seated discomfort in having to take sides on this issue in which it has had a major role to play either unwittingly or due to sheer geographically proximity.

India much like Sri Lanka wants this problem gone away, it wants to puts the past behind it and move on to more lucrative things such as rebuilding the war-torn Sri Lankan economy. More importantly India wants to forestall the aggressive forays by China, which has rapidly gained significant strategic foothold in Sri Lanka and increased its military and financial support as a part of its “string-of-pearls” strategy.

Driven by strategic and economic considerations, India and Sri Lanka want to whitewash the 30-year old brutal civil war and return to “normalcy.” Although wanting to return Sri Lankan back to normalcy is perfectly understandable, but wanting to completely ignore the enormous atrocities committed by Sri Lanka in the conduct of war is inexcusable and the international community should hold both Sri Lanka and India accountable.

There are other domestic security considerations that are preventing India from emerging as a forceful advocate of human rights for the oppressed Tamil minorities in Sri Lanka. On 8th March 2013 addressing the Indian Parliament, the External Affairs Minister of India, Mr. Salman Khurshid, said that India should be very cautious on this matter because whatever it does, those actions “should not be thrown back at us in the future as everybody is not our friend.”

Instead Mr. Khurshid encouraged his counterpart the Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka to actively and directly engage with the Americans “to arrive at a consensual draft which is acceptable to everybody.” So India sat on the fence and it was hoping against hope that a vote on this issue not be scheduled in the UNHRC and if indeed such a vote where to occur the language be such that it acceptable mostly to the Sri Lankans. But eventually a coalition of domestic forces, especially the regional Tamil political parties in Southern India that were instrumental in forcing the hand of the Indian government to vote against Sri Lanka, which India did much to its dislike. New Delhi also did not want to go against the United States, its new strategic partner.

According to the UN Secretary-General’s Panel of Experts Report, known as the Darusman report, “between September 2008 and 19 May 2009, the Sri Lanka Army advanced its military campaign” against the LTTE by relying on “large-scale and widespread shelling, causing large numbers of civilian deaths,” it launched mortar attacks on “three consecutive No Fire Zones, where it had encouraged the civilian population to concentrate,” it shelled the “United Nations hub, food distribution lines and near the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) ships that were coming to pick up the wounded and their relatives from the beaches,” and it “systematically shelled hospitals on the frontlines.”

This conflict began because of the growing ethnic chauvinism of the Sinhala majority LTTE was created byVelupillai Prabhakaran in response to the growing marginalization of the Tamils and increasing Sinhala chauvinism. However, LTTE supremo Prabhakaran quickly radicalized the group and started using violent tactics such as suicide bombings, recruitment of child soldiers, targeted assassination of moderate Tamil leaders, and brutal reprisal attacks against Sri Lanka military personal. The three-year (1987-1990) disastrous military intervention by the Indian military exacerbated the situation and led to a sensational attack by a female suicide bomber on the former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on 21st May 1991, which blew him into bits, while he was campaigning for re-election in Southern India.

Sri Lanka with military assistance from China and Pakistan was able to put significant pressure on the LTTE and severely degrade its military capabilities and force the LTTE to retreat deep into the forests of Northern Sri Lanka. On 18th May 2009, LTTE Chief Prabhakaran was cornered in his hideout and killed by the Sri Lankan military. Although tears were shed among the radical militant wing of the Tamils and other distant sympathizers, there was a huge sigh of relief both in New Delhi and excessive celebration in Colombo. But soon after videos and reports began to circulate as to how the Sri Lankan government prosecuted this war in violation of laws of war.

The Sri Lankan military launched indiscriminate attacks against civilian targets despite the knowledge that such shelling would have significant impact on the civilian populations, as estimated “by its own intelligence systems.” In addition, the Colombo government “sought to intimidate and silence the media and other critics of the war through a variety of threats and actions, including the use of white vans to abduct and to make people disappear.” The Darusman Report concludes that there are highly credible allegations of human rights abuses against the Sri Lankan military and government. Report of the Secretary-General’s Internal Review Panel on United Nations Action in Sri Lanka, November 2012, also known as the Petrie Report found that from January 2009 onwards, the Sri Lankan Government “forces carried out intense artillery shelling which killed or injured many civilians – whether in makeshift IDP (Internally Displaced Persons) sites in the NFZs (No Fire Zones), at hospitals, or in UN compounds.”

Frances Harrison, who was the resident BBC Correspondent in Sri Lanka, estimates that the military operations against terrorists—as the Sri Lankan government dubbed it—might have caused at least 50,000 to perish. The indiscriminate shelling, the silencing of vocal critics inside the Sri Lankan government, and the subsequent point-blank execution of children, including the LTTE leader Prabhakaran’s 12-year old son (Balachandran) and others thought to have been associated with LTTE, and the mass rapes of Tamil women suggest actions by the Sri Lankan government that could be described as acts “committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group.” Put simply, this clearly falls into the category of genocide as identified by the UN Convention on Genocide of 1948.

A petition drive lead by Amnesty International in India has produced over 1.4 million signatures urging the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to “stand up for justice in Sri Lanka, and act to end the climate of impunity.”

It is time for the Indian government to find its spine and stand up for a right and support a just cause as Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Mahmata Gandhi would do and urge the Sri Lankan government to allow for an independent international investigation and support the establishment of a UN-led structure to monitor the current human rights situation in Sri Lanka to effectively redress the grievances of the minority population and other groups affected by the three-decade long conflict, and inaugurate a genuine reconciliation and reintegration process.

*Srini Sitaraman is an Associate Professor of Political Science and Asian Studies at Clark University, Worcester, MA and the authors of the  State Participation in International Treaty Regimes (Burlington, VT: Ashgate Publishing, August 2009). This article is first appeared in Eurasia Review.