“…Then We Asked That Our Drinking Water Not Be Poisoned And We Were Shot.”

By Emil van der Poorten -August 13, 2013 |

Emil van der Poorten

I make no apologies for the seemingly melodramatic title of this column because it is all that will fit from the fuller version which, in turn, is a paraphrasing of the very famous one by Pastor Niemoller in historically similar times and which should read in its entirety:

“First we asked that our EPF savings not be embezzled and we were shot; then we complained about the adverse impact of the increase in kerosene prices on our livelihoods as fishermen and we were shot; then we asked that our drinking water not be poisoned and we were shot. What other crimes are being created to justify our executions in the future?”

If confirmation be needed of the ruthlessness of this regime, the events atWeliveriya provided it in spades!  A turbulent but, by all descriptions, non-violent demonstration of local people – thousands – against contamination of their drinking water was met with what can only be described as a show of force not simply intended to “show who’s boss” but to instill terror.

When was the last time that you heard of a battle-hardened unit of the army being called in by the police, arriving in armoured personnel carriers, wearing bandannas across their faces?  One might be tempted to proffer the suggestion that white hoods, a la the Ku Klux Klan, would have been more appropriate given the conduct of those in uniform, but, one hardly needs to proffer advice about “improving” such

techniques to this lot.

These are forces completely and absolutely under the control of the President’s brother, Gotabhaya, and for yet another member of his family to be engaged in discussions with representatives of the protestors while the assault was being launched has a very simple message from these monarchs parading as saviours: to defy us and ours is to do so at peril of limb and, literally, life. Read More

Milkgate: White Does Not Always Imply Purity

By Malinda Seneviratne -August 13, 2013

Malinda Seneviratne

Watergate is the name given to a political scandal that rocked the United States of America in the early 1970s.  It was about a break-in and a cover-up.  It led to the resignation of President Richard Nixon.  The scandal also saw the indictment, trial, conviction and incarceration of 43 persons, dozens of whom were Nixon’s top administration officials.

The above is from Wikipedia.  Wikipedia doesn’t have an entry for ‘Milkgate’.  The only association between ‘milk’ and ‘gate’ as of now is ‘Cow and Gate’ a UK based dairy products company.  In the case of the dairy industry, as opposed to Nixonian ‘intervention’, the only ‘break-in’ we can talk about is markets. We could, or rather we should, add ‘breaking through all cautionary safeguards of communities and individuals. And ‘cover up’ would include lulling into a false sense of security by false and exaggerated claims complemented by deliberate fear-mongering.  We could, or rather we should, add ‘purchase’, i.e. of decision-makers (politicians, clearly), approvers (scientists, doctors and their various clubs) and potential critics (media, for example, through pumping in of advertising and the threat of pulling out ads).

There is also litigation; a panel discussion on Jana Handa scheduled for tomorrow (August 12, 2013) on the subject of milk powder contamination has been shelved on the advice of lawyers since there was a court case on Fonterra.  The topic was milk powder contamination.  If that warrants a no-no, then all poisoners, big and small, can pay someone to take them to court; that would be a cheap criticism-blocker.  If that was legitimate, then a stop on advertising should be voluntarily imposed by these companies, ‘because it is in the courts’!  These companies usually schedule advertisement for long periods, 3 months, 6 months or even a year.  There are big spenders.  Having allocated, they can’t withdraw from contractual obligations.  The relevant media organization can, in the name of ethics, reimburse.  Do they? Will they?  If not, they would most certainly be less comfortable in carrying news that is to the detrimental to their ‘friendly’ and ‘generous’ clients.

Read More

As UN Flies Gov't Officials to Darfur, Murky on M23, Nothing on Katanga or Sri Lanka

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, August 12 -- UN Peacekeeping is in disarray, from Darfur in Sudan to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

On August 12 Inner City Press asked UN spokesperson Eduardo Del Buey what the UN, which spends $1 billion a year in Darfur, was doing after 100 people were killed over the weekend in East Darfur. Video here.

  Del Buey replied that the UN mission had given a "special flight" to governmental authorities to the site, and sent "senior personnel" to provide technical assistance to a mediation.

  This ignores the number of Sudanese government officials who have been indicted for war crimes and genocide in Darfur, and echoes the UN flying ICC indictee Ahmad Harun to Abyei.

  Meanwhile in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the killing and displacement in Katanga has apparently drawn no response from the UN. Inner City Press asked Del Buey about Katanga, but there was no answer. Video here from 2:21.

  Inner City Press also asked if the UN still respects or abides by the Kampala agreement under which the M23 rebels pulled back to positions outside of Goma. Is the MONUSCO mission seeking to disarm or dislodge from these agreed positions the M23 rebels? Del Buey did not really have an answer to this question. He reiterated that the "Security Zone" is meant to protect civilians.

  Like the UN is doing in Darfur?

  In Sri Lanka, after having no comment on the Army's use of live fire against protesters of water polluted by Hayley's in Weliweriya, now the UN has no comment on the attack on a mosque in the Grandpass section of Colombo. Video here from 1:45.

Inner City Press has also put these Sri Lanka questions to the office of High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay. Watch this site.

Israel Advises Sri Lanka On Slow-Motion Genocide

By Krisna Saravanamuttu -August 13, 2013 |

Krisna Saravanamuttu

Towards the end of 2008, I joined thousands in Toronto to protest Israel’s attack on Gaza. Like people all over the world, we called for an immediate end to the war. At York University, where I was a student, we mobilized the campus to defend Palestinian rights.

A few months later, bombs were falling on my own people — in the Vanni region of northern Sri Lanka. And once again, we hit Toronto’s streets in protest.

I realized then that even though our homelands are oceans apart, Palestinians and Tamils have much in common.

Through the “war on terror,” the Israeli and Sri Lankan armies have waged war on civilian populations.

The Rome-based Permanent Peoples’ Tribunal has commissioned an independent report that finds the Sri Lankan state guilty of bombing hospitals, humanitarian operations and even government-declared “safe zones,” in clear violation of international humanitarian law (“Preliminary report,” January 2010 [PDF]).

A United Nations report estimates that from January to May 2009, between 40,000 and 75,000 persons were killed (“Report of the secretary-general’s panel of experts on accountability in Sri Lanka,” 31 March 2011).

The Sri Lankan government’s own statistical data reveal that almost 147,000 persons remain unaccounted for: no one knows if they are held in prison, injured, or dead (“146,679 Vanni people missing within a year of war: Bishop of Mannaar,” TamilNet, 12 January 2011).

Major arms supplier                               Read More

Remembering the riots

Remembering the riots

Image courtesy Thuppahi’s blog

Groundviews

Voices for Reconciliation-12 Aug, 2013June 2013 saw violent clashes between small groups of Sri Lankans at cricket grounds around the UK. Although barely reported by the mainstream media, for members of Voices for Reconciliation (VfR) – a peace-building network that facilitates dialogue within and between every Sri Lankan community in the UK- these altercations served as a potent reminder that communal divisions still run deep. In July 1983, exactly 30 years ago, the fire raged much longer and harder, ending countless lives and disrupting many more. Even three decades later, the impact of ‘Black July’ continues to reverberate, as it is constantly invoked at our reconciliation-focused events. It was an outbreak of anti-Tamil violence so defining and shattering for Sri Lankans that, even now, the terms ‘Black July’, ‘the riots’ or simply ‘1983’ can still stir or silence a room.

Remembering the Riots by nelvely

Govt. promoting racial conflicts - JVP claims

Monday, 12 Aug 2013
Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) claimed that the government wants racial conflicts for its survival and they try to instigate the public to rise against the government by creating racial conflicts.

While vehemently condemning the incident that took place in Grand Pass area, in a statement the JVP Politburo requested the public not to be involved in any racial conflicts created to achieve the narrow political targets of the government.

"As a result of the clashes started by extremist groups in Grand Pass area on 10 and 11 August more than six people were injured and several private properties were damaged. The extremists have taken the law in to their hands. However, it cannot be hidden, that the government is behind these extremist groups," the JVP said.

The statement further said that these types of incidents will not strengthen the government as it expected, instead they will lead to more and more foreign intervention and ultimately the public will have to suffer. They also urged the government to take action against those responsible for the incident took place at Grandpass.

CAMPAIGNERS FORCEFULLY PASTING POSTERS ON BUSES AND TRISHAWS - CAFFE

August 12, 2013

The Campaign for Free and Fair Election or CaFFE has reported that candidates for the North Western Provincial Council election have continuously broken election laws and engaged in illegal propaganda practices.

CaFFE has sent a detailed letter inclusive of picture evidence of these malpractices to the Elections Commissioner, North Western Provincial Senior DIG of Police, the Private Transport Services Ministry Secretary and the Bus Owners Association.

It claims that posters of candidates have been pasted on buses used for public transportation as well as three-wheelers while reporting that the bus conductors and the three-wheel drivers claim the posters were forcefully pasted on the vehicles.

JSC, BASL in fresh row; judges can’t go to Dhaka

Sunday, August 11, 2013

Five judges of the Court of Appeal have been prevented from attending a judicial training programme organised by the US government in Dhaka, Bangladesh, later this month, officials said yesterday amidst a fresh dispute between the Judicial Services Commision and the Bar Association of Sri Lanka.

The training programme focusing on anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism has been organised in consultation with the US Department of State and Treasury for judges from SAARC countries.

The Sri Lankan judges had already made arrangements to travel to Bangladesh for the event when they were ordered not to proceed.
Initially, the invitation for the workshop was sent to the Bar Association (BASL) which had referred it to the Judicial Services Commission (JSC) requesting them to nominate three magistrates for the workshop. It was then expanded to include four High Court judges as well.

However, JSC Secretary Sisira Ratnayake informed Bar Association President Upul Jayasuriya that the request could not be acceded to “due to the fact that it has not been communicated to the Commission giving adequate time to make necessary arrangements”.
BASL sources said that the invitation was sent to the JSC in June for the programme that was in late August.  After the JSC turned down the request, the BASL had asked the President of the Court of Appeal to nominate five judges from that court (the JSC doesn’t control that court). Five judges had been nominated and the US embassy had two staffers meet them to discuss the workshop. Their visas had also been obtained for the trip when last Thursday, the judges were told by the President of the Court of Appeal that he had received instructions from Chief Justice Mohan Peiris to abort the judges going for the workshop.

Chief Justice Mohan Peiris left the country shortly thereafter.

Of those FUTA statements

August 11, 2013, 9:01 pm 

It has never been clear whether statements made (and given much space) by its current president, Nirmal Ranjith Dewasiri, represent the views of FUTA or are his own. Or, indeed, whether they are made at the behest of some powerful person/s.

‘FUTA’ or its ‘spokesman’ has been prompt to call for the dismissal, in that order (!), of the new Army Commander and of the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence over Weliveriya. Incidentally, was such a demand made over the shooting on unarmed workers of the FTZ?

On matters that are more pertinent to the responsibilities of its members, however, ‘FUTA’ has had little to say. For example, the primary effect or target of the protracted dislocations caused in the education system by the FUTA strike for even more pay for its members, many of them under-qualified and / or incompetent, was the infrastructure established through many decades to provide affordable access to tertiary education for students from under-privileged families. I may have missed ‘FUTA Statements’ on the imperative for investing in primary and secondary schools, including teacher- training, as a necessary step towards preparing children for study at tertiary institutions including technical colleges. Perhaps, unbeknown to the general public who pay the taxes that support our universities, FUTA has prepared and submitted memoranda on the processes appropriate to the recruitment and promotion of the academic staff. I recall a senior Professor telling the Council of the RAS of piles of newspaper articles submitted as proof of scholarship for promotion to the grade of Professor. We await a ‘statement’ from the members of FUTA, drafted via due process of consultation, on what is referred to as the ‘privatisation’ of our universities. Such a statement should, of course, cover all aspects of the question – from the curricula to the selection of faculty and students, to the terms of transfer of infrastructure that we have paid for, to State subsidies to these businessmen, to the ‘market’ towards which such students are to be directed. Am sure there are many persons within the education system whose views on these matters the public would welcome.

Gamini Seneviratne

Sri Lanka’s future: A part of ‘flying geese’ chain or just a ‘sitting duck’?

One man’s agony is another man’s profits-August 12, 2013 
At a recent public discourse on the future of Sri Lanka’s economy held at the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, an industry leader from the country’s lifeline, the textile and garment industry, expressed confidence in the industry’s ability to successfully outcompete the newcomers to the industry from the region.
When pointed out that Sri Lanka, with its rising wage levels, may lose the market to low cost labour countries like Bangladesh, Myanmar and Cambodia, the industry leader maintained that the slot created by China’s departure from the industry is being filled by Sri Lanka and not by those newcomers to the industry.
China’s world market share in textile and garment exports is huge and therefore, what is available to Sri Lanka is in fact beyond the country’s capacity to supply. Hence, according to him, Sri Lanka’s current reliance on the garment industry will continue to pay dividends to the country even in the future. In other words, the country will not face any risk even if it continues with the present product mix of exports where textiles and garments constitute more than a half of the country’s manufactured exports.
China’s exit from apparel industry is based on sound economic logic

Sri Lanka’s future A part of ‘flying geese’ chain or just a ‘sitting duck by nelvely

Government’s actions placing country in peril says JVP

Details

 

Created On Monday, 12 August 2013 06:41

Category: General

The JVP says that moves by the government to save its power at any cost would place the country in grave danger.

The party is working towards uniting people to struggle against the Rajapaksa government’s anti-democratic acts.
JVP parliamentary group leader, Anura Kumara Dissanayake in an interview with the media said the government after placing the country in danger would then claim about the threat by international interventions.
Referring to the recent incident in Weliweriya where residents demanding water were attacked by security forces personnel, the JVP MP observed that the indication is that even a small protest would be attacked and would end with murder.
“The government is trying to intimidate and suppress the people to prevent them from demanding for their rights,” Dissanayake said.
“The government's decision to save its power at any cost would eventually push the country into grave danger. It would then be hilarious to see the government shout about international intervention at that time. People must understand this situation,” he elaborated.
He explained that it is dangerous that the government is trying to protect murderers and said the society should criticize the murder and murderers.
“Not only have the Weliweriya incident, but the threat to the judiciary and the media has to be taken on board. Media personnel have been threatened, killed, and even in Weliweriya they were assaulted,” Dissanayake noted.
A strong voice, a movement has to be set up against all these and the semi military rule in the North, and the threat to democracy and fundamental rights, the MP insisted.
“The JVP understands the reason for the current situation to be that dictatorial frenzy of the current administration. Everyone must stand against these anti-democratic acts. The media, civil society and public must unite. A broad people’s center to carry out this struggle has to be set up. The JVP is working towards this,” Dissanayake said.

Release the police from their political prison

Editorial-Sunday, August 11, 2013

Seers predict that in the future, like in the past, wars will be fought over water. For water is life. In ancient times, the Buddha had to engage in conflict resolution time and again between the many clans in northern India over water issues. Once, he told the Litcchavi clan how to settle a dispute by meeting peacefully, discussing peacefully, and dispersing peacefully.

Release the Police From Their Political Prison by nelvely

BANGLADESH: Adilur's arrest, a punishment and threat to the civil society

August 12, 2013

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) condemns the arrest and detention of Mr. Adilur Rahman Khan, Secretary of Odhikar. The police arrested Adilur on 10 August at around 10:20 p.m. And on 11 August, at around 8 p.m., the Detective Branch of Dhaka Metropolitan Police raided Odhikar's office, seizing documents and computers.

BANGLADESH Adilur's Arrest, A Punishment and Threat to the Civil Society by nelvely

Stop Attack On Those Seen As ‘Anti-Rajapaksa’ – Dr. Sara Goes HRC-SL

NoAugust 12, 2013 

Dr Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu complain to Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka against malicious attacks through ITN On those seen as ‘Anti-Rajapaksa’ and urge for relief including steps to prevent future abuse of Channel to attack Civil Society

The Centre for Policy Alternatives and its Executive Director, Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu have today (August 12, 2013) filed an official complaint in the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka against the state-owned Independent Television Network (ITN), after a news report was published in its news bulletin in a deliberate attempt to smear CPA and its Executive Director. The CPA states that ITN chairman, Rosmand Senaratne who is made a respondent should be summoned to appear and explain this state of affairs. The Colombo Telegraph is reliably informed by sources that the complaint number allocated to the complaint is HRC/3083/13.

Dr Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu

The Complainants have urged the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka, to take the following measures:

a) Issue summons on the 2nd Respondent Rosmand Senarathne, Chairman of ITN to attend and appear before the Human Rights Commission to explain under oath the full circumstances of and reason for the wrongful publication;

b) Inquire into and investigate the complaint that the actions of ITN constitute infringement, continuing and imminent further infringement of Fundamental Rights guaranteed under Article 12(1), 12(2) and 14(1)(g) of the Constitution;

c) Make a finding and declaration that the conduct of ITN has infringed the Fundamental Rights of the Complainants guaranteed under Article 12(1), 12(2) and 14(1)(g) of the Constitution;

d) Recommend that the act of ITN which gave rise to the infringement of the Complainants’ fundamental rights guaranteed under and in terms of Article 12(1), 12(2) and 14(1)(g) of the Constitution be addressed by the following three actions:Read More

WELIWERIYA WATER ISSUE: FACTORY TO BE RELOCATED TO A BOI ZONE

President Mahinda Rajapaksa held discussions with Rathupaswala area residents and relevant officials on the Weliweirya water issue at the Presidential Secretariat on Monday (August 12). Pic by Sudath Silva

August 12, 2013 

President Mahinda Rajapaksa today ordered the relocation of the Dipped Products Glove factory which had been at the centre of the controversy in Weliweriya, leading to protests and clashes between residents and security forces personnel.

Resident of Rathupaswala had engaged in a protest on August 01 claiming that the effluents released by the factory is causing environmental and water pollution and demanded that it be shut down.

The company, Dipped Products PLC, part of the Hayleys Group, however has rejected the accusations saying the factory’s effluent water quality is regularly tested by the National Building and Research Organization and that the facility operates with valid Environmental Protection Licence. 

President Rajapaksa held discussions with Rathupaswala area residents and relevant officials on the Weliweirya water issue this afternoon at the Presidential Secretariat. 

After listening to detailed accounts from residents, factory representatives and other officials, the President offered the following solutions to help resolve the situation:

The main priority of the authorities in this region will be to ensure that the people receive safe water while the Government Analyst’s Department will carry out testing of the water and issue a report.

If the report reveals that the factory has operated in a wrongful manner, the factory will be shut down immediately.

If the report reveals that the factory has operated within the regulations, the company will be given a stipulated amount of reasonable time to relocate to a BOI zone.

In addition to these specific aspects, President Rajapaksa also stated that any new factory that will be located in Sri Lanka must be constructed within a BOI zone to prevent these types of problems in the future.

The residents and the factory representatives, under the guidance of the President, agreed to allow the factory to make use of the items that have already been produced prior to ceasing of operations and to allow the factory administration to function until the report is published.

The resident expressed satisfaction at the agreements reached and agreed to work with officials to help resolve the problem, the President’s Media Unit said.

President Rajapaksa urged the citizens to refrain from taking the law into their own hands if a problem arises in the future and requested all parties to try their utmost to resolve crises through discussion.

Minister of Economic Development Mr. Basil Rajapaksa, Minister of Water Supply and Drainage Mr. Dinesh Gunawardena, Minister of Social Services Mr. Felix Perera, Secretary to the President Mr. Lalith Weeratunga, Secretary of the Ministry of Defense and Urban Development Mr. Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, Gampaha District parliamentarians, Western provincial council members, senior military officials and several other high-ranking government officials were present at the discussion.

Violence had erupted during the protest by residents of Rathupaswala on August 01 as security forces personnel and protesters clashed in Weliweriya, resulting in the deaths of three persons and leaving over 30 injured. 

Opposition parties and rights groups have condemned the crackdown against the protest by villagers who were demanding clean drinking water for thousands of residents of Weliweriya and have criticized the manner in which authorities had handled the situation.

The military said it had named a five-member board of inquiry to probe the allegations against the troops.

Which Buddhism Will The Government Support?

By Jehan Perera -August 12, 2013

Jehan Perera

The latest attack on a Muslim mosque in Colombo is a further sign that the Buddhist nationalist upsurge is continuing to grow and not diminish with the passing of time.  While the police belatedly acted to bring the situation under control, its lax approach to apprehending the aggressors indicates the continuation of an apparent government policy to treat them with deference.  The six Muslim ministers of the government have appealed to it to take effective action noting the “lukewarm and ineffective measures taken by the law enforcement agencies on previous occasions.” In the latest attack on a mosque in Grandpass, the attackers had gathered as a mob, thrown stones, shattered windows, and also attacked adjoining Muslim houses in the same way.  Although the attackers were clearly identifiable there are no reports of any deterrent action by the police in regard to apprehending the aggressors.  The pattern of incidents that have taken place in the recent past is an indication of the threat to pluralism, multi-culturalism and religious tolerance in the country.

The attitude on the part of those who are aggressors that they can disrupt the activities of others is a violation of the freedom of assembly and freedom of religion guaranteed in the Constitution.  The attitude of the law enforcement agencies to permit those who break the law and get away without legal sanction undermines the credibility of the government as a secular one.  This lack of commitment has led to the fomenting of religious and ethnic tensions in post-war Sri Lanka.    It is ironic that the Buddhist nationalists to whom the government is paying so much deference, perhaps on account of their claim that they are protecting Buddhism in the country, are engaging in behavior that is the antithesis of what is found in the ancient Buddhist texts of Sri Lanka during that period of time regarded as the golden period of Sri Lankan Buddhism.  Some gleanings of this are available in the Sanghasarana, which was part of the classical Sinhalese texts translations of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and National Heritage.Read More

SRI LANKA: The need to introduce studies in Killology

August 12, 2013

What makes a soldier capable of shooting young boys of 16 and 18 at point blank range with the intent to kill? That is what happened at Rathupaswela, Weliweriya.

Of course, such killings have not been an exception as far as the Sri Lankan armed forces are concerned, judging particularly from the aftermath of the 1971 JVP uprising and beyond. Such killings can be counted in the tens of thousands. Finding answers to the question of what makes such killings possible may throw some light on many areas of Sri Lankan society - in particular, the type of mentality nurtured within the armed forces. Such studies will fall within what is now called 'Killology'.

The term was coined by Lt. Col. Dave Grossman (ret.) of the Killology Research Group in his book published in 1995, On Killing: The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society. Grossman's work has received enormous attention and has also led to much research work by others. Those who wish to get some of his ideas at a glance may find them here on YouTube.

Previous studies have shown that most soldiers, even in combat, shy away from killing. Some studies have even given a rate of only around 20% as those who would willingly shoot to kill. Such unwillingness to kill is usually attributed to the abhorrence from any species to kill those who belong to the same species. As the abhorrence of killing is an almost universal characteristic, those who kill others suffer from serious remorse, which leads to many mental disorders (as has been shown by various studies).

The knowledge of this psychology within the American armed forces and others later led to various kinds of training and the adoption of technologies to ensure that more effective killing takes place in combat. Thus, in military psychology there has been an enormous emphasis on finding ways of overcoming the resistance to kill and also on finding ways to achieve higher rates of kill despite human resistance, which can be done through the adoption of various types of technology.

The question that needs to be asked is as to how the killings like that of the two boys at Rathupaswela, Weliweriya became possible among some Sri Lankan soldiers. As the killings by the security forces are not only by way of direct shootings, as in the case of those at Rathupaswela, Weliweriya, but also by other means, such as killings after abductions and enforced disappearances, the kind of training and motivation given to make such killings possible requires serious attention. While it has been mentioned that mental disorders arising from killing are a prevalent problem among former soldiers, no serious study has been done into this subject in Sri Lanka. There has only been speculation, such as the reports that a former soldier was responsible for some of the murders in Kahawatte.

In recent times there have been killings in Katunayake and also in Negombo, where a fisherman was shot down while he was getting ready to attend protests relating to the petrol hike. In both these instances the shootings took place at close range and the victims were posing no threat at all to any of the soldiers who opened fire. Similarly, in the killings in police custody, which police often claim occur because the victims were attempting to attack the police, there has not been a single case where independent evidence was able to confirm the police's version of events. What is also evident in such killings is the willingness and readiness of the police to shoot to kill.

The actual circumstances which lead to the creation of such mental conditions – leading to actions that go against the fundamental belief that human beings, like other species, have an abhorrence of the killing of their own - have never become the subject matter at judicial inquiries. In recent times, the police version of events is taken without challenge at many magisterial inquiries and there is no real inquiry into deaths. The families of the victims are also frightened as they could become targets of reprisals by the police or other security agencies. Let us take as an example the case of Sandun Lasitha Kumara Vithana, a cricketer for the Nalanda College and the Colombo Cricket Club. According to the statement made by his mother, who alleged that her son had been assassinated, Sandun had been looking after some property belonging to DIG Vaas Gunawardena (now under arrest for murder in relation to other cases) and this property had been acquired from a Tamil family who fled due to the ethnic violence. The mother, who had visited Sandun after his arrest, said that the subsequent killing was an attempt to erase the evidence relating to the property deals. Despite calls for inquiries, none have been conducted.

In any case, the issue of how the armed forces and the police have developed such an easy going approach to killing is a subject for sociological and psychological studies that could only be carried out by competent persons. Judicial inquiries, even if they happen, do not usually include a probe into the conditioning that creates such abnormal mentalities.

Given the seriousness of such occurrences (which contradict the normal belief that human beings have an abhorrence of killing) within the security and police forces, undertaking such studies is urgently needed. To leave such matters unstudied can only lead to much worse consequences.

However, it is most unlikely that the government will encourage or allow such studies on their own volition. It is only if there is public demand and pressure that such studies will become possible and lead to the consequent public knowledge and debate.