Friday, August 30, 2013

AI calls on Rajapaksa government to investigate enforced disappearances

On Friday, 30 August 2013

The London based human rights group Amnesty International (AI) has called on the Mahinda Rajapaksa government to investigate thousands of cases of enforced disappearances reported in Sri Lanka.

According to AI, in Sri Lanka, some 12,000 complaints of enforced disappearances have been submitted to the UN since the 1980s – making it second only to Iraq. But it says the actual number of disappeared is much higher, with at least 30,000 cases alleged up to 1994 and many thousands reported after that.

“The number of disappeared people in Sri Lanka is astounding. The government has to stop making empty promises and once and for all seriously investigate the tens of thousands of cases of enforced disappearances,” said Yolanda Foster, Amnesty International’s Sri Lanka expert.

This year’s Day of the Disappeared coincides with the visit of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, to Sri Lanka.

Pillay has met the family members of some of the disappeared.

The Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) in the country has given the security forces wide powers to arrest suspected opponents of the government and detain them incommunicado and without charge or trial for long periods – conditions which provide a ready context for deaths in custody, enforced disappearances and torture.

Sri Lanka’s disappeared, visit of Navi Pillay and another Commission of Inquiry

by Ruki
- on 08/30/2013

in Colombo, Human Rights, Human Security

On 30th August – International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances – hundreds of families of disappeared persons in Sri Lanka, most of them Tamils and from the war affected North and East, will travel to Colombo to meet with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms. Navatheenam Pillay, at the tail end of the High Commissioner’s visit to Sri Lanka. Several hundred demonstrated in the Northern city of Jaffna and Eastern city of Trincomalee during Ms. Pillay’s visits there on 27th – 28thAugust, and few got to meet with her in person.

Sri Lanka’s disappeared, visit of Navi Pillay and another Commission of Inquiry by nelvely

Sri Lankan Military Does PR For Pillay

August 30, 2013

The Sri Lanka Army has urged the country’s press corps to to secure invitations to the press briefing by visiting UN Human Rights Envoy Navanethem Pillay and report the “true facts” to the public.

Ruwan Wanigasooriya

In a special email dispatch to local journalists and Colombo based international correspondents Military Spokesman Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasooriya informed media personnel about the time of the event and said “the whole country/world is waiting for feedback on her visit”

“I am sure you will exercise your right to media freedom and attend this event and report true facts to the public as the whole country is keenly awaiting to know the outcome of this visit” the email from the military spokesman said.

Following is the full text:

Dear Friends,
The Human Rights Commissioner who is concluding her visit tomorrow is scheduled to have a press conference at 1100 hrs at the UN Office, Colombo. Its on invitation and hope you have secured your invitation. Please contact relevant authorities at the UN Office Colombo and secure your press invitation to this all important event as the whole country/world is waiting for a feed back on her visit. I am sure you will exercise your right to media freedom and attend this event and report true facts to the public as the whole country is keenly awaiting to know the outcome of this visit.

Best Regards,
Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasooriya

Military Spokesman

Tel:+94 11 2686915, +94 11 2325332
Fax: +94 11 2430163 Mob: +94 773082585

Syria Intervention: Key Questions Answered

August 29, 2013

Would military action be legal, what is the UN’s role and what happens next?

Would a military attack be legal?

Why is the UK taking the case to the UN security council and what is likely to happen there?

What is the evidence likely to show?

Why not wait for the UN weapons inspectors to issue a report?

ON THE SAME SIDE OF THE TABLE…

August 29, 2013

Lanka prepares for UPR (Audio)

August 29, 2013
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The government says it will make all preparations to ensure there is further progress on the human rights front ahead of the next Universal Periodic Review of Sri Lanka at the UN in Geneva in 2017.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa;s human rights envoy, Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe said this after meeting the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay today.
The Minister said that the government will not wait till 2017 and will soon implement all what it promised at the last UPR in March.
He also said that the government hopes Pillay will present a balanced report to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva next month based on her visit to Sri Lanka.
During the last UPR on Sri Lanka last year the government rejected 98 recommendations and accepted 111.
The Minister briefed Pillay on implementation of Sri Lanka’s National Action Plan for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights (NHRAP) which was conceived of as part of Sri Lanka’s participation in the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process at the United Nations Human Rights Council, Geneva, in 2008.
One of the main pledges made by Sri Lanka was to adopt and implement a national plan of action that would encapsulate all national efforts towards improvement in human rights promotion and protection in the country. This initiative, which commenced in 2008, involved all stakeholders in the process of preparation and a final text was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers in 2011. Minister Samarasinghe who oversaw the process of preparation as the then Minister for Human Rights until 2010, has been granted the responsibility by Cabinet, of coordinating and monitoring of implementation of the NHRAP. The process of implementation is nearing 1 ½ years since inception.
The Minister will oversee a review of progress at the end of the year together with the approximately 50 agencies of government that are responsible for implementation. The NHRAP is of a 5 year duration and implementation of the Plan covers the period 2012 to 2016. (Colombo Gazette)

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VIDEO: PILLAY ‘DISTURBED’ BY MISUSE OF RELIGION TO INCITE YOUTH

August 30, 2013

The UN human rights chief today expressed concern over young people – in Sri Lanka and in the diaspora – who are frozen in the hatred that fuelled the war, and said she is disturbed when religion is misused to mobilize young people of one community against another.

“But I am greatly encourages when I hear about young people, coming together from across communities, to defend independent universities, to fight discrimination against women or people with different sexual identity and orientation, to say no to ethnic and religious violence,” Navanethem Pillay said, addressing Sri Lanka’s Youth Parliament.

She stated that as a third of Sri Lanka’s population, the youth have this potential but like youth everywhere, they face many pressures and frustrations.

“Sri Lanka is lucky to have such a comprehensive school system, but I know that while many of you qualify for university, finding university places is extremely difficult,” Pillay said.

And despite new opportunities in Sri Lanka’s economy, youth unemployment and underemployment, particularly for young women, is very high. Many of you face additional barriers of discrimination in terms of gender, language and class, she said.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said she was sad to learn that Sri Lanka has such a high rate of youth suicide, and urged the government to find ways to address this problem and translate such despair to hope.

“I am mindful of a generation that has been directly affected by the war – young people who have lost years of education, are now responsible for their families, or were even conscripted to fight by the LTTE and other groups – and I have wanted to see what progress is being made in their rehabilitation and to provide equal opportunities for young people in all parts of the country,” she said.

“I am sure like young people everywhere, you have many questions and concerns about the United Nations and what is going on elsewhere in the world.”

“So I am pleased to take this time to hear from you, to respond to your questions and to take your concerns and ideas back with me. The United Nations is very much here to support you, and above all your empowerment and participation in building a new Sri Lanka and a better world,” she added.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, who is on a week-long visit in the island, said she is pleased to come to Sri Lanka at a time the war has ended and the scourge of terrorism has “hopefully” been put behind.

“This is a moment when the new generation in Sri Lanka can transcend the differences, prejudices and politics of their parents and play a transformative role in building a new society,” she said.

Criticizing Pillay is a disgrace to the country-UNP

FRIDAY, 30 AUGUST 2013

The United National Party (UNP) said the country had been disgraced in the face of the world for criticizing the United Nation Human Rights Commissioner Navaneethan Pillay after inviting her to the country.

“It was not ethical to make someone uncomfortable after inviting them to our country. It is our country that being insulted from these actions,” UNP Parliamentarian Lakshman Kiriella told a news conference.

He said it was President Mahinda Rajapaksa who introduced the United Nation Human Rights Council to the country.

“It was Mahinda Rajapaksa who went to the UNHRC in secret with a missing persons list in 1988-89,” he said.

Speaking at the news conference MP K. Velayudham said the final report based on UNHR Chief’s weeklong tour in the country would be harmful to the country. (Lahiru Pothmulla)

Sri Lanka minister accuses UN rights boss of ‘secret meetings’

A Tamil woman cries as she holds up an image of her disappeared family member during the war against Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) at a protest in Jaffna, about 400 kilometres north of Colombo August 27, 2013

August 29, 2013

A senior Sri Lankan minister on Thursday accused the visiting UN human rights chief of holding “secret meetings” with activists during her ongoing fact-finding mission.

Housing minister Wimal Weerawansa said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay “gave the slip to her bodyguards,” appointed by the government, to hold unscheduled meetings in the island’s former war zone in the east.

“She broke protocol, gave the slip to her security detail and went for secret meetings in Trincomalee to conspire against the country,” Weerawansa told reporters in Colombo. “She is already planning a very adverse report.”

Three years ago, the minister staged a hunger strike against UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s appointment of a panel of experts to advise on alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka in the final months of a separatist war.

Pillay arrived in Sri Lanka on Sunday for her first official visit after the government dropped its public hostility to her and promised access to the former war zones during the week-long mission.

Pillay, who has previously been accused by Colombo of overstepping her mandate, has told reporters she was only holding Colombo to human rights standards agreed by all nations.

Despite allowing the visit, President Mahinda Rajapakse this week criticised Pillay, accusing the UNHRC of treating his Indian Ocean nation unfairly.

Pillay this week travelled to the island’s former war zones in the north and the east and met with relatives of people who disappeared during and after the government’s crushing of Tamil separatists in May 2009, ending the decades-long civil war.

Sri Lanka has resisted foreign pressure for an international investigation into what the UN says are “credible allegations” that up to 40,000 civilians were killed in the final months of the war in 2009.

Government will not listen to UN orders – Minister

Tamil Guardian 29 August 2013

The Minister for Irrigation and Water Management Nimal Sripala de Silva has said that the UN High Commisisoner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, could not give orders to Sri Lanka, and even if she did, the government would not comply.

Talking to reporters at the office of Mahinda Rajapakse’s SLFP, the minister said Navi Pillay was able to visit any place on the island as the country had nothing to hide.

“She now has the opportunity to see for herself the ground situation and reach a conclusion accordingly…Ms Pillay could release a good or bad report on Sri Lanka after her visit,” de Silva said.

Responding to UNP claims that President Rajapakse scheduled his visit to Belarus in order to avoid the High Commissioner, de Silva said there was no need to avoid her as the invitation was extended by the government and that a meeting with the president has been scheduled at Temple Trees on Friday.

Country’s doors open to Pillay as it has nothing to h ide – Govt.

By Dasun Edirisinghe-August 28, 2013

The government had allowed United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay to visit anywhere in the country and gain first hand knowledge of the real situation, regarding the allegations leveled by enemies of Sri Lanka as it had nothing to hide, Leader of the House and Irrigation and Water Resource Management Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said.

Addressing the weekly UPFA media briefing, at the Sri Lanka Freedom Party head office in Colombo, Minister de Silva said that Pillay was also scheduled to meet Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, TNA parliamentarians, civil organisations, etc.

"Ms Pillay could release a good or bad report on Sri Lanka after her visit," de Silva said.

Answering a question, the minister said that Pillay could not give orders to Sri Lanka and even if she gave an order the government would not obey it.

Responding to the UNP’s claim that President Mahinda Rajapaksa had left for Belarus to avoid Pillay, Minister e Silva said that the government had invited her to visit Sri Lanka and there was no need to avoid her.

The senior Vice President of the SLFP said that President Rajapaksa had given her an appointment at Temple Trees on Friday and the UNP’s claim was a joke.

Sri Lanka rupee bounces on exporter, bank dollar sales; still under pressure

COLOMBO | Fri Aug 30, 2013

Aug 30 (Reuters) - The Sri Lankan rupee pulled further away from record lows on Friday as exporters and banks sold dollar, but dealers said the currency is likely to remain under downward pressure in the absence of strong dollar inflows.

The rupee spot next or one-day forward, which was active in the market in the absence of spot trade, was traded at 133.00/10 per dollar at 0609 GMT, up from Thursday's close of 133.40/133.60.

It hit a record low of 135.20 per dollar on Wednesday, amid panic buying by importers, before the central bank governor said the currency movement was an aberration.

Spot rupee was quoted at 132.90/133.10 in early trade, Thomson Reuters data showed.

"Some banks and exporters are seen selling dollars after the rupee did not depreciate as they expected," a currency dealer said on condition of anonymity.

"But the rupee is still under pressure and it should depreciate further unless we see some strong dollar inflows."

Some dealers said the currency will get some respite if planned bond inflows from the state-owned National Savings Bank (NSB) come to the market in near future.

The NSB, which is on a roadshow in London on Friday after the meetings with U.S.-based investors early in the week, has planned to raise a minimum $500 million through the sale of a likely five-year bond with a target yield around 7 percent.

Before the market opened, the central bank said it had imposed a 100 percent margin deposit requirement against letter of credits for motor vehicle imports, a move analysts said was aimed at easing downward pressure on the rupee.

The rupee has been falling since early July as foreign investors have pulled out of Sri Lanka's treasury bonds on expectations the Federal Reserve will soon begin to taper its massive bond buying programme.

The rupee has fallen nearly 5 percent since June 7 and nearly 4 percent so far this year, after depreciating by around 10 percent in 2012.

Sri Lanka's main stock index traded 0.19 percent or 10.97 points weaker at 5,814.09 at 0627 GMT. (Reporting by Shihar Aneez; Editing by Kim Coghill)

Bishops take up burning issues with President

August 29, 2013, 10:35 pm

Weliweriya violence, northern land allocation, plight of migrant workers, religious harmony, prisoners’ woes etc discussed

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference has urged President Mahinda Rajapaksa to duly punish all those who perpetrated violence against the civilians at Weliweriya.

Stressing that steps should be aken to ensure that such acts will not be repeated, the bishops have requested the President to publish the relevant commission reports, without delay.

A press release from the Catholic Bishops’

Conference said.

The release said: "A meeting between the Catholic Bishops’ Conference and President Mahinda Rajapaksa took place on Wednesday (22) at Temple Trees. A lively discussion on a series of important and urgent issues ensued.

1. The Weliweriya incident was highlighted and the need to implement justice and due punishment to all those who perpetrated violence against the civilians as well as proper redress to be made and steps to ensure that such acts are never repeated. The Bishops also requested the President to publish the relevant commission reports, without delay.

2. The issue on land alienation in the Northern Peninsula and other such areas for security purposes was reviewed and concerns expressed.

3. The issue about the plight of Migrant workers and their rights and that proper legislation to ensure that the Sri Lankan Government and Authorities, in countries where these workers labour, take steps to recognize and uphold the dignity and rights of these workers, was also taken up.

4. Questions pertaining to the religious education of children were also discussed.

5. The need to either prosecute or release the prisoners kept in jail without trial for a period of time, especially those kept under the PTA and the emergency laws was also discussed.

6. The question of Inter Religious harmony and the role of the minorities in Nation Building as well as the announced visit of His Holiness Pope Francis to Sri Lanka were also discussed.

7. The Catholic Bishops’ Conference thanked the President and others present for receiving them cordially and listening to their apprehensions and suggestions.

The meeting ended on a cordial note with some indications on how to resolve some of these issues, which would be taken up for further study and discussion."

FOUR ARMY OFFICERS RELIEVED FROM SERVICE PENDING INQUIRY ON WELIWERIYA

August 30, 2013

A Brigadier and three Lieutenant Colonels involved in the controversial Weliweriya incident were relieved from their posts by the Army Chief to facilitate further inquiries, Sri Lanka Army said today.

The Brigadier, who was the Area Commander, and the three Lieutenant Colonels, in charge of divisions, have been sent to the regiment centers, Military Spokesperson, Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasooriya said.

Army Commander Lieut. Gen. Daya Ratnayake has also ordered an investigation into evidence to determine whether they are adequate for a Court Martial hearing against the officers in question.

In addition to this the Army Commander has also decided to appoint a board, comprising high-ranking officers, for recommendations to prevent such incidents from taking place in the future, the spokesman said.

The army had come under pressure after soldiers fired on unarmed locals on August 1 in Weliweriya, killing three and injuring several others, as they protested against a factory which they say polluted their ground water.

Apart from opposition parties and rights groups, the US and the European Union have condemned the August 1 shooting and called for a speedy civilian inquiry to prosecute those responsible.

The Sri Lanka Armyt had named a five-member board of inquiry to probe the allegations against the troops.

Gampaha SP called the Army

By Ishara Rathnakara-Friday, 30 Aug 2013

During proceedings held at the Gampaha Chief Magistrate's Court on the Rathupaswala incident yesterday (29), it was revealed that the Superintendent of Police (SP) for Gampaha, had called the Army to disperse the protesters, who were engaged in a demonstration, demanding pure drinking water. President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL), Upul Jayasuriya, who appeared on behalf of the aggrieved party, told the Chief Magistrate, Tikiri Jayatilaka, that it had not been revealed as to who had called the Army to come to Rathupaswala and attack the protesters.

Officers of Police Crime Division, Colombo, informed Court the SP for Gampaha had called the Army with the intention of dispersing the protesters with the assistance of the police.

This information had not been revealed up to yesterday (29) since the incident took place on 1 August...which was 29 days ago, Court was further informed.

Three persons who were injured in the incident at Rathupaswala also gave evidence in Court yesterday.

The case was put off till 6 September.

Syria crisis: No to war, blow to Cameron

David Cameron was forced to abandon plans for Britain to participate in military strikes against Syria after suffering an unprecedented Parliamentary defeat.

Dozens of Conservative MPs refused to support the Prime Minister and sided with Labour in opposing a Government motion which supported the principle of military intervention. The motion backing the use of force "if necessary" was rejected by 285 votes to 272, a majority of 13 votes.

It is the first time that a British Government has been blocked from executing a military deployment and highlights the deep mistrust of official intelligence in the wake of the Iraq war.

By Robert Winnett, Political Editor-

TELEGRAPH.CO.UK

^{Prime Minister David Cameron and Labour party leader Ed Miliband speak during the debate on Syria}

Within minutes of the embarrassing defeat, the Prime Minister said that he understood that there was not support for British action against Syria and indicated he would abandon any such plans. The decision came just hours after Britain had sent fighter jets to the region.

Full Story>>>

Sri Lanka’s authorities must #TellTheTruth

Amnesty's global human rights blog

Posted on 29 August 2013 by Shiromi Pinto

Feels like paradise? This is the Sri Lanka the authorities don’t want you to see.

In June, we launched our Tell the Truth campaign, calling on Sri Lanka to come clean about its appalling record of torture, killings and other human rights abuses – and stop them.

Last week, we brought you Dr Manoharan’s account of his son’s killing by Sri Lanka’s security forces. After challenging the government’s version of events in his son’s case, Dr Manoharan received death threats and fled the country with his family.

He and his son are not the only ones to have suffered at the hands of the authorities. Across the country, journalists, lawyers, grassroots activists – anyone who dares to criticize the authorities – risks jail, torture and disappearance every time they speak out. A climate of intolerance and fear has swept the island as the government’s stranglehold on the population grows ever tighter.

Sri Lanka can’t dodge the truth much longer. Its authorities have put a lot of effort into covering up killings, crushing dissent and whitewashing its post-war image to present a fresh new version of itself.

But these cosmetic applications are just that. The truth will out.

Act now

Help us get Sri Lanka’s authorities to tell the truth about past and present abuses, and stop them, by signing our petition – Dr Manoharan will present it to the UN in September.

Find out more

Read Dr Manoharan’s blog about how his son Ragihar was killed by Sri Lanka’s security forces.

‘There are no human rights in Sri Lanka’: Feature, page 7-8, WIRE May/June 2013.