The presstitution of democracy - Editorial

As we move into September, closer to the provincial elections on September 21 and the Budget in November, the people need to reflect deeply on the major issues facing the country instead of being distracted by emotional conflicts which politicians often bring up.

 One of these major issues is good governance, vital for a people-friendly democracy where there is a Government of the people, for the people and by the people. Abraham Lincoln’s dream seems to have become a nightmare for Sri Lanka with an all powerful executive presidency getting more powerful, a patched up two- thirds majority in Parliament and presstitution through which a large section of the media is controlled directly or indirectly by the Rajapaksa regime.

 With the checks and balances virtually turned into a façade of cheques and imbalances, the democratic process has broken-down further, with serious damage being done to the independent judiciary, and the police force being unable or unwilling to act impartially and effectively.

 The second major issue the people need to reflect on is the lack of a strong Opposition, a vital factor to check and challenge the government when it acts in a selfish, self-centred, wicked or deceptive way. Instead of being good stewards and faithful servants of the people, most ruling party politicians from top to bottom are embroiled in corruption, crime or both as seen in the large number of local council politicians being arrested on charges ranging from fraud and rape to heroin smuggling.

Tragically the main opposition party and other parties are split in many ways and the Rajapaksa regime’s strategists appear to be taking full advantage of this.

Government leaders are sarcastically saying that mainly due to the lack of a strong opposition, the main battle at the elections to the North Western and Central provincial Councils appears to be for preference votes among ruling UPFA candidates.  A large number of the election law violations or incidents of violence reported so far are for preference votes in the UPFA. Most independent analysts believe that the main opposition UNP and other opposition parties need to settle their largely personal differences and work together for the common good of the country and prevent the imposition of full-scale authoritarianism.

 In this context the opposition parties and other civic action groups need to come together in an intensive campaign for the abolition of the executive presidency. The UNP has proposed a draft to restore parliamentary democracy while the National Movement for Social Justice—which is led by the outspoken Ven.Maduluwawe Sobitha Nayaka Thera is also campaigning for this on the basis that the executive presidential system is the root cause of most of the evils and ills in Sri Lanka.

 As a first step the prelate and most opposition parties have proposed the immediate restoration of the 17th Amendment through which there will be an all-party Constitutional Council to appoint an Independent Police Commission, an Independent Election Commission, an Independent Judicial Services Commission and an Independent Public Services Commission.

 At a time when Sri Lanka is facing a multitude of internal crises including the possible breakdown of the economy and unprecedented pressure from the international community, President Rajapaksa needs to rise beyond party politics, act like a statesman and restore democracy as a major step towards building a new Sri Lanka.

Lands seized for Buddhist vihara in Trincomalee Muslim village

[TamilNet, Friday, 06 September 2013, 21:14 GMT]
Sinhala Buddhist extremist elements have seized 50 acres of land to construct a Buddhist vihara in Chelvaa-nakar GS division at Thoappoor Akkarai village, known as Neena village, which is a Muslim village, according to former parliamentarian M Mouroof. 

There are no Buddhists in the village where Muslims have been living for generations. 

The divisional secretary of Seruwila has instructed the village (GS) officer to hand over the lands claiming that there was a vihara in that locality in the past. 

The Muslims tolerated the move when 6 acres of lands were initially allocated. But, later the appropriation seems to be much larger in dimension, the Muslims say. 

Around 60 Muslim families living in the said land would also be affected by the move.

The Sinhalese Kings And Foreign Assistance: What Shall We Do About Syria?

By Kumar David -September 8, 2013

Prof Kumar David

Assad, Obama and the Citizens of the World: What shall we do about Syria?

First let me lay down my locus standi in addressing this topic. Those of us outside Syria, who seek to intervene physically, intellectually or as demonstrators on the streets, are entitled to do so as citizens of the world; we are our brother’s keepers, when Jesus said otherwise he blundered. I reject the notion of national sovereignty, fundamentally; it’s a deception used by rulers to crush people under a jackboot while thwarting outside intervention. Are we not familiar with GoSL playing the sovereignty card to hide war crimes? I said ‘fundamentally’, so what’s the caveat? Simply that a majority of people do take their national, ethnic or religious identity seriously (fools don’t see that “patriotism is merely the last refuge of the scoundrel”); hence I have to adjust for this unfortunate reality in practice. Not everybody is an internationalist; pretty darned few are!

Secondly, at this moment the most dramatic international concern is whether Obama will strike Syria. I am not an American, hence not a stakeholder, but it is of utmost concern to everyone because America’s actions will so change global dynamics (for better or for worse I will discuss anon) that it warrants apprehension. Every citizen of the world has as much right as any American to engage in the debate about US actions. Now let me state my frame of reference; Bashar al-Assad is a monster and I support the efforts of the Syrian people to overthrow him, though I am aware that the opposition consists of contradictory forces and there is no guarantee that once he is gone flourishing democracy will take his place. But if we wait for watertight guarantees no dictator will be removed; you have to take sensible risks. There were similar worries in Libya about the post-Gaddafi scene, but a after a period of chaos and turmoil, a new far from perfect but better than Gaddafi era, Libya is taking shape. Events have proved the risk was worth it. Read More

GTF President Father S.J.Emmanuel's letter to Heads of Governments re CHOGM

 Saturday, 07 September 2013 09:33

In 2009, the Commonwealth agreed to defer CHOGM in Sri Lanka until 2013, as a response to the grave allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by both sides during the conflict and to act as an incentive to improve the human rights and political situation in the country.

However, it is clear that these issues have not been addressed and no progress has been made said by GTF President Father S.J.Emmanuel on a letter to to Heads of Governments re CHOGM

See full letter here
September 2013

GTF President Father S.J.emmanuel's Letter to Heads of Governments Re CHOGM by nelvely

Navi Pillay’s visit:She came, she saw, she did not concur 

by Rajan Philips-September 7, 2013

UN Human Rights Commissioner NavanethamPillay’s weeklong visit to the country is remarkable on several counts. As always, the visit has since been overshadowed by other events both local and international. It is a fact of life in our time that real-time information and rapid news dissemination impose on us, ordinary mortals, new developments everywhere and in quick succession before we are able to digest and/or deal with preceding developments.

Navi Pillay’s visit She came, she saw, she did not concur by nelvely

Disarming The Juggernaut Of Religious Intolerance

By Sachin Parathalingam and Kavindya Tennakoon on behalf of the youth discussion forum, 

Dynalogue -September 7, 2013

Sachin Parathalingam

The youth of Sri Lanka express their dismay and alarm over the apparent surge in religious intolerance and communal discord that has permeated our society in the post-LTTE era and particularly in recent months. It is a pity that the  ‘infamous’  “Grandpass incident”, a subject of intense political drama a few weeks back, was neither “isolated “ nor “random”, as some conveniently assert. Research conducted by the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA)indicates that from May 2009- January 2013 a staggering 69 attacks have been directed at places of religious worship   While the majority of these cases pertain to the Christian community, particularly non-traditional churches, this does not preclude other major religions, with reports indicating at least 10 Buddhist temples and Muslim mosques came under attack in the period under survey.

What is truly fueling this juggernaut of intolerance is not the inter-religious attacks or the impunity the perpetrators of these attacks appear to enjoy. The members of this forum hold the view that these attacks, which are undoubtedly deplorable,  do  little to alter the mindsets of the so-called ‘moderate thinkers’ or fuel deep communal hatred or majoritarian insecurity in that sense. The driving force behind this phenomenon of intolerance is largely the virulent hate campaigns against certain religions and religious groups propagated via the online and social media. For instance a recent infographic on a Facebook page, asserted that the growth rate of the Muslim population is over 80% and if the Sinhalese are not careful, the Muslim population would supersede that of the  Sinhalese by 2014. Another infographic likened the practices of Islam such as “Halal” to that of the “Taliban”. To correct the ‘peace-loving’ groups behind these sentiments, the Muslim community constitute a mere 8%( approximately) of the total population, a fact that the followers of our forum need little reminder of. Consequently it is obvious that assertions such as those highlighted  above are nothing more than a farce, as any reasonable mind would comprehend. But when ‘sugar-coated’ with colorful images and potent rhetoric, sentiments such as these, expressed in  social media can mutate into a viable and potentially lethal propaganda tool , a tool that if left unchecked could have limitless and  dangerous consequences for communal harmony.

The “majority” are NOT intolerant Read More

A Woman with a Vision and a Man on a 

Mission

By: Dr C P Thiagarajah

Ms Navi Pillai- A woman with a Vision

Man on a Mission: Mr Callum Macrae

One of the highly educated, experienced and most powerful women in the UN is the current UNHRC Ms Navaneethan Pillai who is on an official fact finding mission to the politically doomed country Sri-Lanka now. She will give an oral feed-back to the UNHR Council in September on her observations of the current human rights situation in Sri-Lanka after the genocidal war that ended in May 2009 and a more detailed report in March next year. Although the UN and the international community failed miserably to protect the Tamils from the worst genocide of the century the current chair of the UN Human Rights body is trying her best do the maximum for the beleaguered Tamil community and their human rights. The notion of R2P and all human rights laws did nothing to protect the Tamils from the Sinhala Genocide as revealed by Mr Callum Macray, the man on a mission to expose HR violations in Sri-Lanka during and after the 2009 war. He produced three videos exposing the cruelty of an unbalanced war in his three Channel 4 Videos “Sri-Lanka’s Killing Fields”.

A Woman with a Vision and a Man on a by nelvely

Dismantling dictatorship is Sri Lanka’s national question

Sunday, September 08, 2013

Even after years of persistent inability on the part of the United Nations agencies to assess the exact nature and extent of the ‘national crisis’, it is profoundly encouraging to see United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay articulating her concerns at the concluding press conference last week to the effect that Sri Lanka is ‘showing signs of heading in an increasingly authoritarian direction.’

Dismantling dictatorship is Sri Lanka’s national question by nelvely

They Are All The B….y Same!

By Emil van der Poorten -September 8, 2013 |

Emil van der Poorten

Particularly with the visit of Navi Pillay which might well have occurred before this sees print (or the web equivalent), it seems like every columnist and his or her aunt and uncle have brought out their crystal balls or miniature wishing wells for that momentous occasion.

Suffice it to say that it isn’t that important that this submission sees the light of day while that discussion resides in the “matter of burning interest” category.  In response to the obvious question of, “Why so?” let me say that, given past history, the visit is not going to mean a great deal in the larger scheme of things and may end up being yet another (boring) chapter in any effort to introduce even a smidgen of decency into the conduct of Sri Lanka’s affairs.  You will note that I have not so much as made reference to matters of accountability, democratic practice etc. etc.  The reason for that is very simple, we appear to have passed that “best before” date on those issues and it will take more than a Herculean effort to inject some freshness into them at short notice.

This is no reflection on the Louise Arbours and Navi Pillays of this world (and the UN agencies that they represent or represented, as the case may be).  Both of these giants of modern human rights practice did more than most men and women, put together, have done in recent times in that field but there is a limit to what even human genius can achieve in the face of a “do-nothing” set of international powers.

China and Russia, for the very simple reason that they do not want anything resembling human rights established on the world’s stage because they are against that very concept, will torpedo every effort by the Pillays and Arbours of this world.  The hypocritical brigade led by the Brits, the Yanks, the French and Germans will continue their leadership role in what I have previously described as the “Tut-tut brigades,” strutting the world stage while uttering inane platitudes. There is some hope from among the economic second tier of democracies, but nothing to write home about!Read More

MR cancels RW’s meetings

 Saturday, 07 September 2013 

Opposition and UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe says that President Mahinda Rajapaksa has prevented him from holding two election rallies for the forthcoming provincial council elections.

Wickremasinghe said at a demonstration in Galle Thursday (05) that his election rallies had to be cancelled since the President has decided to hold rallies at the same venue at the same

He noted that holding elections frequently is not a sign of democracy, but it is the holding of free and fair elections that was important.

Referring to the statement by the President that he was not a dictator since he held elections in the country, Wickremesinghe said that there needs to be media freedom, judicial independence and free and fair elections for there to be democracy in the country.

He further noted that Zimbabwe President Mugabe has elections in his country but that does not mean he is not a dictator.

Mervyn's disciplinary report out in two weeks Sunday, 08 Sep 2013 The report of a disciplinary inquiry conducted against Minister Mervyn Silva is to be presented to the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Central Committee within the next two weeks, inside party sources revealed. The report had been swept under the carpet for over a year since a committee of SLFP seniors probed the allegations levelled against Minister Silva by the Kelaniya Pradeshiya Sabha members led by its Chairman Prasanna Ranaweera. However, the latest development comes in the wake of reports that the controversial minister had burnt bridges with the powers that be. Silva is also being investigated by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC). Silva did not appear before the Commission when he was summoned last week to respond to a complaint lodged over his assets, instead sought additional time to respond to allegations. Silva has been investigated over luxury vehicles owned by his son, Malaka and as to how such assets were earned. Last year, the ruling party members of the Kelaniya Pradeshiya Sabha in a specially convened media conference accused Silva of extortion from local businesses and harbouring underworld kingpins. Several associates of Silva, whom he has since disowned, have been charged with the murder of Pradeshiya Sabha Member, Hasitha Madawala. Inside SLFP sources said the report contains the outcome of the investigation and responses provided by Minister Silva. Sources added the report will be made available to the media after its release.

Gotabhaya reiterates concern over extremism

By Shamindra Ferdinandoa-September 6, 2013, 9:26 pm 

Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa yesterday reiterated that extremism posed a severe threat not only to post-war Sri Lanka but many countries in the region as well as the industrialised world.

The war veteran was responding to a statement issued by Justice Minister Hakeem, who is also the SLMC leader, in the wake of Rajapaksa’s address to the Defence Seminar in Colombo early this week. Minister Hakeem was obviously blind to the ground situation, he said, adding that the world was in turmoil today partly due to extremism.

The Defence Secretary said: "We are working closely with many countries to tackle extremist acts. In fact, it is an ongoing process involving intelligence services and other relevant agencies. Due to vigilance on the part of those fighting extremism and terrorism we were able to thwart plans to cause mayhem."

The Defence Secretary said Minister Hakeem shouldn’t have dragged Iran, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia into the debate as he never mentioned those countries. "The SLMC failed to comprehend what I have said", he said.

Extremism fueled by a few threatened all countries including the Muslim world, Rajapaksa said. "Minister Hakeem’s reference to Muslim countries backing Sri Lanka at the United Nations Human Rights Council is irrelevant. At the recent Defence seminar, I discussed the threat posed by Muslim extremists as well as Sinhala hardliners.

There is absolutely no suggestion that Muslim countries are in anyway responsible for the situation. Regrettably Minister Hakeem had misinterpreted facts."

The Defence Secretary said that the government had cooperated with many governments in the region as well as the US during Ranil Wickremesinghe’s tenure as the Premier. "Sri Lanka handed over an extremist wanted by the US intelligence during the UNP-led administration in which Minister Hakeem was a senior member. The present administration too acted on information furnished by foreign intelligence services to intercept wanted extremists."

Responding to a query by The Island, Defence Secretary Rajapaksa said that Minister Hakeem had misconstrued his assertion that there were some foreign groups bent on encouraging misguided local Muslims to identify themselves more with the extremist global Muslim community, thereby reducing the community’s integration with the rest of the population.

The Defence Secretary said: "It is a known fact that Muslim fundamentalism is spreading all over the world and in this region. This is a situation that our law enforcement agencies and security forces are concerned about, particularly as there have been instances where extremist elements have been in transit in Sri Lanka prior to arrest and handing over to appropriate authorities. The possibility that such extremist elements may try to promote Muslim extremism in Sri Lanka is a cause for concern."

The Authoritarian Impulse

By Dayan Jayatilleka -

September 7, 2013

Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka

“…The recent visit to Sri Lanka by the United Nations Human Rights Commissioner is another instance of this attention. This has been accomplished mostly by the actions of the LTTE linked groups, which have many trained LTTE cadres and operatives who are now fully engaged in propaganda activities.” – Mr Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Defence Seminar 2013, Sept 3rd

The ancient Greeks were the first to draw distinctions between types of regimes. The three basic types were democracy, oligarchy and tyranny. Aristotle also introduced the concept of mixed regimes. Thus Sri Lanka could be said to be an admixture of democracy and oligarchy. Following in the footsteps of the political philosophers of Ancient Greece, the modern political thinker Hannah Arendt drew the clear distinction between authoritarianism and totalitarianism.

If there is a latent totalitarian thrust in Sri Lanka, I doubt that it comes from President Rajapaksa. One must fervently hope that he is not entrapped and eventually consumed by it.  Those who regard President Rajapaksa as the fount of all evil should consider what would change if he were no longer in office and if there were a power vacuum, who and what would fill it. At the risk of political incorrectness, I venture to suggest that not only would we not have Northern Provincial elections without agitation and blood in the streets were it not for the incumbency of Mahinda Rajapksa; much more importantly, he is probably the only one that stands between society and some form of ruthless, brutal militaristic rule, a glimpse of which we had in Weliweriya-Rathupassala.

Read More

Billion Rupee Crisis: Central Bank Failed Once Again To Safe Guard Depositors

By Hema Senanayake -September 7, 2013 |

Hema Senanayake

Central Bank Failed Once Again To Safe Guard Depositors - Billion Rupee Financial Institution, the CIFL, Is In Crisis

In fact I wrote this article on August 15, 2013 and was saved in my computer hard drive at 3.51 p.m.  I wrote the first paragraph as follows. “Please correct me if I am wrong in this analysis. In fact I wished to be wrong here. My objective here is not to make public and depositors pessimistic about the financial institution they trusted. Trust is an essential element for banks and financial institutions especially that entertain deposits. The trust of customers, especially depositors is important to any financial institution than the Capital Adequacy Ratios stipulated by the Bank of International Settlement (BIS) which is responsible in making global conventions which are known as Basel 1, 11 and Basel 111 to ensure the stability of banking and financial institutions in each member country of BIS and Sri Lanka is a member country as far as I know.”

The article was about the grave liquidity crisis of Central Investment & Finance PLC (CIFL). My wife did read it. After reading the first paragraph, my wife insisted that I should not send it to Colombo Telegraph, by then. Her opinion was that if I sent it, then depositors would be panicked which would lead them to withdraw deposits and any significant withdrawal might lead to the collapse of CIFL even if the company could have been restructured successfully. I obliged to agree with her opinion. I did not send the article. But the CIFL has collapsed a few days ago without my involvement. Therefore, I am sending the same article now. The analysis I made by that time is still valid and shows the CBSL’s failure to take precautionary actions as far back as 2012. Also, let me put the entire article within inverted commas in order to intimate that I am quoting it.Read More

Disarming the juggernaut of religious intolerance in Sri Lanka

• by Sachin Parathalingam and Kavindya Tennakoon
• - on 09/07/2013 

The youth of Sri Lanka express their dismay and alarm over the apparent surge in religious intolerance and communal discord that has permeated our society in the post-LTTE era and particularly in recent months. It is a pity that the  ‘infamous’  “Grandpass incident”, a subject of intense political drama a few weeks back, was neither “isolated “ nor “random”, as some conveniently assert. Research conducted by the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) indicates that from May 2009- January 2013 a staggering 69 attacks have been directed at places of religious worship. While the majority of these cases pertain to the Christian community, particularly non-traditional churches, this does not preclude other major religions, with reports indicating at least 10 Buddhist temples and Muslim mosques came under attack in the period under survey.

Disarming the Juggernaut of Religious Intolerance in Sri Lanka by nelvely

TISL-PPPR to sue poll law violators

By Chrishanthi Christopher- Sunday, 08 Sep 2013

Transparency International Sri Lanka’s-Programme to Protect Pubic Resources (TISL-PPPR) says it is seriously considering taking legal action against those who continue to violate election laws, despite warnings from the Commissioner of Elections.

Senior Manager, Advocacy and Public Relations, Shan Wijethunge, said candidates for the forthcoming Provincial Council elections are disregarding the warnings issued by the Elections Commissioner and are continuing to use public property and resources and therefore, TISL-PPPR is exploring the possibility of taking legal action against them. “We are having discussions with the Lawyers for Democracy (LfD) in this regard,” he said.

TISL-PPPR, as of yesterday, had received 56 complaints of misuse of public property and information regarding over 1,500 public servants being employed for election propaganda purposes. Wijethunge said, the TISL-PPPR has verified around 31 complaints of misuse of public properties and made submissions to the Elections Commissioner, with evidence to support, but although the Elections Commissioner is acting on the complaints, the candidates tend to ignore the warnings issued. “We have even submitted details of vehicle numbers and logos as proof but the misuse continues unabated,” he said.

Wijethunge said yesterday, TISL has received information that over 250 public officials from the Ministry of Culture and Arts from Dambulla, Kandy and Kurunegala areas had gone campaigning for the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) candidates in Kandy, Polonnaruwa, Polpithigama, Yapahuwa, Nikawewa and Mahawewa.  However, Wijethunge said, although the election law violations are low compared to the Parliamentary Elections in 2004 and Presidential Elections in 2005, there is the possibility of complaints increasing  in number towards the eve of the elections.

RAW behind Pillay - Divaina

Saturday, 07 September 2013 

Divaina Sunday Newspaper emphasizes that information has been received by Sri Lankan military intelligence units about Indian RAW activities conducted inside Sri Lanka during the time of UN human rights high commissioner Ms. Navi Pillay's Sri Lankan visit.

The report further says that these agents of the Indian Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) has come to Sri Lanka to check on statements she made and persons whom she met in Sri Lanka.
Divaina says that the RAW had been keeping a close eye on all the activities of Ms. Pillay during her visit from arrival to departure.
According to the details, Divaina says that RAW had spent much of their time in the North and that the security units have not yet been able to unearth the intention behind these activities.
It is said that the RAWs might have been keeping an eye on the comments made to Ms. Pillay regarding the Indian role in the growing issue.

The State Of Lankan Democracy: A Look Through The Australian Prism

By Shyamon Jayasinghe -September 7, 2013 |

Shyamon Jayasinghe

I read with interest some opinions expressed in the Island  newspaper over the issue as to whether Sri Lanka can now call itself a democracy or dictatorship.

For us Sri Lankans domesticated in Australia it is opportune to join this debate at a time like the very present when General Elections are to be held on Saturday, the 7^th of September. Election behavior is a good sample expression of the wider political culture that prevails in any country. Look at the situation prevailing here and one can make a comparison and arrive at a judgment about the parallel situation in Sri Lanka..

Well here, it is election day today. However, over the last six weeks  campaigns have been going on led by the two principal rivals-the governing Australian Labour Party and the Coalition comprised of the Liberal Party-National Party combine. It is Prime Minister Kevin Rudd vs. Tony Abbot.

The campaigns are defined by decency and by the conduct and strict maintenance of the Rule of Law. The law and not anyone of the ruling elite are supreme. The judiciary is independent and is available to intervene fairly and impartially over any disputes that may be brought before it. People trust the judiciary because of its long-established independence from political control. Leaders of the past have been supportive of this judicial independence and the people are oriented to frown at any attempt to tread on the judges. The overall outcome of the strict maintenance of the rule of law is peace and public confidence.Read More

UN Rights Chief’s Visit To Sri Lanka Reinforces The Need For An International Investigation – TGTE

September 7, 2013

The Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE) welcomes the visit of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to Sri Lanka last week.

“Ms. Pillay’s visit reinforces the call of all those interested in human rights and international law for an independent international investigation of crimes against a large section of the Tamil people in Sri Lanka at the end of the war,” said TGTE Prime Minister Visuvanathan Rudrakumaran.

PM - TGTE - Visuvanathan Rudrakumaran

“Continued human rights abuses against the Tamils by the Sinhalese-dominated government and its military necessitate some form of international protection mechanism to prevent the impoverishment, marginalization and decimation of our population on the island.”

Ms. Pillay’s observation pertaining to the failure of rule of law in Sri Lanka, her shaken confidence in the independence of the judiciary there, and her reference to the “side-stepping” of the much needed full, transparent, impartial investigation into the war crimes and other violations committed during the final stage of war in the LLRC Report, reinforce the need for an international investigation.

Even after the publication of the domestic LLRC report, the UNSG’s Expert Panel’s Report, and the UN Internal Review Report, along with Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and other reputed NGOs all explicitly stating that there is neither a political environment nor a judicial environment to dispense justice through domestic mechanisms, Ms. Pillai’s observation reinforces her position that only an international investigation can bring justice” noted Mr. Rudrakumaran.                                                Read More