Sri Lankan navy officer accused of being key player in people-smuggling racket

Prime Minister Tony Abbott departs Canberra to attend CHOGM in Sri Lanka on Thursday. Photo: Andrew Meares

Ben Doherty-November 15, 2013

The alleged linchpin of Sri Lanka's biggest people-smuggling racket is a decorated naval officer who briefed Australia's border protection chief and its high commissioner to Sri Lanka on how to stop human trafficking.

But the Australian government has refused to comment on what information it might have shared with the accused officer, Lieutenant-Commander Sanjeewa Annatugoda.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott arrives in Colombo on Friday and will meet the head of Sri Lanka's armed forces, President Mahinda Rajapakse.

Sri Lankan Navy officer Lieutenant Commander Sanjeewa Annatugoda in police custody in southern Sri Lanka. Photo: Ben Doherty

In police custody, Annatugoda this week denied the people-smuggling charges against him and said he had been framed. He said others in the navy, however, were guilty of people-smuggling.

He told Fairfax Media during an interview in a police cell in Thiyagoda: "I am not the man who did this thing. Others did."

But police allege Annatugoda was a key player in Sri Lanka's largest and most profitable people-smuggling ring. Since his arrest, and that of 30 other alleged smugglers, the number of boats leaving Sri Lankan shores has dropped 90 per cent, Inspector of Police P.S.C. Sanjeewa said in Matara.

The gang got rich charging passengers between 300,000 rupees ($2450) and 800,000 rupees for a single place on a boat to Australia.

It has been reported the ring was responsible

for sending up to 6000 people in boats towards Australia. Inspector Sanjeewa said the known figure was closer to 1000, but this did not include boats that were never detected leaving or admitted to by those arrested, or boats that had sunk on the way.

"Thirty-one people in this ring have been arrested so far, and the number of people leaving on boats has dropped 90 per cent. This ring put people on boats from Jaffna, Mullaithivu, Batticaloa, Trincomalee," the inspector said.

Almost all the passengers were Tamils, most were young men.

Police believe Annatugoda was deeply involved in the smuggling racket, taking kickbacks in return for using his influence in the navy, and his control over patrol boats, to help smugglers' vessels leave.

"He was a senior officer, he knew about the movement of patrol boats," said Inspector Sanjeewa.

Police uncovered Annatugoda's alleged role after arresting a man called Anton Gowrithasan, who was discovered to have an unexplained 13 kilograms of gold in various bank accounts and hundreds of thousands of rupees in cash.

Gowrithasan led police to former navy officer Kuruppumullage Deshapriya, who was a key organiser and had a network of agents recruiting passengers across Sri Lanka. Deshapriya told police he had paid Annatugoda 200,000 rupees as a kickback for his allowing boats to leave Sri Lankan waters.

"And we have the bank receipt that proves the money was paid," Inspector Sanjeewa said. Annatugoda withdrew the money from his bank account.

Annatugoda was also named by several asylum seekers who were caught on a fishing trawler leaving Sri Lanka in August. They told police the navy officer had promised them safe passage to Australia.

Three other sailors - all enlisted members of the signals branch - have also been arrested as part of the smuggling ring.

Annatugoda, married with three young children, is a decorated officer who served 17 years in the navy. He was wounded during the country's civil war and awarded medals for gallantry.

"I have sacrificed a lot for the motherland," he told Fairfax, barefoot and dressed in civilian clothes, in the police cell.

He denied any involvement in people-smuggling. "I am a naval officer, and I am the one who stopped people who were trying to go to Australia. Over 1½ years I stopped many boats, at least 10 boats, and I captured many people, more than 500 people."

He said he had been framed because of a personal vendetta, and that the money put into his account was a series of loans being repaid. He had made several small loans to Deshapriya, totalling 200,000 rupees, that were then repaid in one lump sum. It was this amount that police had discovered.

Annatugoda said he and Deshapriya had fallen out after he discovered Deshapriya was double-charging for food he was selling to the navy. Annatugoda, then in charge of victualling, stopped buying from him.

In November last year, Anna-tugoda met Australia's Border Protection Command chief, Rear Admiral David Johnston, and high commissioner Robyn Mudie about the Sri Lankan navy's efforts to stop people-smuggling.

"I met with the senior officials and the high commissioner and I explained about the Sri Lankan navy's plan for patrolling the sea, the system we have for stopping smuggling,'' he said.

Fairfax Media spent seven days seeking comment from various branches of the Australian government. All refused to comment.

Asked about Annatugoda's meeting with Rear Admiral Johnston, Immigration Minister Scott Morrison refused to comment but did not deny it took place.

If Annatugoda is convicted, he faces up to five years in jail and thousands of dollars in fines. But it would also be a major embarrassment for both governments - that the alleged key man in smuggling people from Sri Lanka to Australia was one they had trained, paid and consulted on how to stop the boats.

An adviser to the Australian Federal Police, Christopher Wood, was involved in the investigation of Annatugoda and has interrogated him in custody.

Mr Wood is based in Sri Lanka and works with local police in investigating smuggling rackets. Fairfax Media spoke with Mr Wood but he said that government officials in Canberra had forbidden him from speaking about Annatugoda's arrest.

"Look At Yourself Before You Talk About Others"

Address the issue of ‘common poverty’ vigorously, before we talk about ‘common wealth’

 - President Rajapaksa

( November 15, 2013, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) President Mahinda Rajapaksa urged the Commonwealth to focus, as a matter of priority, on development challenges, confronting the majority of our member nations. “I see a compelling need for those who guide the destiny of the Commonwealth to give serious thought to practical modalities, focusing on social and economic issues. This will greatly enhance the relevance and value of the Commonwealth,” he said and posed the question, “Shouldn’t we be addressing more vigorously the issue of ‘common poverty’ before we talk about ‘common wealth’?”

Look at Yourself Before You Talk About Others-1 by nelvely

Situation Report: Sri Lanka’s CHOGM Repressive Tactics To Stifle Dissent

November 15, 2013

The government of Sri lanka, hosts of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting that will take place tomorrow has engaged in an extraordinary string of repressive tactics to stifle dissent and the freedom of expression since the summit events commenced on Sunday. After months of making a show of measures to address human rights issues, the events of this past week has shown the Rajapaksa government to be engaging in the worst types of repression, violence and subversion on democratic dissent and dissenters.

Here are the highlights of CHOGM week for citizens of Sri Lanka attempting to express dissent at Government policies and rights abuses and journalists in town to cover the summit.

* Sunday 10 November

Parliamentarians from Australia and New Zealand have passports siezed shortly before addressing a press briefing at the TNA office in Colombo. Immigration authorities that interrogated the MPs for three hours said they were violating the conditions of their tourist visas. The MPs were to make a blistering statement about the human rights situation in the north following a fact finding tour.

*Sunday 10 November

CHOGM accredited Britain’s ITV crew attempting to fly to Jaffna told they need authorisation first. Clearance finally obtained. Flight mysteriously cancelled due to bad weather. Crew takes the road. Held back at Omanthai for three hours before being permitted to proceed. For months the army has been claiming there is no longer a check point in Omanthai.                                               Read More

Sri Lanka Lashes Out At Rights Criticism

November 15, 2013 

CNN’s Fred Pleitgen, in for Christiane Amanpour, speaks with Sri Lankan High Commissioner to the UK Chris Nonis.

Chris Nonis

CHOGM 2013: UK reps behaving as if we were still a colony - Gotabhaya 

by Shamindra Ferdinando-November 14, 2013, 12:00 pm

Gotabhaya 

Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa yesterday alleged that the UK government was acting as if Sri Lanka were still a British colony.

The actions of some of the British representatives here for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) had undermined bilateral relations, Rajapaksa said.

He was responding to statements attributed to UK Foreign Secretary William Hague and Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Hugo Swire at the British High Commission and Chaaya Tranz, Hikkaduwa, respectively.

Defence Secretary Rajapaksa said that they would never have behaved in such a way in any other country. Recalling former UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband’s admission that he spent two-thirds of his time on Sri Lanka due to a very vocal Tamil Diaspora in the UK, numbering over 300,000, the Defence Secretary emphasized that the situation remained the same, though Labour lost the last parliamentary election to pave the way for a Conservative-Liberal Democrat administration.

Their criticism was meant to create a hostile environment ahead of President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s meeting with UK Prime Minister David Cameron on Friday (15), he alleged. The meeting will take place soon after PM Cameron returns from Jaffna.

The Defence Ministry has made available a special SLAF flight for the convenience of the British delegation.

Asked whether the government was concerned about the UK threat to push for an international war crimes investigation, unless the incumbent administration addressed accountability issues to the satisfaction of the global community, the Defence Secretary alleged that the British approach was unreasonable as well as inappropriate. He said: "A section of the international community is demanding a credible local investigation. But, accusations directed at us are based on information provided by nameless people whose identities are known to the UN Secretary General’s Panel of Experts (PoE) and the UK media outfit, Channel 4 News. They allege the final battle claimed the lives of 40,000 people."

The British should explain whether any country accused of killings on such a scale would accept the PoE’s recommendation that its ‘sources’ would remain classified for 20 years, since the release of the report on March 31, 2011.

According to the PoE report, the three panelists, Marzuki Darusman (Indonesia), Steven R. Ratner (US) and Yasmin Sooka (South Africa) had received over 4,000 submissions from 2,300 persons, in response to a notice posted on the UN website on October 27, 2010.

The continuing refusal to name sources on the basis of confidentiality of the PoE’s records meant such a report/evidence couldn’t be acceptable in any court of law or special investigative mechanism, the Defence Secretary said. "Disclosure of credible sources is necessary to facilitate investigations. If the UK is keen for credible investigations, it should urge Channel 4 News as well as the UN to produce those eyewitnesses before international judicial authorities, without further delay."

He said that Sri Lanka couldn’t be hauled up before an international war crimes probe on unsubstantiated allegations. It would be pertinent to mention that over a decade after the invasion of Iraq, on the basis of false UK intelligence reports, the UK was yet to finalise a domestic inquiry into the war. None other than UK Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, of the Liberal Democratic Party had admitted in parliament that the invasion of Iraq was illegal. "The Iraq war inquiry report is yet to be released, though the UK accuses Sri Lanka of failing to implement the recommendations made by the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission."

Families of disappeared living slow death under state terror: Leena Manimekalai

15 NOVEMBER 2013

Film maker of the latest documentary “White Van Stories”, Leena Manimekalai says that her two-hour long film on the enforced abduction and disappearances by the state forces was just a fraction of what is still going in Sri Lanka, which is currently hosting the biennial Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), amid growing international concern over its human rights track record.

Families of Disappeared Living Slow Death Under State Terror Leena Manimekalai by nelvely

Monks Were Peaceful, Thugs Attacked, Monks Were Hospitalised – BBS

November 15, 2013 

“The attached photograph clearly shows that UNP leaders are lying that  Sirikotha was not used to tarnish the image of Bodu Bala Sena. Here some of the UNP supporters exhibiting some photos to show Bodu Bala Sena was involved in terror acts . We categorically deny that BBS has anything to do with some of the edited photos displayed here.” the group’s Chief Executive Officer Dilanthe Withanage told Colombo Telegraph.

Sending a email he said; “The following Video Clip clearly show that Bodu Bala Sena entered to Sirikotha peacefully. BBS spoke to the Leaders of the UNP Bhiiku Front  when entered to UNP Headquarters. The suddenly organized thugs attacked these monks who came to this place peacefully. Some monks and officials of BBS were hospitalized, Media equipments lost and damaged  during this attack. But UNP and NGO Propaganda shows to the world that BBS had demonstration and entered the premises forcefully. This is clearly violation of human rights of buddhists by UNP and Those NGOs organized this act of violence.”

Desist from polarising acts and reaffirm commonwealth values

 Friday, 15 November 2013 

As an organization that believes in constructive engagement, the National Peace Council chose to take part in the Commonwealth People’s Forum in the belief that we could strengthen our partnerships with the Commonwealth Foundation and Sri Lankan and international civil society.

We call for the implementation of its outcome statement which refers to the need to “Develop, foster, support and improve effective relationships between Commonwealth Member States and civil society, mutual respect for each other’s roles and responsibilities for good governance, and the right of civil society to represent and advocate.” They also called on Commonwealth Heads of State and Government to recognise the centrality of civil society in development and invest in supporting the conditions that create an enabling environment for civil society to participate in development processes more fully and to ensure commitment to a framework of mutual accountability at the global, regional and national levels, in which all development policies and processes are firmly grounded in a human rights based approach.

Unfortunately, however, in the run-up to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, and even today, the dominant trend appears to be overreactions on the part of the governmental authorities reinforcing divisions between the government, opposition and civil society. This has even led to the main opposition party deciding to boycott CHOGM in protest. One of the more serious incidents was the mob attack on stoning of the Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe’s vehicle outside the UNP party headquarters when he was going inside to address a gathering of missing persons protesting against the government’s delay in finding their loved ones. This might convey to the foreign visitors that there is no freedom of assembly and that the government permits such freedom only to those who support its cause and act to violently suppress the right of freedom of the others to resort to peaceful protest- a right recognized in democratic countries. The National Peace Council deplores this incident that took place in the shadow of CHOGM and also the turning back by police of hundreds of members of families of missing persons who were coming for this demonstration from the North of the country. The unleashing of violent elements against peaceful demonstrations and gatherings can only lead to a negative impression in the eyes of the international community gathered in Sri Lanka for CHOGM.

These incidents are in contradiction to President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s assurance that his government will uphold the values of the Commonwealth, which include respect for the freedom of association and right of free expression, and right to peaceful protest. These actions also indicate the failure to recognize the freedom that civil society organizations should enjoy according to the UN Declarations. As the future Chairman of the Commonwealth for the next two years, a crucial responsibility is vested in President Mahinda Rajapaksa to uphold democratic values such as fundamental freedoms and human rights not only in Sri Lanka but to draw the attention of other Commonwealth States to if and when they falter in upholding these values. Verbal assurances are not enough. The country and its leader will be judged not by the words expressed but the actions of its leader and the state machinery.

Bebedusena Gnanassara who stormed into Sri Kotha showed no respect to the 150 monk dhana

(Lanka-e-News-14.Nov.2013, 11.30PM) Bebedu sena (drunkard) Galagodathe Gnanassara who thought he could go on pecking holes in every tree met his waterloo this morning trying to peck a hole in a plantain tree. He suffered a fate he would never have dream of even if he had drunk gallons of kasippu .

Bebedu sena Gnanassara who stormed into the UNP headquarters Sri Kotha this morning with a group of goons had assaulted the Dehiwala- Galkissa municipal council member Yamitha Rajapakse. In the retaliatory attack launched on Gnanassara ,the latter had to run for dear life.
Bebedusena Gnanassara holding a Press briefing has made stupid and irresponsible utterances yesterday against the media briefing held at Sri Kotha day before yesterday with the participation of the channel 4 media group . His speech was as follows :

‘There was a novel wolves’ drama at Sri Kotha. We wish to ask from the opposition leadership and leadership council whether the channel 4 media group was invited with or without their knowledge.

A responsible opposition party must feel ashamed to allow Sri Kotha to be used to stoke divisions. This is why we expose the plans of these cowards.’

On the contrary, we would like to tell this Bebedu sena that it is the government that issued visas to this media group , and not the opposition .

This Bebedusena who is a member of Gota’s paramilitary team stormed into Sri Kotha today with a group whose kasippu stench stank a mile which was an insult to the 150 monks who were having dhana. The Sri Kotha crowd had seen these drunkards and gangsters being brought and dropped by security forces vehicles earlier .

At the time the Bebedusena and his marauders broke into Sri Kotha , 150 monks were being served dhana within. This was to mark the maiden session of the UNP leadership council. This Bebedusena who only knows and respects kassippu had even hindered that solemn ceremony.

The Bebedusena Gnanassara who forcibly broke the gate and entered the building had scolded all and sundry in the filthiest language . When an argument had erupted , the Bebedusena group had assaulted the Dehiwala Galkissa municipal council member Yamitha Rajapakse. The UNP ers who were there had naturally got provoked and launched a vicious attack on Bebedusena Gnanassara disregarding even his robe. The brunt of the attack had to be borne by Bebedusena’s gangsters

Bebedusena Gnanassara who fled the scene is seeking to lodge a police complaint , it is learnt.

Bebedusena Gnanassara alleged that the human rights festival organized by Samagi Balavegaya which operates on another part of Sri Kotha had displayed banners which are against him , and he therefore ventured into Sri Kotha to stop it.

See the Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iVpFTMIp1U#t=156

UNPers assault and disrobe BBS monks

By Ramani Mendis and Anuradha Samuel-Friday, 15 Nov 2013

The United National Party (UNP) Leadership Council was on to an inauspicious start yesterday, with monks and Party activists exchanging fisticuffs with monks being stripped off their robes by angry mobs when members of the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) arrived at Sirikotha, the UNP Headquarters. The monks were led by its General Secretary, Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera.

Attacking Civil Society Meeting At Sirikotha; President Rajapaksa Is the Architect

Mahinda Rajapaksa-November 15, 2013 

The President, Mahinda Rajapaksa is the key architect of disturbing the peaceful meeting conducted at the
Sirikotha yesterday and day before yesterdady the Colombo Telegraph can reveal today .

This meeting and exhibition was organised by several civil society organisations to commemorate the disappeared persons with the participation of the parents of the those disappeared. Most of those who were expected to travel from the North was prevented by the Government by blocking three buses they were traveling to Colombo.  It is reported that this venue has been selected as no other venue was available for such a exhibition during the CHOGM.

UNPers Assault and Disrobe BBS Monks by nelvely

Who are Sri Lanka's disappeared?

Sri Lanka's civil war is officially over, but people are still being "disappeared" - vanishing without a trace, often, allegedly, in the state's unmarked "white vans."

After Iraq, Sri Lanka has the highest number of enforced disappearances in the world, the United Nations has said.

The latest report from the UN's working group on enforced or involuntary disappearances, set up in 1980, says that there are 5,676 outstanding cases of enforced disappearances, though the actual number of disappeared could be much higher.
Who Are Sri Lanka's Disappeared by nelvely

Vehicles of demonstrators in Vali north attacked

14 November 2013

The hunger strike at Valikaamam North, in protest of the on-going Sri Lankan military land grabs and enforced High Security Zones within the North-East, continued for the third consecutive day despite intimidation and threats, thursday.

Vehicle owners transporting demonstrators to the protest site were threatened and had nails thrown at their tires in attempts to prevent the hunger strike gaining mass support.

The chief minister of the  Northern Province C.V Wigneswaran and several other council members were also present at the protest.

The leader of the Tamil National People’s Front organisation, Gajen Ponnambalam, whilst attending the event tweeted pictures of the sabotage attempts.

Gajen Ponnambalam @GGPonnambalam

Nails being thrown under vehicles suspected of carrying ppl to attend #ValiNorth land grab protest. #Tamil

3:07 AM - 13 Nov 2013

Gajen Ponnambalam @GGPonnambalamo

Pic shows nails thrown @ tires of vehicles transporting ppl after yesterday's protest against #LandGrab #lka

12:34 AM - 14 Nov 2013

Gajen Ponnambalam @GGPonnambalam

Follow

A section of the ppl protesting against the #ValiNorth #HSZ land grab. Protest to continue daily #Tamil #lka

4:42 AM - 13 Nov 2013

The Valikaamam protestors saw public death threats placed around the village earlier this week.

In Colombo, we will stand up for our beliefs

David Cameron | Nov 14, 2013, 12.04 AM IST

The meeting of the Commonwealth Heads of Government this week is a unique gathering — representing 53 sovereign countries, a third of the world's population and 20% of the global economy. It is a purely voluntary club, bound together by shared history, deep and diverse links between our peoples and — at our best — strong common instincts about the importance of open societies and open economies.

But as we meet in Colombo, some are questioning whether we are still prepared to stand up for our values. The location of the summit in Sri Lanka has drawn significant criticism: the human rights record of its government has even caused some leaders to stay away.

So, the stakes for the Commonwealth this week are high. And my argument today is clear — we face a choice. At the summit, we can either bury our head in the sand, ignore the difficult issues and essentially give in to those who think that the Commonwealth is no longer relevant. Or we can use this as an opportunity to come together and restate why our values matter.

I will be making the latter argument. I am deeply committed to the Commonwealth and what, at its best, it stands for. Not just out of a sense of tradition and obligation — but of belief. The belief in political freedom which has underpinned this organisation for almost 65 years is as relevant now as it was at the time of the London Declaration.

This is not some outdated attempt to impose Westminster ways on the world. Political freedom is innately important in itself. No government crackdown — no force of arms — can forever suppress people's aspirations for a voice and for national independence. But this is a hard-headed economic argument too. History shows a remarkable empirical connection between healthy political institutions and a nation's material prosperity. Look at India: the world's largest democracy and a powerful economic success of the past decade. Look at Botswana: a country with relatively open, transparent institutions — and a standard of living that is far beyond many of its neighbours. Look at Malaysia: a country that has seen democracy and economic growth go hand in hand.

It comes down to this. Countries prosper when they adopt an open economic system: where people are free to trade, free to innovate and have property rights and the rule of law to protect what they own. And that inclusive economy can only succeed in the long term if it is underpinned by inclusive political institutions: where governments are the servants of the people and are forced to act in the interests of the people. Unless this happens, the wealth of a nation is liable to remain forever in the hands of a narrow clique. This is at the heart of the golden thread of conditions which allows countries to thrive.

In Britain we know that we must make this argument with frankness. We are fully aware of the historical context and of the need to put our own house in order. This is not about telling others what to do and how to do it — political and economic progress should not be advanced by imposing it on others, but by argument and persuasion.

That is why the Commonwealth is so important. And at this year's summit there are two things in particular i believe we can do.

First, there is a real opportunity to shape the global debate over what should replace the Millennium Development Goals when they expire in 2015. Many of the values which the Commonwealth has embraced are fundamental in the fight against extreme poverty. The recent UN High Level Panel — which i had the honour of co-chairing with the presidents of Liberia and Indonesia — recommended specific targets on open government, free political choice, the rule of law, property rights and free speech. These areas, alongside health, education and nutrition, are vital to development post-2015. But it is by no means inevitable that governments will manage to agree inspiring and compelling goals. It will only happen if together we show ambition and leadership. The Commonwealth summit is an opportunity for us to stand up for what we believe in. It is a moment where we can start to broker international agreement — and show a determination to end extreme poverty forever.

Second, we've got to speak candidly to each other. We do the Commonwealth and its history no favours unless we take a stand when we see our values under threat. This is our first meeting since we enshrined our belief in political freedom in the Commonwealth Charter — and we must show it now has real meaning. Together we must make clear that the political process in the Maldives should respect the will of the people expressed in democratic elections. Together we must encourage further progress towards free and fair elections in Fiji. And together we must say clearly to the government of Sri Lanka — our hosts — that there must be accountability for the past and respect for human rights today.

There are those who have asked whether it is right to go to Sri Lanka for this summit given the current situation. By going to Colombo i believe we have an opportunity to raise our concerns clearly and directly — and to focus the eyes of the world on Sri Lanka. Four years on from the end of the civil war and defeat of the 'Tamil Tigers', a brutal terrorist organisation, there has been nowhere near enough improvement.

We need to see more progress: genuine freedom of expression and a free media, an end to the intimidation of journalists and human rights defenders, action to stamp out torture, demilitarisation of the north and reconciliation between communities. And of course we need to see a thorough investigation into alleged war crimes, and if it does not happen rapidly, an international independent investigation will be needed. This won't always make for easy conversations, but diplomacy isn't about ducking difficult decisions. We will only protect the values that are precious to us if we take action when they are at stake.

So this is a big summit and an important moment. The world is looking to the Commonwealth to rise to the occasion. Ours is a truly unique and special organisation, hugely diverse in background and outlook. But there is one thing which can unite us all: a belief that economic progress and political progress can go hand in hand. That is the vision the Commonwealth offers the world: let us be true to it again.

The writer is the prime minister of the UK.