Journalist's death a sign of Sri Lanka's brutalisation?

By Charles Haviland

Sri Lanka police investigate the home of former Agence France Presse journalist Mel Gunasekera after she was stabbed to death

One of Sri Lanka's most prominent journalists, Mel Gunasekera, was stabbed to death in her home, on Sunday. Although this death does not appear to have been politically motivated, Sri Lankans have reacted by lamenting what they say is the "brutalised" nature of their country.

To wake up to the news that a friend has been murdered is shocking.

Journalist's Death a Sign of Sri Lanka's Brutalisation by nelvely

Nishantha betrays country for Sirinivasan’s money!

 Sunday, 09 February 2014 

Secretary of Sri Lanka Cricket Nishantha Ranatunga, who represented Sri Lanka at the International Cricket Council meeting in Singapore yesterday (8), had betrayed the country by his abstention at a vote to allow the adoption of amendments to the world cricket governing body’s constitution instead of opposing them, members of the SLC executive committee allege.

As per these amendments, the financial control of the ICC goes to England, Australia and India, and the ICC’s annual allocation for Sri Lanka is curtailed by 37 million US dollars, while India will secure an increase of 150 m USD. From the outset, South Africa and Pakistan had opposed the ICC’s constitutional revisions, but Indian Cricket Board president N. Sirinivasan had managed to silence Pakistan at yesterday’s meeting. It is a well known fact that Nishantha Ranatunga is a business partner of the BCCI chief.

SLC’s EXCO members discussed these amendments at a special meeting on February 03 and they decided that Sri Lanka should vote against the amendments. An EXCO member told us that despite that decision by them and in a blatant violation of same, the SLC representative had abstained at the vote due to reasons unknown to them.

Shiranthi Brother Chairman Nishantha’s Girlfriend’s Phone Call Costs SriLankan Rs. 6.2 million

February 9, 2014 

The phone call made by an “influential crew member” SriLankan Airlines Chairman Nishantha Wickremasinghe‘s to get a UL flight to leave ahead of schedule, despite the fact that the aircraft was waiting for 80 Paris bound passengers to arrive from Male, Maldives has cost the national carrier a whopping Rs. 6.2 million (35,00 Euros) the Sunday Times newspaper has revealed today.

Chairman Nishantha Wickremasinghe’

Colombo Telegraph revealed that Chathurika Muhandiramge, a member of the UL flight crew who had ‘influence’ over the airline Chairman who is also First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa’s brother, called Wickremasinghe to get the flight UL 110 from Colombo to Paris to take off ahead of schedule, leaving the tour group from Maldives behind.

The Sunday Times said the misconnect had forced SriLankan Airlines to foot the bill to put up the 75 unfortunate passengers at a hotel on the night of January 25. The passengers then had to be put on a SriLankan flight to Frankfurt on January 26 and then onwards to Paris on other airlines, all at cost to the national carrier.

The Sunday Times  reported  that a SriLankan Airlines flight from Colombo to Paris was supposed to wait until a tour group of some 80 passengers going to the French capital arrived from the Maldivian capital of Male, but had suddenly taken off after “an influential crew member” had intervened.Read More

Basil Calls Muzammil; Jokes About Ravi K’s Cross Over

February 9, 2014 -Basil

As the United National Party’s crisis deepened late last week after the nominations process for the Western and Southern PC polls ended with dissatisfaction all around, Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksahas telephoned disgruntled Colombo Mayor A.J.M. Muzammil to ‘congratulate’ him.

The Sunday Times in its Cafe Spectator Column notes that Muzammil was perplexed by the Minister’s congratulations since he and his wife Ferouza are smarting over the Party’s decision to deny her a nomination to contest the Western PC poll from the Colombo District.

Minister Basil Rajapaksa quipped that he was congratulating the Mayor because if his wife had received nominations, the Government would have to make provision for UNP Colombo District Chief OrganiserRavi Karunanayake who would have crossed over.

Speculation has been rife that Karunanayake is poised to join the Government if he is not elevated to a position above UNP Hambantota District MP Sajith Premadasa. Karunanayake is also engaged in a long war against the Colombo Mayor.                                                 Read More

CID is sleeping over CIFL Case while Directors are making more plans to make money.

Sunday, 09 February 2014 

After one year of the collapse of the registered finance company Central Investments and Finance Company, CID failed to make a single arrest or question the Directors of the Company. Under the finance act and the companies act of Sri Lanka the responsibility of paying the depositors on time is the responsibility of the Board of Directors. And it’s a criminal Offense if you failed to pay the Deposits back on time. However we learnt that the Close relationship of Lakshman Rupasingha who was the Former Chairman and the front Man at the crisis has a very close relationship with the CID. Due to this relationship the CID ASP Ampawaila and the gang still failed to make a single arrest of the Directors.

As Citizens of Sri lanka we expect that the Laws of the country will protect us and our business and families, But if the Police of Sri lanka take the interpretation of Law in to their hand and playing the cards to protect their friends who we will turn to? Can the CID officers take the responsibility of this amount of Deposits?

The question here is Why the CID fail to arrest a single director? And produce them before the courts?

And reliable sources say the same Board of Directors were running the company for last two years and they publish all the wrong accounts and statements to the public and collect monies, and now they are planning to dispose the valuable assets of the company to their friends and supporters. We feel that CID and CBSL both are supporting to the escape of these Directors from this massive fraud.

SHOTS FIRED AT THE VEHICLE OF UNP CANDIDATE FOR BELIATTA

2014-02-09
Shots were fired at a vehicle that belongs to United National Party (UNP) candidate for Hambantota district Atula Senaratne around 3 am today (February 9.)

This is the first election related incident in which a fire arm was used. Senaratne lodged a complaint with the Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE) stating that a group arriving in a vehicle fired at the cab, 50 - 4079, which was parked outside his house at Aranwala Road, Beliatte. He said that the group drove away after he switched on the lights after he heard the gun shots.

He has lodged a complaint with the police. Senaratne, who is a close associate of UNP MP Sajith Premadasa, said that he has been receiving threats for sometime. The first incident of election related violence was also reported from Hambantota.

VIDEO: UPFA CANDIDATE AJITH PRASANNA ARRESTED

Former Southern Provincial Councilor Major Ajith Prasanna manhandling a police officer on duty in Galle on Thursday (Feb. 06).

February 9, 2014 

UPFA candidate for the Southern Provincial Council Ajith Prasanna has been arrested in Colombo today on charges of organizing an illegal procession and obstructing police officers, Police Spokesman SSP Ajith Rohana said. 

A special team of officers from Galle Police had arrested the former Southern Provincial Councilor at around 2.00pm today at a private hospital in Colombo, he said.

A former army major, Prasanna was involved in an incident with police officers during a procession in the Galle Town on Thursday (06) after handing in nominations for the forthcoming PC polls. 

Wearing the army uniform and wielding the Sri Lankan National Flag, he had scuffled with police officers in the presence of senior public and police officers when his supporters were prevented from proceeding further due to another parade. 

Police spokesman said that the police would report facts to the court for obstructing and assaulting police officers on duty and also inform the Election Commissioner to take appropriate action against the Galle District Candidate of the UPFA.

UPFA CANDIDATE D.V. UPUL RELEASED ON BAIL

February 9, 2014  

Two suspects including the former Southern Province Fisheries Minister, D.V. Upul who were arrested today on assault charges have been released on bail after being produced before the Walasmulla Magistrate. 

The UPFA Hambantota District candidate for the upcoming Southern Provincial Council election was arrested at around 11.00am today by Middeniya Police.

They were each released on a personal bail of Rs 200,000 after being produced at court. 

The Campaigns for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE) had reported that two UNP supporters, Piyasena Ekanayake and K. Jagath Kumara were assaulted by supporters of D.V. Upul on Thursday (6).

Israeli fear boycott if peace talks fail

08 Feb 2014 

An international campaign to boycott Israel is gaining momentum in Europe. Eight years ago, pro-Palestinian activists started a boycott targeting Israel's economy in an effort to end the occupation. The impact has so far been minimal. But if US-led peace talks fail, some Israelis fear the movement will accelerate, especially with growing pressure from the European Union, a major trading partner. Al Jazeera's Atia Abawi reports from the Jordan Valley.

Tibetan Man Sets Himself on Fire in First Self-Immolation of 2014

By GIANLUCA MEZZOFIORE | February 7, 2014 

A Tibetan man has set himself on fire in protest against
Chinese rule in the first self-immolation of 2014.

Phakmo Samdup, 29, set himself ablaze in Malho Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, eastern Tibet, near a school.

He died at the scene and his body was taken by Chinese authorities. Local authorities have tightened security and threatened people not to spread the news of the self-immolation, a form of radical political protest against Beijing rule.

Only six self-immolations have taken place since July 2013.

"China began inflicting punishments on communities and families of self-immolators and a number of Tibetans have been given severe sentences (including a suspended death sentence) for 'inciting' individuals to undertake the protests," said a statement by Free Tibet.

Beijing has often accused Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, of inciting the self-immolations.

The Chinese foreign ministry said in July 2013: "Inciting self-immolations is the Dalai Lama's way of realising his separatist political scheme. It's the most cruel and inhumane criminal activity."

Tibet was occupied by Mao Zedong's forces in 1950. The Dalai Lama has been living in exile since a failed rebellion against Beijing rule in 1959.

More than two million Tibetans have been relocated in the Tibet Autonomous Region.

"While self-immolations have slowed significantly in recent months, Phakmo Samdup's protest confirms that Tibetans remain willing to undertake this devastating form of peaceful protest," Free Tibet director Eleanor Byrne-Rosengren said.

"The last few months have seen mass protests against detentions, environmental destruction and the Chinese flag in Tibet. Tibetan opposition to Chinese occupation is undimmed but China's response is a self-defeating turn of the screw. Repression breeds resistance. Further protests in Tibet in 2014 are certain: more self-immolation protests are certainly possible."

If Famous Movies Were Remade In Sri Lanka

By Gongalay Gotabanda -February 8, 2014 

Gongalay Gotabanda

War & Peace would become, War is Election Victories.
The Passion of Christ would become, The War Passion of Mahinda.

Star Wars would become, Humanitarian Wars.

The Last of the Mohicans would become, The Last of the Tigers.

Lord of the Rings would become, Lord of the GREENS (Starring Ranil Wickramasinghe)

Slum Dog Millionaire would become, Four War Lord Millionaire Brothers.

Doctor Zhivago would become, Doctor Mervin Silva.

Cry Freedom would become, Cry Human Rights Abuses.

Mission Impossible would become, Free & Fair Elections is a Mission Impossible.

The Good, Bad & the Ugly would become, Ranil, Gotabaya & Bandula Gunewardene.

Kill Bill would become, Kill Lasantha.

Robin Hood & his Merry Men would become, Hambanthota Tsunami Hora & his Marayas.

The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse would become, The Four Brothers of the Family Dictatorship.

Catch Me If You Can would become, Catch Lasantha’s Killers if you Can.

Treasure Island would become, Corrupt Island.

Enter the Dragon would become, Enter the No Fire Zone.

Austin Powers ‘Goldmember’ would become, Mervin Silva ‘Member of Parliament.’

David Copperfield would become, David Milliband.

The Three Musketeers would become, The Four Rajapaksas’.

Gangs of New York would become, Gota’s White Van Gangs.

The Greatest Story Ever Told would become, The Tallest Stories Ever Told. (Starring Keheliya Rambukwella & Brigadier Udaya Nanayakara.

Raging Bull would become, Raging BULLY. (Starring Mervin Silva)

The Mummy would become, The DUMMY. (Starring R. Duminda Silva)

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest would become, One Dropped Cluster Bombs on the NO FIRE ZONE.

No Retreat, No Surrender would become, No 13^th Amendment, No Devolution of Power.

The Great Train Robbery would become, The Great Helping Hambanthota Tsunami Aid Robbery.

The Killing Fields would become, The Killing Fields of the NO FIRE ZONE.

Rasputin the Mad Monk would become, Gnanasara the Mad Racist Monk.

The Guns of Navarone would become, The Guns of Nandikadaal.

Dirty Harry would become, Dirty Harry Jayawardene.

The Creature from the Black Lagoon would become, The Creature from the Diya wenna Oya. (Starring Mervin Silva)

A Fist Full of Dollars would become, A Fist Full of Chinese Yuan.

Invasion of the Body Snatchers would become, Invasion of the International Conspirators.

Conan the Barbarian would become, Gota the Vegetarian.

Born Free would become, Born in Manik Farm.

Missing in Action would become, Zero Casualties.

Kill Bill 2 would become, Kill Journalists.

ET would become, KP (starring Kevin Petersen).

Sri Lankan state, global powers and Tamil genocide

By  Jude Lal Fernando
  09 Feb 2014-Posted 20-Oct-2011 

Introduction

It is often stated that the 2002 Ceasefire Agreement (CFA) and the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) came into effect because of the international pressure that was exerted on the LTTE after 9/11.

But the facts prove otherwise. That is, fundamentally, the peace process was entered into, 2002 CFA/MOU was signed, not because of international pressure, but because of the balance of power between the two parties in conflict. Why do I say this?

Sri Lankan State, Global Powers and Tamil Genocide by nelvely

Comment: Renewed pressure on Sri Lanka over war crime allegations

There is growing international consensus regarding the need for an independent and international investigation of alleged war crimes during Sri Lanka's civil conflict, writes Mark Riboldi.

By 

Mark Riboldi-

8 FEB 2014

Next month the United Nations Human Rights Council will vote on a resolution on Sri Lanka. It relates to accusations of war crimes and crimes against humanity by both sides during the final stages of the island nation’s bitter civil conflict, and ongoing reports of systemic abuse of Tamils by the government since the end of the war in 2009.

Comment Renewed Pressure on Sri Lanka Over War Crime Allegations by nelvely

From R2P to RANP: Sri Lanka and ‘Responsibility After Not Protecting’

HENRIETTA BRISCOE, FEB 7 2014

The Responsibility to Protect (R2P) doctrine sets out a three-fold responsibility. First, states have a primary responsibility to protect their populations from genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing. Second, the international community has a responsibility to assist states so that they can fulfil their R2P. Third, if the state in question ‘manifestly fails’ to fulfil its R2P then the international community has a responsibility to act in a “timely and decisive manner” on a “case by case basis”.[1]  But what happens when both the host state and the international community fail to fulfil their obligations under the doctrine of R2P? I argue that the international responsibilities under R2P survive after mass atrocities have been committed and after a failure of prevention and protection. I argue that inherent to R2P is ‘RANP’ – Responsibility After Not Protecting – and I employ the example of Sri Lanka to demonstrate the value of this concept.

From R2P to RANP Sri Lanka and ‘Responsibility After Not Protecting’ by nelvely

Encountering ‘Death Counts’ in the Final 

Phase of the Eelam War 

War refugees (file photo)

by G. H. Peiris-February 7, 2014, 8:54 pm 
Continued from yesterday

3.4. Satellite Imagery Interpretation Method: Applications

There are several sets of satellite image-based estimates of the war zone population that are of relevance to the subject of the ‘Vanni civilian death toll’. The estimates so derived by the UN Country Team (referred to in p. 4, above) were: 36,378 in IDP Camps on 25 February, and 267,618 in the NFZ2 on 28 February. Again, based evidently on the same methodology, the UNOCHA placed the total population in the war zone (whether the total includes the combatants is not clear) on May 6, 2009 at approximately 70,000 to 80,000.

Encountering ‘Death Counts’ in the Final by nelvely

Why The EPDP Is In “Silent Mode” On War Crimes Resolution; A Reading From South

By Kusal Perera -February 8, 2014 

Kusal Perara

Almost all foreign reports for now on Northern Provincial Council (NPC) adopting the resolution it did on 27 January 2014 on war crimes and international investigations, said the resolution was unanimous. That says, the 38 member Council was not divided on the resolution, demanding an international investigation into possible crimes, or crimes alleged to have been committed during the last months of the war in Vanni. A very personal query made on the unanimity of the resolution, received the answer, there were loud reservations from some opposition Councillors, when TNA Councillor M.K. Sivajilingam moved the resolution. But, and this is important, with Chief Minister (CM) Wigneswaran amending the original resolution presented and removing mention of a “genocidal war”, the resolution was accepted by all. In fact what was told is that, there was no vote taken on it. Hence accepted as unanimous. So was another resolution, to build a war memorial for victims of the war.

Later, explaining and defending the resolution calling for an international inquiry into war crimes, CM Wigneswaran was quoted as having said, if “death” (not murder) can be the answer, then the case closes there. But when there is no such answer, families and relatives keep searching for the disappeared and the government has a responsibility to investigate such disappearances. That also brings the issue of what caused such disappearances. For the last four years the government has not been sincere in doing it. Therefore the people have a right to reach the international community as a last resort.

CM Wigneswaran does command respect and seems a “father figure” now in the NPC. It seems he can get the Councillors to follow him. Even the 08 opposition Councillors including the EPDP within the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) seem to follow the CM. Therefore, it also seems the NPC has now assumed political representation of the Northern Tamil people as a political entity, beyond that of an elected governing Council. Precisely for that reason, the resolution on war crimes investigations adopted by the NPC becomes heavier to lift than any other hard hitting resolution with even sharper words, adopted by any other group or organisation in any other part of the Tamil globe. Tamil people living in Sri Lanka show they are now gradually ascending a new political life with an elected body, where political divisions and priorities are being compromised and are evolving into one single voice.                                                   Read More

Buddhist monk, Sinhala squad appropriate lands along Batticaloa-Ampaa'rai border

[TamilNet, Friday, 07 February 2014, 21:35 GMT]
Under the cover of ‘preventing’ wild elephants from entering the residential areas of the border villages situated between Batticaloa and Ampaa'rai district, a group of Sinhalese are engaged in putting up a new fence with the hidden agenda of appropriating the lands of Eezham Tamils in Kachchatkodi Suvami-malai and Kevu'liya-madu villages of Paddippazhai division of Batticaloa district. A Sinhala name, Bambara-kanda, has been introduced to the Suvaami-malai hillock, according to the Tamil villagers who have an ancient Saiva temple there. 

A Sinhala squad from Ampaa'rai, putting up the new fence, is also trying to annex the ancient hillock Suvami-malai with Ampaa'rai district, the sources further said. 

Ven. Ambitiya Sumanaratna Thera, the chief incumbent Buddhist monk from Batticaloa Mangalarama Vihara, has been visiting the village asking for land permits from the Tamil villagers and guiding the Sinhala squad in appropriating the lands of Tamils. 

The squad has refused to listen to the village official (GS), the sources further said. 

The previous fence put up by the officials from Batticaloa district is located 3 km away from Kachchatkodi village, which comes under the Batticaloa district.

Attacks against Muslim community in Sri Lanka

Attacks against Muslim community in Sri Lanka

Saturday, February 8, 2014

The Secretariat for Muslims in collaboration with the Muslim Council of Sri Lanka has been documenting the harassment, intimidation and violence perpetuated by extremist groups against the Muslim community in Sri Lanka.

Attacks Against Muslim Community in Sri Lanka by nelvely

Opposition Slams Sri Lanka Government on Foreign Interference

By PTI -  07th February 2014 

The opposition today blamed the Sri Lankan government for leaving room for the world community to interfere in the country's internal matters over alleged rights violation duirng the war against Tamil Tiger rebels.

A senior leader of the United National Party (UNP) asked Foreign Minister GL Peiris in parliament if the slow nature of implementing the recommendations of Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) was the cause for global interference in Sri Lanka.

"We in the opposition do not want to see international interference in the country. Why cannot the LLRC recommendations be fully implemented?" UNP leader Sajith Premadasa asked.

He was referring to US plans to move a resolution against Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council in March.

Peiris, however, said international focus on Sri Lanka had nothing to do with the LLRC. "The interference is due to reasons completely different. We have implemented 85 per cent of the LLRC's recommendations," he said.

The recommendations will be implemented in "Sri Lanka's own ways" as foreign nations have very little understanding of the matter, Peiris said.

The LLRC appointed in 2010 was meant to learn lessons from the ethnic conflict to prevent a repetition. Sri Lanka has faced criticism for going slow in implementing its recommendations.

The new resolution at the UNHRC will build on two others passed in 2012 and 2013. The previous resolutions, backed by India, sought commitments from Sri Lanka on reconciliation and rights accountability.

Sri Lanka fears that the new resolution may call for an independent international probe into the alleged war crimes during the final phase of the military battle with the LTTE in 2009.