I Want My President To Be Honest, Articulate, And Smart

By Mohamed SR. Nisthar -February 26, 2014

Mohamed SR. Nisthar

There is an adage in Tamil, which goes “Arasan ev valiyoo kudihalum av valiyee”(meaning: whichever way the king heads towards, the subjects also go accordingly).  This has very much been the case before, during and after the 23rd CHOGM summit in our motherland, Sri Lanka.

Apart from ardent Tamil tiger supporters, almost all Sri Lankans are relieved that the military outfit was defeated to the level that they cannot regroup. But the question as to how quickly the government would create normalcy after a quarter century long bloodshed in the country and offer peace to indescribably affected Tamils in particular and others in general remained unanswered.  Days became weeks, weeks turned into months and now we are heading towards the last phase of the 5th full year since the notable event in May 2009.

The international community’s tacit approval given to the Sri Lankan government to have some time to enjoy their victory over the tigers seemed to have been interpreted wrongly by (the advisors of) the President and that prompted him enjoying the military victory indefinitely without realising that the international community is losing patience in waiting to see any meaningful measures or action plan in resolving the long burning issue of the ethnic question and also the President’s (government’s) accountability for the alleged war crimes and human right violations leading up to May 2009 and beyond respectively.

Regular elections have been conducted just to show the international community that Sri Lanka is not a country where the democratic process has no place. Once again it seems to be a misinterpretation of the (advisors of the) President that simply conducting elections, sometime before it is due, cannot mean to the international community, that a functioning democracy prevails in Sri Lanka in the right political sense.

The President, his government and the Sri Lankan diplomats all seem to have taken defensive positions whereas they have no solid defence as far as the allegation of war crimes and constant gross human rights violations against all minorities of the country are concerned. It’s evident from President to diplomats to Buddhists monks to politically innocent citizens of Sri Lanka, in the way media and foreign head of states, who are concerned about Sri Lanka’s human right record, are handled.                                                    Read More

The Arena of Written Questions in Parliament is Dominated by a few Gladiators

 Wednesday, 26 February 2014 

There are multiple mechanisms through which a parliamentarian can engage with the house, to take forward his responsibility as a representative of the people.  But some of those opportunities are dominated by only a very few.

Just 5 of the 225 MPs ask two-thirds of all the “written questions” in Parliament: Manthri.lk is an online platform that allows activities of MPs to be evaluated. According to its data, in the 16 months from 1 May 2012 to 31 August 2013, 952 written questions were asked in Parliament– which means about 60 questions a month and 7 to 8 questions on each sitting day of Parliament.

Of the total, 622 questions (two thirds!) – about 5 of the questions on each day – come from the same few “gladiator” MPs that are dominating the written questions arena in Parliament.

To explain another way, just 5 MPs (the “gladiators”) ask twice as many questions as all the other 220 MPs combined!

As shown in the figure, the five “gladiators” are all from the UNP. (Manthri.lk has previously analysed parliamentary petitions, where government MPs dominate).

The “gladiators” in order of “written questions” performance are: John Amaratunga, BuddhikaPathirana, Ravi Karunanayake, DayasiriJayasekera and Sajith Premadasa. (Jayasekera has now resigned his seat).
 
Purpose of the “Written Question” Method: The purpose of the mechanism of “written questions” is explained in section 29 (1) of the standing orders of Parliament:  “The proper object of a question is to obtain information on a matter of fact within the special cognizance of the Minister to whom it is addressed or to urge that action be taken.”

This comes under the section of “Public Business” in Parliament, where an MP, acting on behalf of the public is able to present a case, elicit information and urge action that is of interest to the public from the relevant government ministers and the bureaucracy.

The Weakness of “Written Question” Method: The weakness is in the process adopted by the standing orders. First, because thetime spent on written questions on any given dayis limited to just half an hour (even though in practice it is often an hour), not too many questions can be dealt with properly on a given day; second, because the questions are dealt with on a first-come, first-served basis (subject to a limit of three questions a day from a single MP), a few MPs can easily clog up the pipeline and dominate the system by filing a large number of questions at once.

These weaknesses maybe something that members of Parliament should seek to rectify by suitably amending the standing orders. But for now, the “gladiators” of the “written questions” arena have shown how the system can be used to maximum effect!

Eran demands DIG Colombo to produce Wanathamulla Sunil’s abductors or resign

(Lanka-e-News-26.Feb.2014, 9.30PM) The Leader of the Opposition Ranil Wickremesinghe along with Eran Wickramaratne MP visited the residents in Wanathamulla to witness Sunil swearing an affidavit in front of the lawyers regarding his abduction.

Eran Wickramaratne MP questioned as to why the DIG Colombo, Anura Senanayake could not produce the abductors of Mr Sunil who had been abducted over 10 days ago. If the DIG cannot produce the culprits, he called on the DIG to resign before he is removed by the President. 

The residents of Wanathamulla complained that they were treated in high handed manner with little or no respect and dignity.

Eran Wickraratne requested the Government to provide housing units not less than 750 sq.ft. to these residents as they could not accommodate their families in smaller units. He said that the present units built were more like prisons than houses. He also appealed that the down payment of Rs. 100,000/- was a burden on low income families and it be reduced, permitting them to make payment over 20 years. When valuable houses were being demolished it was necessary to pay compensation. 

TWO PARLIAMENT STAFF MEMBERS ARRESTED OVER FINANCIAL FRAUD

February 26, 2014 
Two staff members of the parliament were arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department in connection with financial fraud.

The two suspects allegedly stole money from the staff thrift society fund and were arrested following information received by the CID, the police stated.

The two allegedly stole Rs.6.5 million and Rs.4.5 million respectively from the fund.

Meanwhile, police claimed that the Treasurer of the Thrift Society was also involved in the fraud and was currently overseas.

The two arrested suspects were presented before Courts and were ordered to be kept in remand until March 7. The CID will conduct further investigations regarding the fraud.

RESIDENTS FIGHT BACK AGAINST ILLICIT ALCOHOL RACKET...

February 25, 2014 
Two staff members of the parliament were arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department in connection with financial fraud.

The two suspects allegedly stole money from the staff thrift society fund and were arrested following information received by the CID, the police stated.

The two allegedly stole Rs.6.5 million and Rs.4.5 million respectively from the fund.

Meanwhile, police claimed that the Treasurer of the Thrift Society was also involved in the fraud and was currently overseas.

The two arrested suspects were presented before Courts and were ordered to be kept in remand until March 7. The CID will conduct further investigations regarding the fraud.

Children in a whirlpool of despair

Editorial-February 25, 2014

Most Sri Lankans seem to have a death wish, which is evident in the way they drive, ride, cross roads, gobble up heaps of junk food and chugalug drinks injurious to health. It may be their obsession with death that has sent Sri Lanka’s suicide rate through the roof.

The last few weeks have seen several tragic incidents where students took their lives, the latest being a teenage girl’s self-immolation on Tuesday. The media stands accused of ‘promoting suicide’ in that wide publicity such incidents receive acts as a spur to suicide, according to experts. UPFA MP Dr. (Mrs) Sudharshani Fernandopulle has faulted the media for sensationalising suicide and thereby contributing to a copycat phenomenon. Police Spokesman SSP Ajith Rohana has also lambasted the media for ‘romanticising suicide’. Yes, there is nothing romantic or heroic about suicide. The journalistic fraternity should take their views on board.

Two of the recent incidents of suicide had to do with Facebook and, therefore, it is being argued in some quarters that the so-called social utility connecting people should be blocked in this country like in China and North Korea. The government, too, has conveniently passed the blame on to Facebook and sought to find a political solution to a vexed psychosocial problem.

Given half a chance the government will plunge feet first into imposing a blanket ban on social media networks as they have been manipulated by western government to engineer social upheavals and regime changes in some parts of the world. However, it should be granted that the abuse of Facebook has taken a heavy toll on society and something needs to be done about it. But, the question is whether haphazard bans will yield the desired results. If banning as a solution is ever adopted, where will it end? Won’t we have to prohibit the Internet and mobile phones as well because they, too, are abused and have become tools in the hands of anti-social elements preying on children?

In this country, mental health and dental health are neglected. We keep pointing out in these columns that the number of psychiatrists we have is woefully inadequate—about 50 to cater to a population of over 20 million. Most schools are without trained counsellors to help children with mental problems. Given the heavy burden our education system has placed on children, it is a miracle that they remain sane!

If the Facebook related issue that led to a schoolgirl’s suicide in Kurunegala recently had been tactfully handled with the help of a competent counsellor disaster could have been averted. She obviously needed help. It is only natural that youngsters who hurtle down a spiral of despondency without anyone to turn to mistakenly seek solace in suicide. Children have plunged from the upper floors of school buildings and hanged themselves in school toilets, but precious little has been done to prevent suicide among children. There has been only endless talk; everybody gets excited only when a spike occurs in the suicide rate.

Increasing incidence of suicide among children, we believe, cannot be blamed on one or two factors such as the abuse of Facebook or the ubiquitous mobile phone. It is multi-factorial and the tackling of it requires a multi-sectoral and multi-pronged strategy devised with the help of experts drawn from various fields. A parliamentary select committee is called for if a lawmaker ever so much as complains of, to put it euphemistically, stomach rumbling. But, there has been no such urgency on the part of legislators over the serious issue of suicide among children. Dr. Fernandopulle, an experienced physician and mother, ought to impress on the government the need for swinging into action without trying to absolve itself of the responsibility for the sad state of affairs.

What is urgently needed is psychological help for children who need to be prepared to face various challenges in life without taking their lives besides identifying dangers and avoiding them in cyber space as well as in the real world.

INDIA: Law is no exception to god-men or god-women

February 26, 2014

In India, another controversy has erupted concerning yet another spiritual guru. The exception however is, this time, it is a god-woman from the southern state of Kerala. Otherwise, the script is an oft-repeated one.

The emergence of a person claiming spiritual and god given powers from a remote hamlet in the country to national and international prominence over a period of time; an estranged early disciple breaking off from the sect; and authoring a memoir throwing light into the otherwise unknown inside aspects of the guru as well as the guru's inner circle, alleging crimes of varying nature including sexual violence and financial misappropriation; and the government going out of the way, beyond the mandates of law, to protect the cult and the persons leading it.

Many countries in the world have had their share of gurus and spirituality driven movements, most of them later exposed as mere spinoffs, led by fraudsters. Perhaps in this list, India stands remarkably high up.

India is home to controversial persons like, Mr. Sathyanarayana Raju, who was alleged of crimes including being a paedophile; or before him, Mr. Chandra Mohan Jain, who was accused of masterminding a bio-terror attack - the first confirmed instance of bio-terrorism in the United States, and their modern day counterparts like, Mr. Asumal Thaumal Harpalani, notorious for rape charges and absconding. The country is fertile ground for such money swindlers and racketeers.

Common to all of them, is that they could with relative ease get away with their crimes, organise for investigations to be stalled, and prevent prosecutions. They all exhibit the same skill in dodging the criminal justice process in India. They all enjoyed in showcasing their high-profile political clout, that none dared to question them or their cult or its activities. All of them have spoken in international forums, some at the United Nations or are referred to as exemplary examples of humanitarian activists, like Satyanarayana Raju, who was repeatedly appreciated by the UN for his water supply programmes, while his otherwise unknown side of life was involved in deep criminality.

The book authored by Ms. Gail Tredwell, alleges that she was raped repeatedly by one of the leading personalities in the cult led by a god woman from Kerala that she once followed, and further that the woman she believed to be her spiritual guru was in fact also engaged in criminal activities. Once the book hit the stands, public opinions, for and against the book and the cult movement followed, just as it is expected in any healthy democracy.

However, what is appalling is the fact that the state government going out of the way to silence public opinion against the cult. Worse, the Home Minister of Kerala underlined his government's subjugation to the cult, by declaring that the government would not take any criminal actions against the cult and its leadership. The Chief Minister has said that before one criticises the cult, one should remember the good deeds that it has done so far. If this logic is to be agreed as a legal standard, one of the first persons against whom there is a serious criminal charge pending, who should be exonerated is, Mr. Tarun J. Tejpal. Under the leadership of Tejpal, the organisation that he led, Tehelka, has exposed a large number of instances of political corruption and mal-governance in India.

Tredwell in her book has alleged, among other things against the cult that she once followed, crimes of serious nature. Some of them have direct and possible consequences that could endanger the security of the nation. Some of these crimes are of such gravity that the statute of limitation does not apply to them.

The government has the fundamental duty to investigate these allegations. Ministers who act against the constitutional mandate that they are bound to uphold and have sworn allegiance to before assuming office, that is to uphold the rule of law, must be prosecuted for breaching their constitutional promise.

Such statements will demoralise the state police. State opposition to a legal obligation to investigate promptly an allegation of crime only underlines the culpability of the government in promoting criminality.

Once a crime is committed, however small it might be, any amount of good deeds performed later does not have the capacity to exonerate the criminal. The power to acquit and convict a person is with the judiciary in India. Or, are there two sets of laws in India, one for the ordinary citizen and another for the god-men and god-women?

THE HUMAN RIGHTS THAT DICTATORS LOVE

• BY PEDRO PIZANO-FEBRUARY 26, 2014

Watch out. Kobe Bryant may be violating your human rights.
Farida Shaheed, the U.N. special rapporteur on cultural rights, recently announced that she’s launching a new study aimed at addressing “whether advertising and marketing practices affect cultural diversity and the right of people to choose their way of life.” Theannouncement bears a photo of a larger-than-life U.S. basketball advertisement (featuring star player Kobe Bryant) looming over a Chinese playground.

The Human Rights That Dictators Love by nelvely

Hyde Park bomb ruling: NI first minister threatens to quit

WEDNESDAY 26 FEBRUARY 2014

Aid is distributed at the Yarmouk camp in Damascus, where the UN says people have been reduced to eating animal feed. Since the photograph was taken, aid has ceased to be delivered because of security concerns

John Downey, a former IRA member, was accused of killing four soldiers in Hyde Park in London in 1982.

Hyde Park Bomb Ruling NI First Minister Threatens to Quit by nelvely

Russian army on alert, amid clashes in Crimea

WEDNESDAY 26 FEBRUARY 2014
Pro-Russia separatists and supporters of Ukraine's new leaders clash outside Crimea's regional parliament, as President Vladimir Putin puts troops in western Russia on alert.

Russian Army on Alert, Amid Clashes in Crimea by nelvely

Scale of suffering at Syrian refugee camp is revealed by photo of huge queue for food

Wednesday 26 February 2014

Aid is distributed at the Yarmouk camp in Damascus, where the UN says people have been reduced to eating animal feed. Since the photograph was taken, aid has ceased to be delivered because of security concerns

It is a scene of unimaginable desolation – a crowd of men, women and children stretching as far as the eye can see into the war-devastated landscape of Yarmouk refugee camp in Syria. This was the queue for aid at a UNRWA distribution point in the capital, Damascus, on 31 January. The UN relief agency has distributed more than 7,000 food parcels in the Palestinian camp, home to about 160,000 people, since 18 January. The UN has reported infant malnutrition in the community, which has been reduced to eating animal feed. As of this week, all aid distributions have been suspended because of security concerns. Chris Gunness, a spokesperson, said UNRWA had received assurances that a deal allowing humanitarian access to Yarmouk would be implemented as soon as possible. He said: “They have suffered enough.”

Photographer: UNRWA/AP

Syrian children suffer, adapt to war

Dr. Wisam Budleh helps Saddam with his exercises at the Syrian Medical Center in Reyhanli near the Turkish border, Feb. 24, 2014. (photo by Brenda Stoter)
Brenda Stoter-February 25, 2014

REYHANLI, Turkey — Three weeks ago, 15-year-old Mohammed was a normal, healthy boy. Although he lived in a war-torn country, he played with his friends and bought groceries for his mother whenever she asked. One day, he went to the bakery to get some bread for dinner later that night. Suddenly, he heard a big blast, fell to the ground and lost consciousness.

“When I tried to get up a few minutes later, I couldn’t. My leg was crushed," he told Al-Monitor.

. Scale of suffering at Syrian refugee camp is revealed by photo of huge queue for food by nelvely

Forget the Internet - soon there will be the OUTERNET: Company plans to beam free Wi-fi to every person on Earth from space

• An ambitious project known as Outernet is aiming to launch hundreds of miniature satellites into low Earth orbit by June 2015
• 
  
• Each satellite will broadcast the Internet to phones and computers giving billions of people across the globe free online access
• 
  
• Citizens of countries like China and North Korea that have censored online activity could be given free and unrestricted cyberspace
• 
  
• 'There's really nothing that is technically impossible to this'

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

PUBLISHED: 14:24 GMT, 5 February 2014 | UPDATED: 14:49 GMT, 5 February 2014

You might think you have to pay through the nose at the moment to access the Internet.

But one ambitious organisation called the Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF) is planning to turn the age of online computing on its head by giving free web access to every person on Earth.

Known as Outernet, MDIF plans to launch hundreds of satellites into orbit by 2015.

And they say the project could provide unrestricted Internet access to countries where their web access is censored, including China and North Korea.

The New York company plans to ask NASA to test their Outernet technology on the International Space Station (left) so that they can begin broadcasting Wi-Fi to web users around the world (right)

Using something known as datacasting technology, which involves sending data over wide radio waves, the New York-based company says they'll be able to broadcast the Internet around the world.

The group is hoping to raise tens of millions of dollars in donations to get the project on the road.

The Outernet team claim that only 60% of the world's population currently have access to the wealth of knowledge that can be found on the Internet.

This is because, despite a wide spread of Wi-FI devices across the globe, many countries are unable or unwilling to provide people with the infrastructure needed to access the web.

The Outernet project is aiming to raise tens of millions of dollars to launch hundreds of miniature satellites known as cubesats to make their dream a reality

The company's plan is to launch hundreds of low-cost miniature satellites, known as cubesats, into low Earth orbit.

Here, each satellite will receive data from a network of ground stations across the globe.

Using a technique known as User Datagram Protocol (UDP) multitasking, which is the sharing of data between users on a network, Outernet will beam information to users.

Much like how you receive a signal on your television and flick through channels, Outernet will broadcast the Internet to you and allow you to flick through certain websites.

THE OUTERNET PROJECT TIMELINE

By June of this year the Outernet project aims to begin deploying prototype satellites to test their technology

In September 2014 they will make a request to NASA to test their technology on the International Space Station

By early 2015 they intend to begin manufacturing and launching their satellites

And in June 2015 the company says they will begin broadcasting the Outernet from space

'We have a very solid understand of the costs involved, as well as experience working on numerous spacecraft,' said Project Lead of Outernet Syed Karim, who fielded some questions on Reddit.

'There isn't a lot of raw research that is being done here; much of what is being described has already been proven by other small satellite programs and experiments.

There's really nothing that is technically impossible to this'

But at the prospect of telecoms operators trying to shut the project down before it gets off the ground, Karim said: 'We will fight... and win.'

If everything goes to plan, the Outernet project aims to ask NASA for permission to test the technology on the International Space Station.

And their ultimate goal will be to beginning deploying the Outernet satellites into Earth orbit, which they say can begin in June 2015.

Sri Lanka: UN report must be call to action on international war crimes investigation

24 February 2014
The international community must act on a robust new UN report calling for an international investigation into alleged human rights violations and war crimes in Sri Lanka, Amnesty International said.

“It’s utterly shameful that five years after Sri Lanka’s armed conflict ended, the victims and family members have yet to see justice. Navi Pillay’s latest report is another urgent and poignant reminder that an international investigation into alleged human rights violations and war crimes cannot wait,” said Polly Truscott, Amnesty International’s Deputy Asia-Pacific Director.

“Sri Lanka has so far done all it can to throw sand in the eyes of the international community and to block attempts to bring genuine accountability for past human rights violations.

“This report has to be an eye-opener, and we urge the UN Human Rights Council in March to pass a strong resolution establishing international investigation.”

“Navi Pillay’s findings echo our own. We are still receiving new eyewitness accounts and other allegations of gruesome violations by both government forces and the Tamil Tigers during the armed conflict.”

Navi Pillay, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, today published her review of the government’s efforts to investigate human rights violations during and after the Sri Lankan armed conflict, which ended in 2009, concluding that its consistent failure to establish the truth and achieve justice is fundamentally a question of political will.  

Pillay also highlighted the overwhelming sense of grief and trauma among victims and survivors that, if left unaddressed, will continue to undermine confidence in the State and reconciliation. 

The full report can be found at:http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/RegularSessions/Session25/Documents/A-HRC-25-23_AEV.doc

A-HRC-25-23_AEV (1) by nelvely

A-HRC-25-23_AEV (2) by nelvely

TNA Welcomes Navi Pillay’s Report On Sri Lanka

February 25, 2014

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) welcomes the Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on promoting reconciliation and accountability in Sri Lanka to the 25th session of the Human Rights Council. The High Commissioner’s report contains a comprehensive and accurate depiction of the serious human rights issues facing Sri Lanka. The Report has benefited from the High Commissioner’s visit to Sri Lanka, where she was able to observe first-hand the issues of concern to victims and survivors in the Northern and Eastern Provinces.

The High Commissioner has raised a number of serious concerns in her Report which also pertain to the entire country: the treatment of former combatants and detainees; attacks on religious minorities; the attack on dissent and the freedom of expression; the government’s dismal record in implementing LLRC recommendations; and the government’s disinterest in making progress on accountability. The TNA is particularly concerned over the impact of the high levels of militarization on the security of women in the Northern and Eastern Provinces. There are mounting and credible reports of systematic patterns of sexual harassment and violence in highly militarized areas, and we ask that the Human Rights Council take cognizance of this reality in its deliberations on Sri Lanka.

We also take serious note of the High Commissioner’s observations on the impermissibility of amnesty provisions in respect of international crimes and gross violations of human rights. We observe that the Secretary General’s Panel of Experts on Accountability in Sri Lanka made similar observations, and that the Government of Sri Lanka’s own written submissions to the Panel of Experts viewed amnesty provisions as inappropriate for the reason that they “intrinsically encourage a culture of impunity”. The TNA has and continues to articulate victims’ demands for truth, justice, just resolution of land issues reparations and guarantees of non-recurrence; the undesirability of blanket amnesty provisions; and the need to give effect to the duty to prosecute international crimes and gross human rights abuses.

The TNA also unequivocally supports the High Commissioner’s recommendation that the Human Rights Council establish an international inquiry mechanism to further investigate alleged violations of international humanitarian and human rights laws, in addition to monitoring any domestic processes for accountability initiated by the Government of Sri Lanka. We believe that such a mechanism is necessary in the light of the government’s unwillingness to take steps towards accountability.

We also note that the Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution, which we have consistently opposed, vests in the President virtually exclusive powers over key public appointments. Thus the deep politicization of civil institutions, together with the widely acknowledged erosion of judicial independence, seriously undermines any prospects of a credible domestic process for accountability.

We are mindful of the important need for all communities in Sri Lanka to reckon with the past in a spirit of reconciliation. We sincerely believe that an international Commission of Inquiry into allegations against both sides will provide our communities the space and environment to come to terms with crimes committed in our respective names. The TNA remains committed to leading the Tamil people through a painful process of introspection, and encourages the government to use the opportunity of an international inquiry to break with the past and meaningfully pursue reconciliation.

*Statement by TNA

The Human Rights Council and the need for an international investigation

25/02/2014

We are launching a petition calling on the Human Rights Council to mandate an international investigation in Sri Lanka, as well as a specific version of that petition tailored to the UK asking David Cameron to keep the promises he made to that effect at the time of the Commonwealth Summit.

The UN Human Rights Council

We have run petitions like this one before, last year we closed a petition that received over 15,000 signatures from 66 different countries. So what makes this one different? Well the timing, and the target, both of which mean that we feel that this is our best ever chance to get a meaningful investigation.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has just released her report on Sri Lanka. It fairly neatly summarises itself in its second paragraph:

"The Government has not responded to the offers of technical assistance made by the High Commissioner and the special procedures. Meanwhile, new evidence continues to emerge on the events that took place in the final stages of the armed conflict. Against this background, the High Commissioner recommends the establishment of an independent, international inquiry mechanism, which would contribute to establishing the truth where domestic inquiry mechanisms have failed."

Coupled with this is the stated objective of the United States to bring a resolution before this next Human Rights Council, thepromise by the British Prime Minister that he too would push for an international investigation if there is not any progress by March (it is three days until March and there hasn't been), and the Indian General Election meaning that India will be under increased scrutiny for its actions. All these things mean that there is renewed hope for an international investigation in Sri Lanka.

And an international investigation is still what is needed. The biggest issue Sri Lanka faces is a systemic lack of respect for the rights of its citizens, particularly - but not exclusively - its minority citizens. This is rooted in a culture of impunity which is in turn rooted in a failure to hold to account those, on both sides, who committed some of the worst atrocities this century. Only an independent international investigation of these atrocities will end this culture of impunity and give Sri Lanka a chance to climb out of its cycle of violence towards a lasting peace.

So how will this happen? Well the UN Human Rights Council will meet next Monday and sit for a month. During that time any member can propose a resolution and at the end any resolution with majority support will be implemented. So what is needed now is for a nation to be bold enough to propose a resolution calling for an independent international investigation in Sri Lanka (ideally in the form of a Commission of Inquiry - the most effective mechanism for such an inquiry) and for members to then back it. That is what our petition will call for.

Our actions have been very successful in the past in helping keep pressure on the Human Rights Council, and letting the diplomats know that the world is watching, and that their actions must be about the wishes of the victims of this tragedy and not about grubby back room deals. Please add your voice to the petition, and tell your friends. Together we will make sure the victims have a voice at the Council.