'Great concern' as Ruki Fernando and Father Praveen Mahesan are held on suspicion of inciting racial or religious hatred
Tamil pro-government activists outside the UN offices in Colombo protest against a proposed US-led UN resolution to investigate Sri Lanka for alleged war crimes. Photograph: Lakruwan Wanniarachchi/AFP/Getty
Two of Sri Lanka's most prominent rights activists have been detained under anti-terrorism legislation which allows them to be held for up to 18 months without trial and can lead to prison sentences of up to 20 years.
A special police team has recovered a stock of arms allegedly belonging to former DIG Vass Gunawardena now in remand custody in connection with the murder of millionaire businessman Mohamed Shiyam.
The arms cache was unearthed from a livestock farm in the Weliveriya area. The items recovered included five T-56 assault rifles, two RPGs, grenades, ammunition and pistols, according to the police.
The police unearthed the arms cache, acting on information elicited from an Inspector, who had worked as a personal assistant to the suspect DIG under interrogation.
The police have reported the findings to the High Court No 05 at Hulftsdorp.
DIG Gunawardena, his son and several policemen have been accused of abducting and killing millionaire businessman M. M. Mohamed Shiyam, a father of three residing at Sagara Road, in Bambalapiyiya.
The victim was abducted on May 22, 2013 and his body was found in the Dompe area.
Moribund Rajapakse regime facing imminent defeat in desperation descends to terrorism: robs polling cards (Lanka-e-News-18.March.2014, 5.30PM) As the ruling regime’s defeat at elections is becoming increasingly certain and all signs are pointing towards that , so is its desperation . A most alarming incident took place at Akuressa based on reports , where the ballot paper with symbols were wrested forcibly by individuals after brandishing weapons further confirming that the regime is hell bent to deprive the sovereign rights of the people most violently and blatantly.
It were the ballot papers numbering 144 that were to be distributed by the Akuressa Vilpita post office that were so robbed.
The ballot papers that were taken for distribution at Galgawadeniya village which can be entered from near the Nilwala academy situated at Kamburupitiya road, Akuressa were robbed this way. Two persons who came on a motorbike with helmets that cover their faces have robbed the ballot papers after brandishing weapons and intimidating the postman who was going to distribute them . These kinds of crimes of robbing ballot papers were committed by armed groups when terrorism was raging in the country. But now the war is over and such terrorist armed groups are non existent. Hence , if such crimes are committed now, it has to be only by the government backed armed groups and terrorists spawned by it . They are openly intimidating by brandishing weapons and committing these crimes with impunity therefore. The ballot papers too are being robbed by these groups.
May we recall , when protests were lodged against the notorious criminal defense secretary Gotabaya of the ruling regime of Sri Lanka for brazenly and high handedly violating election laws , he exclaimed in public with absolute impunity and the stubbornness of underworld leaders , ‘yes , I shall violate election laws’. Not enough the violation of election laws by the candidate he was promoting , the criminal defense secretary too did not care two hoots for the country . This demonstrates to what extent lawlessness is enthroned in the country , and rule of law is dethroned.
Tuesday 18th March 2014 An analyst has commented after reviewing the People’s Republic of China’s recent economic and political incursions into the continent of Africa that “Africa is China’s honey pot. Where else would China find political leaders so easy to buy!?” China has over the last 10 years carried out a sustained political and investment push into Africa. Visits have been made at the highest political level to several leading African countries; loans, grants and investments have been made in logistics and natural resources; and thousands of Chinese citizens have migrated to work, to carry on business and trade in African countries. There has also been, at the same time, large numbers of Africans visiting China on Chinese Government scholarships to study, as well African traders visiting China to resource products to export to Africa.
March 18, 2014
The State sponsored Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) threatened to slice Minister Rahuf Hakeem to pieces in response to his statement that the Buddhist extremists group has been given powers that is even above the police in the country. Justice Minister Hakeem speaking at an election rally a few days ago demanded to know who is backing the so called “Bala Senawa” that has threatened to take police powers to itself in order to curtail the liberties of the Muslim community. “It is after 2012 when this Bala Senawa was allowed to carry out their campaign that the troubles for the Muslims started. I ask you who is behind this Bala Senawa. It is after they started their hate campaign that Sri Lanka is facing international scrutiny” Hakeem said. “When I talk of these things as the Justice Minister it hurts some people” he added.
Gnanasara
Galagoda Atte Gnanasara, the leader of the BBS responded to Minister Hakeem at a press conference yesterday. “Patta Pathuru Gahanawa me parayawa” said Gnanasara roughly translating to “(we) will slice this bas..rd to absolute pieces.” The BBS is a state sponsored organization which along with the Ravana Balakaya (Ravana’s Brigade) have been mostly responsible for the attacks against minorities. These two organizations have carried out numerous attacks onchurches and mosques. Its activists were at the forefront of demanding a ban on Halal certification on food items and on several occasions attempted to de-robe Muslim women dressed in the traditional Burka and Abhaya. Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Gotabya Rajapaksa opened a centre in Galle built by the BBS that was claimed to train youth “for the protection of Buddhism.”
Justice Minister Hakeem has been receiving slack from President Mahinda Raajapaksa and his Sinhala extremists allies within the government for allegedly providing a list to UN High Commissioner on Human Rights, Navi Pillai, detailing the attacks by government backed groups such as the BBS
Borella OIC who shot his wife and arrested protesters dies a cursed death despite protection from ‘curse of the shawls’ (Lanka-e-News-17.March.2014, 11.30PM) The OIC of the Borella police Prasad Siriwardena the notorious brutal officer who broke into a protest demonstration staged on yesterday(16) by the residents demanding the withdrawal of an Industry from the venue where it was run at Thunnana , Hanwella, tear gassed and arrested the peaceful protestors had been struck by the inescapable retribution with full venom and viciousness even worse than that of lightning ! He had met with death in the most cruel way – he had died by being crushed under a tree that was being cut and put across the road by the protestors .
Following the accident the OIC who was injured in the spine and stomach was admitted to the Avissawella hospital. After he was operated on twice there , and was about to be brought to Colombo by helicopter , he had died.
The police who arrived when demonstrations continued from yesterday dawn had arrested a group of 20 peaceful demonstrators recklessly when the villagers had got provoked. The police had then tear gassed them and used the water hose when the people had tried to cut a huge rubber tree to put across the road .The ruthless notorious OIC who went into that midst to avert that action had been struck by the curse – he was crushed down by the tree. Another 6 police officers too had been injured , and were admitted to the hospital.
These villagers had staged the protests in the same way as at Rathupaswela on the ground that their drinking water is being contaminated by the Industry.. It is a most perplexing question, why this cursed brutal police OIC of Borella station go all the way to Hanwella to stifle a peaceful protest ? Why were officers who know nothing about controlling riots sent ? When Lanka e news inquired into these issues , it was learnt that this group had been sent by the infamous and notorious senior DIG Anura Senanayake , a stooge and lickspittle of the regime , even without the knowledge of the IGP.
Two anti riot squads from the police headquarters on the orders of the IGP were also dispatched to Hanwella along with two water bowzers . 57 police constables were among them. Despite this IGP’s order , on Gotabaya’s instructions , the infamous Anura Senanayake had dispatched five police OICs and 150 policemen in buses who knew nothing about anti riot operations .
The police of the division who held discussions with the protestors had reached a peaceful settlement earlier on. But it is when the police groups that came from Colombo started arresting the peaceful protestors the situation had turned for the worse , and violent.
Prasad Siriwardena and Anura Senanayake who went from Colombo who stoops to do any sordid biddings of Gotabaya including committing murder and creating mayhem among peaceful protestors had by following unnecessary instructions triggered the explosive situation which was otherwise peaceful.
While the curse of the red shawl is plunging the country into grave chaos and crises , Siriwardena on the other hand trying to dance to the tune of that curse of the satanic brothers had incurred the divine wrath with timely retribution too visiting upon him when he was harassing the peaceful protestors who were making justifiable demands.
It is a well and widely known fact that Prasad Siriwardena was a shameless sycophantic murderous stooge . His cruel and brutal nature became well known when he shot his own wife with the official pistol, and left her to die after she was injured in the leg. It was other police officers who came to her rescue and admitted her to a private hospital , and saved her life. Law was not enforced against him because the ‘curse of the shawl’ protected the cursed Siriwardena until the divine curse struck him well and truly yesterday .
Another media in Sri Lanka disclosed that he has two passports under two names .Yet he continued to carry on his official duties criminally and regardless.
MONDAY17 MARCH 2014
A Boeing 777 has seemingly disappeared, along with the 239 people on board. But is Malaysia Airlines more risky? And is it safe to fly at all?
How safe is flying?
It is every nervous flyer's worst nightmare: a flight gone AWOL with no explanation, and no way of contacting those on board.
Crimea has, at Sunday’s referendum, overwhelmingly endorsed secession from Ukraine and joining Russia. Its verdict has come as no surprise. A vast majority of people in that part of Ukraine are of Russian descent. The knee-jerk reaction of the US has been to reject the outcome of the referendum and threaten sanctions against Russia. Russia could not have been unaware of the consequences of its action and is not likely to buckle under pressure.
Flaying the US and its allies for their hypocrisy, Russia has argued that they had no qualms about accepting Kosovo’s UDI and, therefore, have no moral right to reject the verdict of the people of Crimea. These countries have also effected regime changes in countries like Egypt and Libya to install puppet governments willing to be at their beck and call, to safeguard their interests. Besides, in 2009, it may be recalled, UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown justified the British military campaign in Afghanistan, by claiming that it was a ‘patriotic duty’ to keep the streets of Britain safe from the threat of terrorist attacks. India once went so far as to induct troops in this country to protect its own interests on some flimsy pretext. Whatever the UN Charter may say, this is how powerful countries protect their interests; in dealing with small, weak nations, they always go by the axiom that might is right.
Russia is busy working towards the breakaway of Crimea to protect its national security interests; it needs the Crimean peninsula to be under its sway because of its Black Sea Fleet, among other things, the way the US is keeping Bahrain under its thumb for its Fifth Fleet to operate out of the region and maintain the US Navy’s Middle East presence. Unlike Bahrain, Crimea is in Russia’s backyard. The gravitation of Ukraine towards the European Union has also been a worrisome proposition for Russia, which is being systematically encircled by its enemies. Energy is another issue that has brought Russia and Ukraine on a collision course. Unfortunately, Ukraine failed to defy the EU pull and remain neutral; it became a pawn in a power game.
Interestingly, on Saturday, the US mustered the support of 13 members of the Security Council for a draft resolution against Crimea’s verdict being internationally recognised. Russia exercised its veto while China abstained. It is doubtful whether other permanent members of the Security Council would have acted in a different manner if their interests had been threatened. It was only the other day that the US, which came under heavy fire at the UN Human Rights Committee—not Council—tried to justify, inter alia, its deadly drone attacks responsible for killing many more civilians than terrorists, by claiming that they were consistent with international laws!
Breaking up states according to the whims and fancies of powerful countries is a dangerous practice which has to end. However, let the critics of Russia be asked to put their own house in order before condemning others. As for the Ukrainian crisis we see sinners hurling stones at one another!
The UN is too impotent to be a countervailing force against big powers as is common knowledge; it cowers before powerful nations which act with absolute impunity adopting as they do double standards while pontificating to others about the virtues of accountability, justice and fair play.
Today, we report that, according to a scientific study funded by NASA, modern civilisation is heading for collapse within a matter of decades owing to increasing economic instability and pressure on the planet’s resources. This doomsday prophecy is not to be taken lightly, given the alarming rate at which the world’s nonrenewable resources are being overexploited. Ominous signs of an impending disaster are already visible.
But, before a shortage of resources wreaks havoc on the world, civilization is likely to come to an end because of the dangerous games that world powers are playing to further their interests at the expense of global peace.
In any analysis of Venezuelan politics, it is prudent not to underestimate the vast shadow that former President Hugo Chavez casts over his country, writes Thom Walker.
Army clears Caracas of demonstrators protesting against crime, food shortages and presence of Cuban advisers in government
National Guard troops advance on anti-government protesters during clashes with police at Plaza Altamira in Caracas on Sunday. Photograph: Jorge Silva/Reuters
National Guard soldiers fired teargas and turned water cannons on hundreds of demonstrators who hurled rocks and petrol bombs before abandoning Plaza Altamira, in affluent east Caracas, which has been the scene of daily clashes.
Soldiers rode into the square on motorbikes and rounded up about a dozen demonstrators, witnesses said. One protester flashed a "V" for victory as he was driven away while another shouted for help. The troops then began demolishing protesters' barricades, apparently carrying out Maduro's vow to retake the square.
"We are going to carry on liberating spaces taken by the protesters," the 51-year-old successor to late leader Hugo Chávez said in a speech at a pro-government rally in Caracas on Sunday.
Militant opposition leaders and students have been urging Venezuelans on to the streets to protest against issues ranging from crime and shortages of goods to the presence of Cuban advisers in Venezuela's army and other state institutions.
Demonstrators face off with members of the Venezuelan National Guard during a protest against Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro in Caracas. Photograph: Miguel Gutierrez/EPA
Earlier on Sunday, thousands marched towards the Carlota military airbase in the latest demonstration against the socialist government. The protests began in early February.
"I spend five or six hours in a queue just to buy two packets of flour or two bottles of cooking oil," said pensioner Pedro Perez, 64, who took part in the opposition rally. "Also, I'm protesting over insecurity and the lies this government tells Venezuelans, bringing Cuban soldiers here … This is an ungovernable country, we can't carry on like this."
In another day of rallies around the country, thousands of government supporters marched peacefully in Caracas to praise the government's food welfare policies. "We are going to strengthen the brotherhood between the Venezuelan and Cuban peoples," Maduro told the rally in response to the opposition march's anti-Cuba slogans.
Venezuela supplies more than 100,000 barrels a day of oil to Cuba, for which it is partly paid by the presence of more than 30,000 medics, sports trainers and others from the Communist-ruled Caribbean island.
Outside Caracas, opposition party Popular Will said members of the armed forces had beaten several politicians who were trying to visit imprisoned protest leader Leopoldo Lopez at the Ramo Verde jail about an hour from the capital. Lopez, who heads the Popular Will party, was arrested last month on charges of fomenting violence.
In a handwritten interview with pro-opposition newspaper El Universal, Lopez, 42, said he had developed a strict regime of exercise, studies and writing from his prison cell. "I try to be disciplined because I'm aware that in jail, the main tools of my struggle are my mind and spirit," he said.
Despite the turbulence in Caracas and other cities around Venezuela, Maduro seems in little danger of being toppled by a "Venezuelan spring".
The armed forces seem firmly behind him, the numbers of protesters are far fewer than a wave of demonstrations against Chávez a decade ago, and opposition leaders are divided over the wisdom of street tactics.
However, Maduro has come under pressure from foreign governments and rights groups over excessive use of force from his security forces. Twenty-one officers have been arrested over allegations of brutality.
A prominent local pollster and analyst, Luis Vicente León, said on Sunday that both the government and the opposition's approval ratings had suffered from the recent troubles. "Many people have asked, 'who's winning'? My answer is, 'no one'," León wrote in a local newspaper, saying the social and economic crisis had hit Maduro's popularity while the opposition's credibility was also suffering.
León referred to data that he said proved that, but did not give numbers. Most pollsters are preferring to keep findings private at the moment due to the tense political situation.
As US scientists confirm they have new evidence of what happened just after the Big Bang as well as how it has shaped the universe since, what are the other game-changing scientific breakthroughs?
Will 4pm on Monday 17 March, 2014, be remembered as the moment the world changed forever? Well, probably not, but it is the day when a landmark discovery in physics - about as fundamental as it gets - was announced to the wider world.
இலங்கையில் நடந்த இனப்படுகொலை இந்த நூற்றாண்டில் நடந்த மிகப்பெரிய மனித உரிமை மீறல் என்று தெரிவித்துள்ள இலங்கை மனித உரிமை செயற்பாட்டாளர் நிமல்கா பெர்ணான்டோ இந்த ஆண்டேனும் சர்வதேச விசாரணை கொண்டுவரப்படும் என நம்புவதாக குறிப்பிட்டுள்ளார்.
இந்தியாவிற்கு பயணம் மேற்கொண்டுள்ள நிமல்கா இந்திய பத்திரிகை ஒன்றுக்கு வழங்கிய செவ்வியிலேயே இவ்வாறு குறிப்பிட்டுள்ளார்.
இது வரை போர்க்குற்றங்கள், மனித உரிமை மீறல்கள் குறித்த எந்தவொரு தீர்மானமும் இயற்றப்படவில்லை. ஐ.நா.வில் உறுப்பினராக இருக்கும் இலங்கை ஐ.நா.வின் விதிகளுக்கு கட்டுப்பட வேண்டும் என்றும் அவர் குறிப்பிட்டார்.
இது இலங்கையின் உள்நாட்டு பிரச்சினை மட்டுமில்லை. உலக அளவில் இந்த நூற்றாண்டின் மனித உரிமை மீறல்கள் குறித்த விவகாரம். தற்போது ஆதாரங்கள் வெளிவருகின்றன, அனைவரும் கேள்வி கேட்கிறார்கள். ஐ.நா.வாக இருந்தாலும் தவறு செய்தால் பதில் கூற வேண்டும் எனவும் நிமல்கா தெரிவித்துள்ளார்.
மனித உரிமை சபைக்கு வந்திருக்க வேண்டிய ஐ.நா.வின் வல்லுநர்கள் அறிக்கையை ஐ.நா. செயலாளர் சமர்ப்பிக்கவே இல்லை.ஐ.நா. இப்படி செய்ய நாம் அனுமதிக்கக் கூடாது எனவும் அவர் சுட்டிக்காட்டினார்.
உலக அளவில் மனித உரிமை விவகாரங்களை பேச ஐ.நா.வின் மனித உரிமை சபை மட்டுமே இருக்கிறது என்ற நிலையில் அது செயலூக்கம் உள்ளதாக இருக்க வேண்டும். அரசுகள் கையில் மனித உரிமை சபையின் செயல்பாடுகளை முடக்கி விடக் கூடாது. இந்த மாதம் சர்வதேச விசாரணை நடத்த தீர்மானம் இயற்றப்படும் என்று நம்புவதாகவும் அவர் குறிப்பிட்டார்.
போருக்குப் பின்னர் இஸ்லாமியர், கிறித்தவர் மீதான தாக்குதல், புத்பாலசேனாவின் எழுச்சி இவை யெல்லாம் இலங்கை அரசு அமைதியின் விதைகளை தூவ தவறிவிட்டது என்றும் அவர் தெரிவித்தார்.
இலங்கை அரசு மக்களின் தினசரி வாழ்க்கையை மேம்படுத்த முயற்சி எடுக்கவில்லை. இதனால் அரசுக்கு நெருக்கமான ஒரு சிலரைத் தவிர ஒவ்வொரு இலங்கையரும் துன்பத்தில் வாடுகின்றனர் என்றார்.
சிங்களரின் போராட்டத்தையும் தமிழர்களின் போராட்டத்தையும் ஒப்பிட முடியாது என்று தெரிவித்த நிமல்கா ஒரு சாதாரண சிங்களரின் வாழ்க்கை செலவு உயர்ந்துள்ளது. தற்போது இலங்கையில் மின்சாரம், தண்ணீர் உள்ளிட்ட அத்தியாவசிய தேவைகள் விலை உயர்ந்துள்ளன. உண்மையான பொருளாதார வளர்ச்சி நடைபெறவே இல்லை எனவும் அவர் குறிப்பிட்டார்.
போரினால் பாதிக்கப்பட்ட தமிழர்கள் நிலை படுமோசமாக உள்ளது. அதிலும் வன்னி போன்ற பகுதிகளில் வாழும் பெண்கள் அதிகம் பாதிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளதாகவும் அவர் குறிப்பிட்டுள்ளார்.
அவர்களுக்கான வாழ்வாதாரம் குறித்து அரசு எந்த நடவடிக்கையும் எடுக்கவில்லை. விவசாய நிலங்கள் ராணுவத்தின் கையில் உள்ளது. அவர்களால் புதிதாக ஏதும் தொழில் தொடங்கி வாழ வழியில்லை. தெற்கில் வாழும் சிங்கள பெண்ணின் வாழ்வை விட இவர்களது வாழ்க்கை மோசமானது என்றும் தெரிவித்தார்.
தமிழகத்திலிருந்து குளோபல் தமிழ் செய்தியாளர்
Stronger StillStronger Still Editorial Tamil Guardian 17 March 2014 The third week of the UN Human Rights Council's 25th session begins today with palpable sense of renewed impetus towards the need for concrete action. The second draft of the resolution calling for accountability in Sri Lanka has evidently been strengthened. The High Commissioner's office is called upon to establish a stand alone investigative mechanism. The strengthening of the text is without doubt welcome however ambiguity remains around the core issue of an international investigation into mass wartime atrocities. As the continued calls from international and Tamil voices for a Commission of Inquiry highlight, questions remain over the nature and scope of the investigation envisaged in this latest text - will it have the necessary mandate, sufficient resources and right direction to go beyond mere fact- FINDING but gather evidence towards a judicial process and prosecutions. Nothing underscores the need for robust Investigation than a defiant response to the Sri Lankan State's International Attempts allowed IT to bring to heel. Sri Lanka cares nothing for international norms if it perceives these to be at odds with its sovereignty and, ultimately, its island wide imposition of Sinhala-Buddhist order. The events of 2009 stand as irrefutable evidence of this, whilst the detention last week of a prominent disappearances campaigner and her 13 year old daughter serves as a timely and deeply concerning reminder. The pointed audacity of this deliberately timed act is both a response to the international community and a sinister warning to activists currently in Geneva campaigning for an international investigation. Even at the time of the first resolution on Sri Lanka in 2012, Sri Lanka's response was to seek to silence through intimidation within the Palais itself those Tamils campaigning for justice. This year, as international pressure rises, the Sri Lankan state's rhetoric, particularly against activists which it labels as 'terrorists' or 'traitors', promises murderous revenge. That came Vipoosika Within hours of the arrests of Balendran Jeyakumari and a fellow campaigner, Ananthi Sasitharan, calling for an International inquiry into genocide in the Palais, is no coincidence. As such, the arrests highlight key weaknesses in the current draft text. Not only in its obvious inability to provide immediate protection to Tamils in the North-East from state oppression, but also in its inability to ensure an environment conducive to an independent investigation. Put simply, a meaningful investigation, and evidence gathering, against state atrocities and abuses cannot take place so long as witnesses live in fear of reprisals. The lack of witness protection and the Prevention of Terrorism Act under which diverse enemies of the state are arrested, is a clear impediment. The domineering military occupation ofTamil areas that goes beyond the visible markers of checkpoints and high security zones to all pervasive surveillance and state-backed paramilitary violence, is another. The presence of the very military, which lest it be forgotten is an almost entirely ethnically Sinhalese force, that stands principally accused of the 2009 mass atrocities, and continuing 'disappearances, torture, sexual violence and murder, makes impossible the search for justice. The military's pervasive presence in all areas of Tamil public life, not only curtails the socio-economic development of the North-East, but prevents Tamils from defending their day to day human rights, calling for justice and accountability and seeking their political aspirations. Viesu nams, that is the very purpose of the Military's domineering presence. In short, Therefore, robust witness protection and demilitarisation of the North-East are key to the credible Pursuit of Accountability. As the Council's current session Reaches a Midway Point Today, IT is worth recalling what is central to the campaign for accountability and justice since 2009: the mass slaughter of tens of thousands of Tamils - which the UN panel of experts described as' a grave assault on the entire regime of international law designed to protect individual dignity during both War and peace ', and' constitut [ing] the persecution of [vanni] Population '-
followed by a protracted period of Agaricus As Collective Hundreds of thousands subjected to a catalgue of abuses were penned into militarised camps. It is to seek justice for these grave violations of international humanitarian law, including war crimes, crimes against humanity and, as increasing number of international experts concede, genocide, that Tamils together with a coalition of international actors call for an international investigation. Even as the carnage was ongoing in 2009, Tamil activists at the UNHRC had begun calling for a Commission of Inquiry as an immediate first step towards justice. Almost five years on, justice is yet to be seen. The tightening grip around Sri Lanka is welcome, but it now beholds the Council's member states to secure a robust international investigation that matches the sheer scale and gravity of the crimes in question, and paves the way for the prosecutions of those responsible.
'Great concern' as Ruki Fernando and Father Praveen Mahesan are held on suspicion of inciting racial or religious hatred
