Sexual Violence in Conflict: Sri Lanka - detention and torture 2009-2014 04 June 2014 Next week, the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict is due to take place in London, co-hosted by the UK's Foreign Secretary, William Hague and the Special Envoy for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Angelina Jolie.  In the run up to the ESVC summit, we revisit the mounting evidence which documents the widespread, systematic and on-going use of sexual violence by Sri Lanka's military against Tamils, that occurs with absolute impunity. See our previous features:

Sexual Violence in Conflict Sri Lanka - Rape, Sexual Assault and Forced Prostitution in Military-run IDP Ca... by Thavam Ratna

Master Blaster rips open students’ heads – JVP

Tuesday, 03 June 2014 

The government closes universities to hold carnivals, while the master blaster has become a thug leader ripping open students’ heads, said JVP secretary Tilvyn Silva.

Speaking to the media in Colombo today (03), Mr. Silva condemned the attack on the previous day on Ruhuna University students by government thugs led by Sanath Jayasuriya.

After digging his own grave, Mervyn Silva is now keeping silent, while his role has been taken over by Sanath Jaysuriya who is trying to dig graves for the students, said the JVP secretary.

They should protest not in front of the university, but in front of the home of minister Siyambalapitiya, who had decided not to hold Deyata Kirula at the campus premises, he noted.

What they want is to create disturbances and sabotage activities at the university, which they have already accomplished, as the campus has been closed indefinitely, said Mr. Silva.

Even after the closure, students are unable to leave the university, as the government thugs are waiting in ambush, he charged.

The law is not enforced properly in this incident, the JVP secretary stressed, adding that the CID should record a statement from higher education minister S.B. Dissanayake, who had threatened students and their parents to find places to hide.

The government has now fallen to the depth of repressing university students, working people and even MPs, which should be defeated, he said.

Demanding the immediate reopening of the university, he called upon all those who value democracy to rise up against this fascist government.

'Sri Lanka apologist Naseby must withdraw allegations' – Telegraph Tamil Guardian 04 June 2014 The Daily Telegraph's chief political commentator Peter Oborne has called on British politician Lord Naseby to withdraw his comments made on Sri Lanka, stating that he has "misled parliament, and thus given comfort to perpetrators of state-sponsored terror." Oborne, saying that Naseby has “ become an apologist for the Sri Lankan government”, noted it was, “essential to adhere scrupulously to the facts when it comes to an event as grave and sensitive as the massacre of the Tamils in the final stages of the Sri Lankan civil war”. He went on to detail Naseby's allegations in the British parliament, noting that he was a "receiver of Sri Lankan government hospitality" and had relied on evidence from a propaganda booklet "Corrupted Journalism". In particular Naseby's comments over Tamil TV presenter Isaipriya, which appeared in the harrowing Channel 4 documentaries, were troubling said Oborne, commenting, “Channel 4’s footage shows her dead, naked, with a single head wound and her hands tied behind her back – a clear victim of sexual abuse and summary execution. To treat a captive in such a way is a hideous breach of the Geneva Convention and her human rights; her political status is completely irrelevant.” Stating that the position of Lord Naseby was "absurd", Oborne concluded, “Lord Naseby has given misleading testimony to the House of Lords, and his remarks have been picked up in Sri Lanka and are being used in defence of the regime.” “The rules are clear. Those who make misleading statements to Parliament must correct the record at the first opportunity. Lord Naseby has misled parliament, and thus given comfort to perpetrators of state-sponsored terror. He must return to Parliament and withdraw his allegations.” Read his full piece here. Lord Naseby has misled the Lords over Sri Lanka. He must withdraw his allegations Tamil Tiger fighters. (Photo: AFP) By Peter Oborne -June 4th, 2014 Veteran political correspondents like me recall Michael Morris, Deputy Speaker of the Commons from 1992-97, with a great deal of affection. He carried off the role with plenty of brio and style. Michael Morris has since been deservedly elevated to the House of Lords, where he has taken the name of Lord Naseby. As sometimes happens, he has gone sharply downhill since entering the upper house. Most troublingly he has become an apologist for the Sri Lankan government. There is nothing wrong with standing up for unpopular or controversial causes: indeed it is admirable. However, it is essential to adhere scrupulously to the facts when it comes to an event as grave and sensitive as the massacre of the Tamils in the final stages of the Sri Lankan civil war. Unfortunately Lord Naseby has failed to be accurate in his recent attack on Channel 4’s harrowing documentaries: Sri Lanka’s Killing Fields, War Crimes Unpunished, and No Fire Zone. In a parliamentary question on February 26th, Lord Naseby told peers that there is now “conclusive evidence that that film from Channel 4 features two key independent witnesses, so alleged, who were in fact fully paid-up members of the Tamil Tigers”. This statement is misleading. One of the witnesses he refers to is a woman called Isaipriya. She was definitely a "fully paid-up" Tiger; she was in fact one of their TV personalities. Channel 4 never denied this in their documentaries: in War Crimes Unpunished, for instance, they refer to her as “the LTTE TV presenter Isaipriya.” Lord Naseby’s suggestion that Isaipriya’s political affiliations are of any importance at all is troubling. Channel 4’s footage shows her dead, naked, with a single head wound and her hands tied behind her back – a clear victim of sexual abuse and summary execution. To treat a captive in such a way is a hideous breach of the Geneva Convention and her human rights; her political status is completely irrelevant. The second witness Lord Naseby refers to is a British-Tamil health worker who gave terrible evidence of human rights abuses committed by government forces. She is still alive and I am not going to name her because I do not want to jeopardise her safety more than Lord Naseby has done already. In her case there is absolutely no credible evidence of any kind that she is or ever has been a Tamil Tiger. Naseby’s statement relies on arguments from a propaganda book, Corrupted Journalism, published by a mysterious group called "Engage Sri Lanka". Corrupted Journalism scarcely deals with her evidence, but attempts to discredit it by smearing her with unsubstantiated claims. For instance, it accuses her of operating under “at least four other names”, but three are just different spelling variations of the same name and the fourth from a random YouTube video; it accuses her of calling her "cousin" her "brother", despite the fact that this is conventional in Tamil culture. Most strikingly, Corrupted Journalism brands her a “blatant apologist for terror and murder” and yet, in her only interview from the war zone with a foreign paper, she called for both sides to “stop fighting and start thinking about the civilians living here.” The position of Corrupted Journalism (and Lord Naseby) is absurd. Lord Naseby can be commended for honestly declaring his interests as chairman of the All-Party British-Sri Lanka Group and a receiver of Sri Lankan government hospitality. I too should declare an interest, having in the past presented a number of documentaries for Channel 4. I have always been impressed by the professionalism and integrity of the people I have worked with. Lord Naseby has given misleading testimony to the House of Lords, and his remarks have been picked up in Sri Lanka and are being used in defence of the regime. The rules are clear. Those who make misleading statements to Parliament must correct the record at the first opportunity. Lord Naseby has misled parliament, and thus given comfort to perpetrators of state-sponsored terror. He must return to Parliament and withdraw his allegations.

அங்கவீனமான முன்னாள் பெண் போராளி மீது மர்ம நபர்கள் தாக்குதல் 

03 ஜுன் 2014, செவ்வாய்

கிளிநொச்சி- செல்வாநகர் பகுதியில் போரில் காயமடைந்து நிரந்த அங்கவீனமாக்கப்பட்ட முன்னாள் பெண் போராளியின் வீட்டினுள் புகுந்த மர்ம நபர்கள் குறித்த பெண்ணின் கணவர் எங்கே எனக்கேட்டு பெண்ணை கடுமையாக தாக்கிவிட்டுத் தப்பிச் சென்றுள்ளனர்.

 

குறித்த சம்பவம் தொடர்பாக மேலும் தெரியவருவதாவது,

 

கிளி.செல்வாநகர் நாகதம்பிரான் ஆலயத்திற்கு சமீபமாக உள்ள வீடொன்றில் வசிக்கும் அனுஸ்குமார் சுமதி என்ற இரு பிள்ளைகளின் தாயான முன்னாள் போராளியின் வீட்டிற்கு இன்று மாலை 5மணியளவில் முழுமையாக முகம் மறைக்கப்பட்ட தலைக்கவசங்கள் அணிந்தவாறு இரு மோட்டார் சைக்கிள்களில் வந்த மர்ம நபர்கள் வீட்டினுள் புகுந்து உன்னுடைய கணவர் எங்கே என குறித்த பெண்ணிடம் கடும் தொனியில் கேட்டுள்ளதுடன் அந்தப் பெண்ணை  பொல்லுகள் தடிகளால் கண்மூடித்தனமாக தாக்கியுள்ளனர்.

 

இதன் பின்னர் குறித்த பெண் கூச்சலிட்டு அயலவர்களை அழைத்துபோது அயலவர்கள் அந்த இடத்தில் கூடிய நிலையில் மர்மநபர்கள் அங்கிருந்து தப்பிச் சென்றுள்ளனர்.

 

மேலும் குறித்த பெண்ணும் அவருடைய கணவரும் தமிழீழ விடுதலைப் புலிகள் அமைப்பில் போராளிகளாக இருந்துள்ளனர்.

 

இந்நிலையில் போரில் காயமடைந்து நிரந்தர அங்கவீனமான நிலையில் (இடுப்பிற்கு கீழ் இயங்காது) படுக்கையில் குறித்த பெண் இருந்துள்ளார்.

 

கணவர் போரின் பின்னர் வெளிநாடு ஒன்றிற்குச் சென்றுள்ளார். மேலும் தற்போது இந்தப் பெண் அவருடைய பெற்றோரின் கண்காணிப்பில் இருக்கின்றார்.

 

இந்நிலையில் கணவரை தேடிச்சென்ற நபர்களே தன்னை தாக்கியதாக அவர் தெரிவித்துள்ளார்.

 

எனினும் கணவரை எதற்காக யார் தேடினார்கள் என்பது தொடர்பாக தனக்கு எதுவும் தெரியாது என அவர் கூறியிருப்பதுடன் தற்போது அவர் கிளிநொச்சி பொது வைத்தியசாலையில் அனுமதிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளதாகவும் தெரிவிக்கப்படுகின்றது.

- See more at: http://onlineuthayan.com/News_More.php?id=607213073704547107#sthash.dIl2nrp9.nRlqX2tN.dpuf

Some Reflections On Rajiva’s 

Revelations On “How Negotiations 

With The TNA Failed”

by Laksiri Fernando

(June 4, 2014, Sydney, Sri Lanka Guardian) Those who are concerned with political reconciliation and long term peace in the country must thank Prof Rajiva Wijesinha MP (UPFA) for his recent revelations, although those might be construed by the government circles as back stabbing and/or betrayal. 

Some Reflections on Rajiva’s Revelations on “How Negotiations With the TNA Failed” by Thavam Ratna

Baby elephant crisis in Sri Lanka – An open letter to President

(Lanka-e-News- 04.June.2014, 8.00PM) 

Hon. President, 

The fast of wild baby elephants, a valuable national treasure and a state property in a sorry state today. The reason for this according to ore view is the illegal business of selling baby elephant in the country. Selling of baby elephants possible only it’s there are buyers who have sufficient wealth and have interest in baying. Historical book knowledge shows that such buyers were there possessed by members of royal families and noble people. Those days elephants and tuskers have been the symbol of power and wealth. 

It cannot be said why baby elephant are rared today despite elephants and tuskers, by people develop with him themselves mentalities that associate with royalty that is more than 300 years old. Only such people will develop affinity of hunters to keep baby elephants within their possession. Such crude mentalities have vested a pathetic destiny with the baby elephants in the wild. I believe that the president will perceive this aspect by reading the news of cruelties infected on the playful baby elephants in the recent past. 

You are present caretaker who protect the country and her state property. Therefore, the prime responsibility of the protection of state property, the baby elephants is vestal in you as the President of the country. 

We have a list of people who possess baby elephants with us. In that list the name of the current owner of the baby elephant and how it was received by that person is stated briefly. I believe that you will not act following the theory that “the elephant inside the room” was not seen, in this respect. 

1. Parliament MP. Mr. Namal Rajapaksha – Two baby tuskers donation by elephant Roshan and Dewramvehera
2. Defense secretary Mr. Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, one baby elephant. 
3. Chief Minister of Uva province, Mr. Sashindra Rajapaksa, one baby elephant – captured by Elephant Roshan. 
4. President’s sister’s husband, Mr. Thusitha Ranawaka of Deniyaya – one baby elephant. 
5. Pannipitiya, Dewramvehara, Ven. Kolonnawe Sumanagala (Ex Parliament MP of Jatika Hela Urumaya) Three baby elephants – many baby elephants who lived in this vihara premises have been sold earning millions of rupees also providing illegal licenses. 
6. Gangarama Vihara, Colombo, one baby elephant (Female) sold by Elephant Roshan & Dewramvehara. 
7. Ex. Chairman of cement corporation, Mr Sisira Paranagama one baby elephant – sold by elephant Roshan. 
8. Fort chief magistrate Mr. Thilina Gamage one baby elephant – sold by elephant Roshan 
9. Alen Methiniyarama, Colombo Ven. Uduwe Dhammaloka Ex. MP. Jathika Hela Urumaya – one baby Elephant 
10. Mr. Ajith Gallege of Hokandara, Four baby Elephants one baby elephant is dead. These animals have been captured by him close to Mattala Air Port. 
11. Parliament MP. Mr. Sachin vas Gunawardana – One baby elephant – Sold by elephant Roshan 
12. Colombo, Sambodhi Vihara, 3 baby elephants – Sold by Dewramvehera and elephant Roshan at the rate of 20 Million per animal. 
13. Diyawadana Nilame Mr. Nilanga Dela – One female baby elephant – Mr. Suneth Weerasinghe of Allawa keep the animal in his custody. 
14. One baby elephant at Tissamaharamaya kept secretly in the Temple – President legalized the possession 
15. Mr. J.P.I. Kamal of Kottawa – one baby elehant selling by Dewramvehara and elephant Roshan 
16. Maharagama, Erewwala, Ali Roshan 3 baby elephants 

I. One animal wounded at his residence 
II. One animal at Millennium Elephant Foundation at Randeniya, Kegalle. 
III. The other baby elephant is with Mr. Upali Dassanayake at his safary, Randeniya, Kegalle. 

17. Mr. Suneth Weerasinghe at Alawwa has 2 female baby elephant with him. He has captured them in the forest. Three baby elephants have sucummed to wounds at his own house. He is a chief character in this elephant dealings of Nilanga Dela, the Diyawadana Nilame. 
18. Horana, proprietor of Wasana Bakers. Mr.Nandana perera – one female baby elephant sold by Dewramvehara and Elephant Rosaha for Rs. 16m 
19. Horana, Kanawila Mr. Waruna Kannangara, Two baby elephants – These baby elephants have been captured by him and Suneth Weerasinghe of Alawwa by killing their mother elephants. 
20. Weediyagoda, Mr. Sanath Hapuarachci – one baby elephant (Aselling by elephant Roshan) 
21. Mr. Pradeep Miyanapahawa the care taker of the elephant herd of the Temple of the Tooth Relic has captured a baby tusker with the help of elephant Roshan. This animal is a very rare species in the forest. He is a person who give treatments to wonded elephants captured illegally from the forest. 
22. Ruwanwella, Medagoda, Amithirigala, Mr. Samantha Wijemanna – one baby elephant (Sold by Elephant Roshant Roshan and Mr. Suenth Weerasinghe of Alawwa. 
23. Meegoda, Attorney at low Mr. Bharatha Amaratunga – one female baby elephant (He Sold one baby elephant to Dewramvehera before) 
24. Meerigama Ms. Nilanthi Bandara – one baby elephant – sold by elephant Roshan and Suneth of Alawwa. 
25. Mawanella, Ganethenna, Mr. Buddhika Mirihella – Two female baby elephants – sold by elephant Roshan 
26. Biyagama, Mr. Deepthi Kumara – one baby elephant – sold by elephant Roshan and suneth of Alawwa. 
27. Habarana, Mr. Premasiri Kaluarachchi –one female baby elephant. He and elephant Roshan have captured from Habarana. 

In addition to this, the number of baby elephant died in the hands of these exceed 25 in number. The mother elephants killed by them exceed 12 in number.

Thanks to 'Lanka'

Blocking websites is simple; only sending an 

SMS is needed!

 Wednesday, 04 June 2014

More than eight websites have been blocked in Sri Lanka by now. However, director general of the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission Anusha Pelpita says more than 1,500 websites have been blocked in Sri Lanka, and that almost all of them are ‘obscene’ websites. However, Anusha Pelpita intentionally avoids defining the word ‘obscene.’

According to his standards, the most obscene website in Sri Lanka is Tamilnet. It was blocked seven to eight years ago because it had exposed to the world the obscene information with regard to the cruel war. Within three months of its inception in March 2009, Lanka News Web was blocked in Sri Lanka, accusing it to be the Sinhala mouthpiece of the Tigers. Later, LankaENews, Sri Lanka Guardian, Sri Lanka Mirror, Independent.lk, News of Colombo, Colombo Telegraph were blocked in that order.

Afterwards, Lanka News Web changed its domain name to lankanewsweb.net for a different purpose, and then it became accessible in Sri Lanka again.

But, on June 02, TRC DG Anusha Pelpita, sending an SMS from his mobile phone no: 0714191175 to Hutchison company, instructed it to block lankanewsweb.net with immediate effect. When an official of the company inquired about the reason for the blockade, Pelpita has said that Lanka News Web had published a news article that insults him. Inquired further by the Hutchison official, Pelpita has gone on to say that the insulting article in question was titled ‘Tor removes Pelpita’s trousers.’

Blockades are nothing new to us. While thanking Anusha Pelpita for once again blocking us that has effectively resulted in an increase in our readership, we would like to make him one request. That is – go before a mirror and look at yourself. “Aren’t you in the nude? Who has done this crime to you? Why should you remove your trousers for 50 cement bags and two cubes of sand?

CPA Hattotuwa Must Answer Instead Of Dodging And Misleading

By Uvindu Kurukulasuriya - June 4, 2014

Uvindu Kurukulasuriya

I am compelled to write this in response to an article penned by Groundviews editor Sanjana Hattotuwa. His article is titled “Response to article in Colombo Telegraph”.

Colombo Telegraph recently reported that Hattotuwa was removed from the CPA’s senior staff after verbally abusing a female co-worker. We alsoreported that Hattotuwa had asked the Coordinator of CPA’s Media Unit to put down expenses incurred at the Gallery Cafe of Paradise Road Galleries as ‘travel expenses’.  Documents in our possession show that Hattotuwa spent Rs 20,865 on food and alcohol for a night out with friends using foreign tax payers’ money.

Instead of answering the allegations Hattotuwa alleges that I kept the said bills for ten years and asked why they appear only now in the public domain.

This is completely untrue. The truth is that I first saw part of that evidence only towards the end of 2011.

He says, “I find it curious that the article refers to the Media Unit coordinator, who isn’t named, as a male. The last time CPA’s Media Unit had a male coordinator was before 2004.  Since 2004, the institution has had two female coordinators – one from 2004 to 2012, and the other from 2012 to date.”

If that is the case, the truth is that CPA’s Media Unit had a male coordinator until October 2007.

Hattotuwa says, ‘In 2009, a series of email exchanges with the then coordinator of the Media Unit, CPA’s Executive Director and the Editor of Colombo Telegraph, an erstwhile employee of CPA, also clearly alluded to allegations along the same lines as that which is now in public.’                                    Read More

Jaffna bishop says Sri Lanka requires India's help for resettlement of Tamils


Daniel P George,TNN | Jun 3, 2014
CHENNAI: The resettlement process in Sri Lanka cannot move forward without India's assistance and the country can do more to help thousands of widows and children who have been rendered orphans, Bishop of Jaffna diocese Daniel S Thiagarajah said on Tuesday.

Thiagarajah, who was on a visit to Chennai, told TOI that the people of the island nation had suffered for long and "careful planning is needed for the resettlement" effort.

He said the Church of South India has set up a centre in Jaffna to help those who witnessed the war and to help them overcome their fear.

He stressed that the church was focusing on the well-being of all people in the country. "We are all one people. Ahead of us is a challenging task of rehabilitation of our people who have gone through the darkest period in our history," he said.

AIADMK not to join NDA

Jayalalithaa looks forward to improved ties with Centre under Modi

B. MURALIDHAR REDDY-L. RENGANATHAN-June 3, 2014

While ruling out the entry of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam into the National Democratic Alliance, party chief and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Tuesday kept the door open for support to the Narendra Modi government in the Rajya Sabha, where the alliance does not have the numbers to ensure passage of Bills.

After a 50-minute meeting with the Prime Minister, she said the need for a formal association with the NDA did not arise as the alliance had the majority in the Lok Sabha. Asked about the possibility of her party helping the government pass Bills in the Rajya Sabha, she replied: “We will see if that need arises.”

The NDA has only 64 members in the 245-member House and requires the support of parties such as the AIADMK, which at present has 10 members.

Ms. Jayalalithaa, meeting the Prime Minister for the first time after he assumed office, submitted a 64-page memorandum listing various concerns of the State.

In her memorandum, Ms. Jayalalithaa urged Mr. Modi to initiate expeditious measures to form the Cauvery Management Board.

On the Mullaperiyar issue, she called upon the Centre to nominate a representative from the Central Water Commission and constitute the three-member Supervisory Committee to help raise the water level in the dam to 142 feet.

She wanted India to move the U.N. for a referendum among the Tamil diaspora for the formation of a separate Eelam.

The Centre could release the Rs. 1,576.87-crore shortfall in release of grants-in-aid due to Tamil Nadu over the years. “We were systematically ignored and discriminated against by the previous UPA government,” Ms. Jayalalithaa noted in a letter accompanying the memorandum.

She said she looked forward to that trend “completely changing under your guidance.” She sought Mr. Modi’s critical intervention and financial support in the infrastructure sector.

Ms. Jayalalithaa called on Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and discussed financial issues.

Earlier in the day, she met President Pranab Mukherjee.

Full text of memorandum

Jayalalithaa_Memor_1931588aText of the Memorandum Presented by Selvi J Jayalalithaa, by Thavam Ratna

Why Sri Lanka Should Not Antagonize Jayalalithaa ?

| by Upul Joseph Fernando

( June 4, 2014, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, has been the target of Sri Lanka’s State and pro-government media since the day the results of the Indian general election were out. They jubilantly reported Jayalalithaa losing the grip she had on the centre due to the outright victory of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Many cartoonists in Sri Lankan newspapers also mocked Jayalalithaa. Government spokesman, Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, said the non-dependence of the Modi’s Government on Jayalalithaa was a victory for Sri Lanka. The government was elated when President Mahinda Rajapaksa was invited for Modi’s swearing-in ceremony amidst protests of the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister.

Why Sri Lanka Should Not Antagonize Jayalalithaa by Thavam Ratna

The Norochcholi Model Of Nation Building

By Somapala Gunadheera -June 4, 2014

Somapala Gunadheera

When I heard that a group of UNP MPs were to visit the controversialNorochcholi Power Plant, I guessed they were deliberately heading for a repetition of the showdown at Hambantota. However the news of what really happened at the visit, gladdened my heart to find my imagination belied.

According to the media, the UNP delegation had been given a warm welcome with political leaders on the Government side receiving them with hugs and garlands. This response stands in direct contrast to the reception the delegation received at the much pampered emotional base of those in power, where the delegation was showered with stones and rotten eggs, by stooges and goons, not to mention gun toting by toy chiefs.

What is the reason for this diversity under the same dispensation? Apparently the Hambantota response was engineered by inexperienced power drunk amateurs. The Head of State may not have even been aware of the plans to embarrass the visitors in his home town. This brings into focus a part of the Government’s Achilles heel. That is the reluctance to stand up to foolhardy moves made by those who are emotionally or politically close to the base. The anxiety to pander to the wishes of short-sighted favourites leads to disaster. Traditional wisdom condemns this predilection with the words, “bahubuddhi maranam bhavet”, (It is fatal to go by the dictates of all and sundry). This homily has been successfully observed at Norochcholi. That is the first lesson from Norochchole Model.

By and large xenophobia has been the root cause of ineffective governance, particularly in the area of national integration, creating problems with the international community, especially our closest neighbour. So far it has been possible to play truant with our critics as the neighbour was weak and the rest of the world was not organized. Now that Geneva has got its act together and India is under a strong leader, it will not be possible to dilly dally on urgent reforms with ineffective commissions and never ending committees.        Read More

Campaigners discuss 'Sexual Violence in Conflict' ahead of global summit

04 June 2014
The Frontline journalists club in London held a discussion on 'Preventing and Responding to Sexual Violence in Conflict' on Tuesday, in the run up to Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict next week.

The panel, chaired by Liz Ford, deputy editor of the Guardian's Global Development website, consisted of Doctor Juliet Cohen, head of doctors at Freedom From Torture; award winning film maker Fiona Lloyd-Davies; Serge Eric, co-founder of  Survivors Speak OUT! network and Sarah Cotton the public affairs and communications advisor for the International Committee of the Red Cross UK and Ireland.

The discussion with a focus on the Democratic Republic of Congo, also included Sri Lanka and Syria, exploring measures that can be taken to protect victims and respond to sexual violence in conflicts around the globe.

Dr Cohen began by talking on how even speaking out against sexual violence can be dangerous in parts of the world, with many facing the threat of violence for doing so. She went on to detail the fact that many choose simply not to talk about sexual violence – a point echoed by Serge Eric, whose network was set up by victims of such abuse.

“Even speaking in this country can be dangerous for the victim,” said Eric, noting that an environment in which they can speak out must be created. “It is important for us to bring our opinion about what we have gone through so that it doesn't happen tomorrow”.

Cotton reiterated the importance of implementing international humanitarian law adding that,

“Rape never takes place by accident, this isn't collateral damage, no-one mistakenly rapes. This can be a calculated act”.

With the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict to be held in London next week, Ford posed the question as to what tangible steps can be taken to prevent these atrocities from happening. Lloyd-Davies, whose documentary on the Congo “Seeds of Hope” will be screened at the summit, said this was a “great opportunity as long as something concrete is done”. Speaking on the summit Eric went on to comment that 'signing a piece of paper is easy and makes you look good – the problem is how to implement it”.

Lloyd-Davies said the summit did present an opportunity for sexual violence to be taken more seriously, adding that recent trials at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia had charges of rape and war crimes have been dropped in some cases, in order to ensure quicker sentencing.

The combating of impunity was also a major issue that could be tackled by the summit noted Cotton, adding that sanctions may needed to do so. “There are rules of war, these are not abided by in many contexts”, she said, “but that doesn't mean we shouldn't continue to insists these are abided by”. “[This is] the first priority and standards we should expect... if they are not met we should take the next step”.

Questions from the audience mainly centred around the Congo, with members and the panel agreeing that the root cause of the conflict has to be solved, in order to put an end to sexual violence. An audience member from the Redress Trust also stated that Western governments have policies which may be seen as hypocritical if they continue to shelter suspected war criminals, stating that trials could take place, even if the alleged abuses occurred outside of the West.

Giving his final thoughts, Eric poignantly concluded that, 

“Torture and rape is a calculated act... It is trying to put terror into someone or silence them. It doesn't just happen.”

Repression of Dissent in Sri Lanka - INFORM report April 2014

Repression of Dissent in Sri Lanka - INFORM report April 2014

Tuesday, June 03, 2014 

''Government Ministers, MPs, politicians, supporters and groups backed by the government appeared to behind almost all the reported incidents. On several occasions, Police watched by and refused to take action as these government politicians and allies attacked and threatened opposition politicians, journalists and a prominent Buddhist Monk advocating for religious freedom and harmony. As in previous months and years, there appears to be no interest and urgency in conducting investigations and prosecuting those responsible, despite the availability in some cases of ample evidence including eyewitness accounts, video and photographic evidence, most of which are in the public domain''

Repression of Dissent

in Sri Lanka

April 2014

Repression of Dissent in Sri Lanka - InFORM Report April 2014 by Thavam Ratna