Saturday, June 28, 2014

BBS Linked To Governing Rajapaksa Family – New York Times Editorial

June 28, 2014

The anti-Muslim violence that erupted in Southern Sri Lanka has accentuated the need to expose links among the hard-line Buddhist organization Bodu Bala Sena (BBS), the Sri Lankan security forces and the Rajapaksas, yesterday’s editorial of the New York Times has asserted.

President Rajapaksa

The editorial, titled ‘Sri Lanka’s Agony’ has taken a very moderate stand on the recent violence that erupted against the Muslims in the island nation.

Referring to President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s tour of the areas affected by the violence, following his return from participating in the G77 Summit in Bolivia, the writer has expressed concerns over the promises made by the Government before the UNHRC on bringing the perpetrators who instigated the violence, to justice.

“President Mahinda Rajapaksa toured the afflicted area, while his government promised the United Nations Human Rights Council that it would conduct an investigation and bring the perpetrators to justice. Whether it will do so is an open question in view of its refusal to allow an investigation into allegations of human rights abuses during the recent civil war as called for in a resolution by the council on March 27,” the piece sates.

Furthermore, it has highlighted President Rajapaksa’s failure to repudiate BBS by name, despite his statements directing the Police to take actions against any individuals/ groups inciting ethnic or religious hatred.

“Most Sri Lankans, including the overwhelming Buddhist majority, want nothing to do with the Bodu Bala Sena. Sri Lanka needs healing.”

Furthermore, the editorial has called on President Rajapaksa to move immediately to allow the OHCHR-led probe on Sri Lanka and to implement recommendations of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission.

“Only these tangible steps will allow Sri Lanka to move forward toward reconciliation and justice for all Sri Lankans,” it has further stated.

We publish below the Editorial in full;

What Is The Aim Of This Bloody

Pogrom?

| by Vickramabahu Karunaratne

( June 28, 2014, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Government tries hard to show that the problem of Sinhala chauvinist violence against Muslims is under control. In fact they say that an independent investigation will be carried out to find out the real leaders of this event, if such a conspiracy was there! All these may satisfy the Muslim and Tamil bourgeoisie who are tied to the economic policies of the government. But the oppressed in the country will see that, at the end of the day, Mahinda regime has achieved what they wanted through this bloody calamity, which struck the innocent Muslim masses. Even the cabinet minister Hakim arrived at the correct deduction, when he said that, he suspects a hand within the government leadership was working behind this organised attack on Muslims. While the government has its own ulterior motives within this barbaric episode, UNP has avoided any political mobilization. Do they believe that this kind of racism will naturally give them an advantage; hence inaction will any way fill their pockets? On the other hand it could be that the UNP leaders are frightened that any overt sympathy to the Muslims could affect their Sinhala support! While the UNP kept a low profile in its sympathy with the victimized Muslims, even the JVP went out of its way to come out campaigning against racism. True, it is a formal agenda where every kind of racism had been condemned for indulgence. But it is the first time for the JVP to oppose Sinhala chauvinism in action. UNP, if came out with a strong appeal for tolerance with a strict demand for punishment for those who acted suppressing given duties then things would have been different. What was necessary was to show that there is a powerfull force that can take action against arson and murder. Any way, it will be too much to expect Ranil to launch a hartal, but radicals should not be aloof to such a successful island wide hartal.

We say that a hidden hand of the government is responsible to this anti-Muslim brutality. What is the purpose of this conspiracy? What is the aim of this bloody pogrom? Firstly it was necessary to mobilize Sinhala chauvinist layers, and made them confident that the regime is prepared to push down any minority aspirations on behalf of majoritism. Secondly, message was send down thru Muslim community that they are second class citizens just like the Tamils. Thirdly, displace police as incapable and to bring Sinhala army to control Muslim areas. These are necessities of a fascistic political power. They want to show that politics will go beyond electoral campaigns and chauvinist political violence could dominate any moment throughout the country.

They have done this to Tamil areas already and they know that the military support is there in any election. Government has lost hope of gaining among the Tamils and Muslims. It is true that Minister Weerawansa countered this political deduction by raising the argument that they will not do anything to loose Muslim votes! However it is clear to any sensible person, precisely the reverse of this argument is true. At the risk of few Muslim votes Mahinda regime is trying hard to remobilize Sinhala votes by a bloody chauvinist campaign. They have realized it is the only way they could counter the mass upsurge developing in all directions. Students, workers, peasants and fishers are on the war path against loss of social welfare. The regime had to retreat before the struggles of students and others. In such a situation it is normal for rulers to resort to pogroms against minority communities. It is a standard practice tested in many countries. Also, Mahinda regime is aware that the hate campaigns carried out recently against human rights campaigners and the Tamil Diaspora did not affect the Sinhala middle classes. Hence the government selected the alternate path of launching pogroms against the Muslims.

Dharga town violence shows the involvement of the hidden iron hand of the government. While the curfew is on with police officers standing in every corner , killers armed with flaming torches , swords , clubs and other weapons roamed in crowds of hundreds, attacking women and children, killing those resisted , burning houses. Police could not do much. No shots were fired, no baton charges, nor tear gases. But we know how the police usually work; only recently innocent motorcyclist was shot down for failing to stop instantaneously. Last year several were shot down for demanding fresh water. The police so eager to keep the law and order; but in this situation did practically nothing. Result four killed, over eighty wounded, over hundred women and children lamenting in fear, and over 200 houses demolished. But we must pardon them; because they were under strict orders from above, to refrain from countering the campaign of the Bodu Bala sena. No baton charges, no dispersing demonstrations, and no use of fire arms. To all those who are howling against this exposer we put the simple question, how do you explain the complete failure of the police to stop violence, abuse and murder?

MEET THE VIOLENT BUDDHISTS STARTING RIOTS IN SRI LANKA

By Mark Hay Jun 27 2014

On June 15 a violent mob ripped through three neighboring towns in southwestern Sri Lanka. The horde explicitly targeted Muslims, slinging Molotov cocktails, burning bikes, and looting homes and businesses. Riots, violence, and personal threats aren’t unheard of in Sri Lanka, but this riot caught the world’s attention. It was one of the largest and most deadly in recent years, wounding over 50 and killing four Muslims. It follows a spate of anti-Muslim sentiment welling up somewhat unexpectedly in Sri Lanka and, perhaps most shockingly for Westerns who view them as the eternally chubby, cuddly, and peaceful, it was stirred up by and composed of Buddhists, acting on allegedly Buddhist sentiments.

Meet the Violent Buddhists Starting Riots in Sri Lanka by Maria Anderson

Rajapaksa State Media’s Editor Rajpal Justifies Attacks Against Muslims

June 28, 2014

Editor of the Daily News the Rajapaksa state-owned newspaper has accused minority groups of provoking the violence that broke out in Aluthgama and Beruwala while justifying the attacks against Muslims.

Rajpal

Quite infamous for his controversial stances, Rajpal Abeynayakehas written the ‘incidents’ that occurred in Southern Sri Lanka, which resulted in three deaths and vast property damages, is the result of ‘considerable provocations’.

“The government has submittedthe facts to the UNHRC and the video evidence is available,” he has asserted while adding, the evidence points to what he describes as ‘grievous provocations’ by some minority groups that incited the anti-Muslim violence.

Moreover, based upon his belief that the violence was instigated by certain minority groups, he has gone on to justify the attacks against the Muslims in the Aluthgama and Beruwala areas. “Violence begets violence and that is the eternal verity,” the editorial reads.

He has furthermore written that due to claims, which are being ‘spuriously’ circulated blaming a government-protected group for instigating the anti-Muslim violence, the involvement of minority groups in provoking the attacks have been discounted.

He has continued to state with certainty that it wasn’t this ‘much malinged outfit’ (a phrase Abeynayake has used instead of naming the Bodu Bala Sena that is being accused of instigating the violence) that provoked the violence.

We publish below the editorial in full;Read More

A Presidency Under Threat – II – A Parliament Without Purpose

By Rajiva Wijesinha -June 28, 2014 |

Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha MP

There are two reasons why I find ridiculous the constant assertion that the Executive Presidency must be abolished. This was made most recently by the most prominent member of the Human Rights Commission, who claimed that it was the root cause of all our problems. But I do not think that he, or all the others who parrot panaceas, have thought about what will replace it.

And the problem with such panaceas is that no effort is made to actually make the current situation better, as for instance the Human Rights Commission could do in its own area of responsibility, by taking forward the Bill of Rights. There is an excellent draft, which we managed to get done before the Ministry of Human Rights was abolished. But the Minister did not agree that it should be put forward, given the then concentration on elections, and since then it has languished. I suspect I am the only who who has even reminded the President of its existence, and the fact that it was prepared in fulfilment of a pledge in the 2005 Mahinda Chintanaya. His answer was that he did not agree with everything there, but the simple solution, to admit those elements, was obviously not thought satisfactory. Read More

Next Year Will Mark 100 Years Since The 1st Racial Riot In Sri Lanka

| by S. V. Kirubaharan

( June 28, 2014, Paris, Sri Lanka Guardian) We, Tamil Centre for Human Rights - TCHR are deeply concerned about and strongly condemn the heinous violence that has been meted out this month against the Muslim community in Sri Lanka.

Looking at history - ethnic violence, sectarian violence and cultural violence against the Tamils and Muslims in the island are nothing new. Impunity is deeply entrenched and has continued for many decades.

Next Year Will Mark 100 Years Since the 1st Racial Riot in Sri Lanka by Maria Anderson

STF looked on as Aluthgama burned?

Saturday, 28 June 2014

A senior English teacher in Dharga town says that a group of youth stormed into her home, vandalised its belongings and broke windows and threatened her before handing her over to a group of STF personnel who were nearby.

Ms. Sahabdeen has taught English to Sinhalese, Tamil and Muslim children in Dharga town for 37 years.

She has said that around 150 STF personnel had been near the place called Ambagaha junction in Dharga town, and they had been looking on as the fires were lighted around.

The mobsters who vandalised her home had handed her over to the STF saying that she was innocent.

Speaking to Maubima newspaper, Ms. Sahabdeen has said that she and her husband have lived in Dharga town for 37 years, in harmony with the Sinhalese, Tamil and Muslim masses. She has added that the couple has also rendered a great service to the community in Aluthgama.

She also says that the recent incident was not one suddenly triggered between residents, but was an incident triggered by outsiders.

The government had stated that the situation was controlled after deploying the STF.

However, statements of Ms. Sahabdeen and several other residents suggest that the police and the STF too

had watched on in silence, allowing the 'Bodu Bala mobsters' to wreak havoc as they pleased, theindependent.lk says.

It adds that soldiers in civvies were also among these 'Bodu Bala mobsters'.

In addition, Muslim youth who had volunteered to retaliate these 'Bodu Bala mobsters' were attacked by the

STF, theindependent.lk adds citing reports.

However, it is proven by Ms. Sahabdeen's statement that the soldiers in civvies as well as the 'madmen of Bodu Bala' were under the protection of the STF, the website further says.

Media Blackout On Gota-Muslim Meeting: Muslims Hold Gota Responsible For Attacks

June 28, 2014

A blanket media blackout had been ordered on the meeting that was held between Muslim organisations and the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Friday, despite media reports that claimed the discussion between the two parties continued cordially.

Gota meets Muslims | File photo

Colombo Telegraph learns that during the meeting, the representatives of civil and religious Muslim organizations who participated in Friday’s discussion had been explicitly informed by Gotabaya that nothing should be reported in the media until a final solution was reached.

When the representatives shed light on the fact that the majority of the Muslim community holds him responsible for the attacks; that they feel as if the violence instigated by the Bodu Bala Sena(BBS) is being implemented under his orders, Gotabaya had rejected their suspicions while swearing they are baseless.

Sources revealed to Colombo Telegraph that meanwhile, Gotabaya had also informed that the Buddhist clergy has raised some issues with concern to the Muslim community in the country. He had listed out several such ‘concerns’ expressed by Buddhist monks that Muslims would have to address in order to ensure tensions between the two communities do not take a turn for the worse.

The two parties are due to meet once again.

Colombo Telegraph was informed that those who participated at the discussions on Friday are severely disheartened since their hope of obtaining a relief to their plights was not realized. Gotabaya had made it abundantly clear that the Muslim community will have to give into some of the demands in order to prevent recurrences of violence and tensions.

However, the exact specifications of the demands have not been released yet.

The discussion was focused on the recent attacks on Muslims but details of the meeting have not been released to the public.

Sri Lanka arrests eight over riots

Riots by Sinhala Buddhist mobs targeting Muslims swept through the country's southern coastal towns last week [AP]

The suspects are the first to be held on suspicion of sparking attacks on Muslim-owned businesses.

28 Jun 2014

Sri Lankan police have arrested key suspects accused of fuelling religious riots and looting, as minority Muslims expressed fears of more unrest ahead of Ramadan, officials said.

Police said a total of eight people directly linked to the June 15 anti-Muslim riots were arrested this week and that they recovered gems and jewellery looted from two shops that were targeted during the violence.

"With the help of CCTV footage and the recently established (police) intelligence network we arrested the suspects along with the stolen goods", senior superintendent Athula Weerasinghe said on Saturday.

The violence, which erupted in the coastal resort of Alutgama, spilled over into the neighbouring international tourist resorts of Beruwala and Bentota.

Weerasinghe said jewellery worth more than $11,500 was recovered.

Officials estimate the riot damage at 200 million rupees. Four people were killed and 80 wounded in what were the worst religious riots in recent decades.

Sri Lanka's media as well as rights groups have accused the police of failing to prevent Buddhist mobs from attacking Muslims, who constitute 10 percent of the country's 20 million population.

Police, however, said investigations showed there was a strong criminal element that fuelled religious tensions. Earlier, police had arrested 55 suspects including both Buddhists as well as Muslims, but the eight arrested this week are the first to be held for looting and directly involved in attacking shops.

The announcement of the latest arrests came as the Muslim Council of Sri Lanka (MCSL), an umbrella group of 48 Muslim organisations, petitioned police chief N K Illangakoon expressing fears of more violence against their minority community during the holy fasting month of Ramadan.

"We are concerned that the root causes to the problems related to the attacks on the Muslim community and other minorities has not been addressed and appropriate action taken to enforce justice", the MCSL said.

MCSL president N M Ameen told the AFP news agency they would mark Ramadan in a low key fashion because of the fear of more hate attacks.

Facebook shutdown

Last week, Muslim-owned businesses shut down in Sri Lanka's capital to protest against deadly riots by Buddhists.

Muslims as well as a majority of moderate Buddhists have pressed for action against the Buddhist Force, or BBS, group which is seen as enjoying patronage of senior government figures.

In earlier reports on Friday, Buddhist activists accused of involvement in communal violence said that accounts of their group's members on social media site Facebook had been blocked.

"My account is blocked," Buddhist Force spokesman Dilantha Vithanage told Reuters by telephone. "I can't access my account. I last visited my account on June 25 and the accounts of others have also been blocked."

A Facebook spokesman in London declined to comment on any action taken by the company in Sri Lanka and referred Reuters to its terms of service.

Ahead of Presidential polls: Govt. troubled by US-funded project

By Shamindra Ferdinando-June 27, 2014, 10:39 pm

The government would investigate local NGOs involved in an unprecedented US project meant to influence the electorate ahead of national level elections next year, a senior government spokesman said yesterday.

The official alleged that the US was planning to fund those who have been opposed to SLFP-led coalition, in accordance with an overall plan to undermine the government.

Asked whether the government would take it up with the US embassy, the official said that it was in the process of gathering information. The USAID was looking for local NGOs to implement a project called ‘Election Support through Voter Education (ESVE) programme which was nothing but a ruse to turn people against the government, the official said. Calling the US project ‘Operation Regime Change’, the official said that it had been brought to the notice of the Defence as well as External Affairs Ministries.

Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa told The Island that the ESVE was yet another project aimed at weakening the government in the run-up to the next election. Acknowledging the possibility of President Mahinda Rajapaksa calling presidential polls next year, the Defence Secretary said that some foreign powers were evidently trying to prop up the opposition.

The Defence Secretary said that Sri Lankans had voted at many elections since Independence from the British, and how the US was now planning to teach them of their role and responsibilities. The outspoken official said that local NGOs had collected millions of rupees from various embassies over the years for election monitoring process and campaigning for violence-free polls.

Now, the US wanted our NGOs to go a step further, the Defence Secretary said, adding that the project would be closely monitored.

The government placed all NGOs under Defence Ministry purview to prevent various funding agencies from using them as tools to destabilize the country as it was done in many other countries. The government has accused some NGOs of collaborating with the LTTE.

Defence Secretary Rajapaksa said that an urgent inquiry was need to ascertain the amount of funds received by major NGOs since the signing of the Norwegian-arranged Ceasefire Agreement (CFA) on February 21, 2002. Most of those major recipients of foreign funding had been involved in activities inimical to national security as well as economic interests, the Defence Secretary said. Responding to a query, the Defence Secretary pointed out that as the Norwegians had revealed the beneficiaries of their funding, other countries too, could reveal the funds made available to local NGOs.

The Defence Secretary said that those wanting to teach the electorate how to behave remained mum when the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) on behalf of the LTTE declared during the second week of November 2005 that Tamil speaking people shouldn’t exercise their franchise at the November 17, 2005 presidential polls. They also turned a blind eye to a damning EU report that dealt with LTTE-TNA nexus at the Dec 2001 parliamentary polls, the Defence Secretary said.

Asked whether investigations into NGO activity would further antagonize donors, the Defence Secretary said that Sri Lanka wasn’t the only country to investigate NGOs. Referring to recent Indian media reports concerning an investigation undertaken by the Intelligence Bureau there , the Defence Secretary emphasized donors couldn’t challenge the right of governments to place NGOs under scrutiny.

Nurses take midwives to Court

By Umesh Moramudali-

Government Nursing Officers' Association (GNOA) yesterday filed a case in the Court of Appeal against Health Ministry officials and Government Midwifery Services Association (GMSA) for not implementing a circular stating that midwives should be supervised by matrons.

GNOA President Saman Ratnapriya said circular 8-22/2014 issued on 18 June by Health Ministry Secretary Sudharma Karunaratne stated that matrons and nursing sisters should carry out supervision work in the hospital, but the midwives keep refusing to work under matrons.

Health Ministry Secretary, Health Services Director General Dr. Palitha Mahipala, directors of the Ragama, Peradeniya and Ratnapura hospitals and GMSA were named as respondents.
Ratnapriya said matrons and nurses are qualified health employees to be empowered to carry out supervisory activities as they are the only categories in the health sector which receives one and half years training on administration and supervising.

However, GMSA President Devika Kodituwakku said midwives are given step-motherly treatment by nurses.
"Midwives were harassed by some nurses and we refuse to work under them. Recently midwives in some hospitals were attacked by nurses," she noted.

Other Testimony On The Premadasa Murder

Late President R. Premadasa

By Rajan Hoole -June 28, 2014

Rajan Hoole

Political Murders, the Commissions and the Unfinished Task – 4

The eight days, which separated the murder of Lalith Athulathmudali on 23rd April 1993 and that of Premadasa on 1 May, were marked by stormy emotions. Premadasa’s alleged complicity in the first was widely aired. Those who were keenly struck by this atmosphere felt uneasy about accepting the LTTE’s complicity in the murder of Premadasa. One instance concerned a group of persons, whom it is said, in paying their respects to the body of Athulathmudali, swore that they would get Premadasa.

Another striking testimony came from a journalist who closely associated with Athulathmudali. The latter had good reason to fear for his life (Sects. 19.1 & 19.6). When the journalist once went to see Athulathmudali and climbed upstairs, Athulathmudali came out of the door and addressed him in a defiant tone, “So you are the one who is always cautioning me about my security? Let me tell you, if anything happens to me, Premadasa will not live another week!” The journalist asked him, “But does Premadasa know that? If not what’s the point; you will be dead!” Athulathmudali ignored the question and changed the subject. Just after Athulathmudali’s murder, a remark to the same effect was made to the journalist by a member of the former’s family. When the journalist pressed him further, he went silent.Read More