Inside Gaza’s Al-Shifa hospital

Inside Gaza’s Al-Shifa hospital

Tuesday 22 Jul 2014

Al-Shifa Hospital, the main medical facility in the Gaza Strip, has opened its doors for thousands of Palestinians fleeing an ongoing Israeli shelling of eastern Gaza City.

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Revealed: the dirty secret of the UK’s 

poultry industry

• Wednesday 23 July 2014
Two-thirds of fresh retail chicken in UK contaminated with campylobacter
• Guardian findings prompt investigations at three major supermarkets
• Government shelves plans to name and shame suppliers
Food poisoning scandal: how chicken spreads campylobacter

 l

Three of the UK’s leading supermarkets have launched emergency investigations into their chicken supplies after a Guardian investigation uncovered a catalogue of alleged hygiene failings in the poultry industry.

Revealed the Dirty Secret of the UK’s by Maria Anderson

A Nun on the Run

 Chicago Marathoner Combines Spiritual Life and Running - See more at: 

By: Jennifer Ball

For an elite college runner, breaking a foot could be an epic tragedy. For Stephanie Baliga, ranked 6th in the nation in cross-country as a freshman at University of Illinois, a broken foot rocked her universe. Going from 75 hours per week of training to hopping around campus on crutches, Baliga was lost. Little did she know then how her two passions, running and her faith, would come together.

Besides the competitive aspect, running can also be spiritual, offers Danny Dreyer, author of Chi Running: A Novice’s Guide to Spiritual Running , based on the principles of Tai Chi. “What better way to get present than to be running and feel your body moving against the earth?” Dreyer says. “I can totally imagine a spiritual runner saying she prays while she runs. If you’re going to pick a time to pray, pray while you’re in your body.”

As Baliga became more in-touch spiritually, she began to do exactly that.

After she broke her foot, Baliga—raised Catholic, but not particularly devout—began spending more time at the University’s Catholic Center and wound up on one of its retreats. Having attended mass as a child, she had never achieved certainty about the truth of Catholic doctrine.

But, when she took communion during the retreat, she became sure of her faith, as Baliga felt both the presence of Christ—and a new calling. At this unexpected turning point, she now understood and believed. But most importantly, she had faith, a juncture at which, Baliga says, “You have to do something about it.”

In Baliga’s case, doing something meant becoming Sister Stephanie, a Chicago-based nun, who often goes running at 4 a.m. so she doesn’t miss morning prayer. She finished last year’s Chicago Marathon in a personal best of 3:05.

Still running 30-40 miles per week during marathon training, Baliga says now running has become a spiritual practice.

“[It’s] very prayerful for me—just the physical movement,” she says, “If I’m doing something [physical], I can pray better.”

Now 25, Baliga couldn’t predict a life dedicated to running would become one dedicated to God. Though not every aspect of the transition came so easily.

During the process of choosing which religious community to join, Baliga considered a contemplative order, which would require her to give up running.  And she was ready to do just that until she spent a day or two with the more prayerful order and realized it wasn’t for her.

Instead Baliga joined an apostolic community, and three and a half years later, she has taken her vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. But, while her life’s purpose has changed, so has the sport that defined her.

Stephanie has used her running practice to serve her religious life in other ways: raising funds for a multi-million dollar church renovation through her participation in marathons and also serving as running coach for a soon-to-be sister named Jess Lambert.

“Stephanie never brags or even draws attention to how well she does,” Lambert says, “She was really excited for me when I reached different milestones during marathon training.”

As it turned out, that broken foot was a blessing from above, and Sister Stephanie has discovered how to integrate her two passions: running and being a sister. But, despite the dramatic change in her life’s mission, one thing remains.

“I never quit running,” Baliga says.

- See more at: http://spiritualityhealth.com/articles/nun-run#sthash.miU9nNIj.dpuf

MR’s intl. experts to study Darusman report

July 22, 2014

• Experts say Govt. asked them to advise ‘local commission probing alleged war crimes by all parties to conflict’
• ‘Coming in with an open mind’: Ex-UN war crimes prosecutor David Crane
• Foreign advisors to seek clarification on disputed matters from Govt. and Army

By Dharisha Bastians
Three top international war crimes prosecutors tasked with advising a presidential commission investigating civilian deaths during the war will study the UN Panel of Experts Report and seek clarification from the Government and the military about disputed matters.
“We have been asked by the Government of Sri Lanka to advise a local Commission investigating allegations of war crimes against all parties to the conflict,” Sir Geoffrey Nice, QC told the Daily FT by email yesterday.
The former Deputy Prosecutor at the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, who was involved in the Slobodan Milosevic trial, will be one of three international experts advising the Presidential Commission of Inquiry.
“We will, of course, study all material in the public domain and the Report of the UN Panel of experts. We will also seek clarification from the Sri Lankan Government and Army on matters we feel are in dispute,” Sir Geoffrey added.
Professor David Crane, the former Chief Prosecutor of the UN backed Special Court Sierra Leone told the Daily FT that he was aware of the Sri Lankan civil war and its “challenges and allegations”.
He echoed the sentiments of Sir Geoffrey that the advisors group convened by President Mahinda Rajapaksa would study all material about the allegations currently in the public domain.
“I come into this appointment with an open mind ready to provide my legal advice as appropriate,” Professor Crane said responding to an email from the Daily FT about the advisors’ role in the domestic probe.
Sir Desmond De Silva and Sir Geoffrey Nice, Queens Counsels, and Professor David Crane were appointed by President Rajapaksa last week to offer expert advice to the Presidential Commission on Disappearances.
The three-man Commission led by former High Court Judge Maxwell Paranagama had its mandate has been broadened by Presidential Proclamation, to probe deaths of civilians in the No Fire Zone in 2009 and the conduct of the military during that period of conflict.
The Government however made it clear soon after the announcement that the expert advisors appointed by President Rajapaksa would have no role in the investigations.
“They will offer advice. It is up to us to decide if we want to take it,” Government Spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella told journalists at the weekly Cabinet briefing last Thursday, soon after the announcement was made.
The Government has been under intense pressure internationally to establish a credible domestic process to investigate alleged abuses during the final stages of the war.
The extended mandate of the missing peoples Commission now includes inquiring into and reporting on matters under Paragraph 4: 359 of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) report, a section that deals specifically with the deaths and injuries caused to civilians in exchanges of fire within the military designated No Fire Zones, in the last days of the fighting in 2009.
The Commissioners will also look into the “adherence to or neglect of the principles of distinction, military necessity and proportionality under the laws of armed conflict and international humanitarian law, by the Sri Lankan armed forces,” the Proclamation ordered.
Sir Geoffrey told Daily FT that he has had the pleasure of working with Sir Desmond De Silva and Professor Crane previously. The three co-authored a report on Syrian detainees earlier this year.
“Our joint Report on Torture and Executions in Syria is before the UNHRC and the Security Council,” he explained.
Dr. Crane personally briefed the UN Security Council in April this year and the UN Human Rights Council in June, on the alleged war crimes being committed in Syria.

CM Versus Governor: Co-Operation Is Key To Developing North

| by Pearl Thevanayagam

(July 22, 2014, Bradford UK, Sri Lanka Guardian) Former Supreme Court Judge C.V.Wigneswaran has taken upon himself an uphill task of managing a peninsula which needs urgent rehabilitation amidst friction within and outside TNA. The government is watching with glee when it could make him cave in and succumb to pressure by pitting the NPC chief minister against the governor whose term was extended despite assurance a civilian would replace Major General Chandrasri.

But C.V. Wigneswaran is made of sterner stuff than the people give credit for in that he is first and foremost an erudite and experienced judge with impeccable credentials. He is on par with former AG Shiva Pasupathi who hailed from five generations of doctors. Tamils cannot afford to forego his tenure as chief minister since for 30 long years they have been controlled by fanatics and illiterates. 

TNA is now a mix of impulsive neophytes in politics such as Suresh Premachandran and M.A. 

Sumanthiran MP who are in a mighty hurry to bring Band-Aid solutions to the Tamil conundrum post-war however genuine their intentions are and senior politicians such as R. Sampanthan and Mavai Senathirajah who would gauge the pulse of the government against majority Tamil sentiments in their own time and weigh the pros and cons.

It is to the advantage of Tamils the TNA stalwarts of experience and erudition are now in a position to look after their interests. CVW will show no knee-jerk responses no matter what his opponents and dissenters throw at him and most of all he has no skeletons in his closet. However, he needs to shed his stubborn stance in his advancing years and co-operate with other players such as Governor Chandrasri and Douglas Devananda who are - despite criticisms - making practical moves to alleviate the immediate daily needs of the people.

Major General Chandrasiri’s actions speak a lot more than the TNA has done so far and it would be in the interest of the Tamils the NPC engages with him and Devananda who have enough clout with the government. 

That his term was extended should not be perceived as a threat but a boon to the development of the North. Their actions and on the ground realities speak more of their commitment to the North than of the rhetoric the NPC harps on that it does not have enough funds to develop North despite a budget provided by the government. Use this dammit, instead of asking for more.

The North has had its share of Sinhala, Muslim and Burgher administrators in governance, judiciary and police force in bygone years and they served it well with the support of Tamils. Until Tamils reach closure and look towards the future they have only themselves to blame and not the government which despite its flaws is atoning for its actions in the past of creating ethnic turbulence as was witnessed in the July pogrom of 1983.

One cannot eat principles such as 13A but everyone needs to feed himself on a daily basis and this is the bottom line. The injustices caused to minorities need addressing and the UNHRC probe is not going away but rather gathering momentum with the government itself reluctantly admitting war crimes could have been committed. 

It would also be a wise move to garner support from Muslim parties since we share a common language and their vote base should not be scoffed at. Ditto for mustering upcountry Tamil votes and the Tamil minority could challenge Sinhala hegemony and prove once and for all that the minorities in toto would equal the Sinhala majority are going nowhere and that their rights are as legitimate and henceforth entrenched in the constitution come hell or high-water. 

As we approach the 31st anniversary of the July 1983 pogrom against Tamils, sentiments are riding high once more and those who suffered and left the island with heavy hearts are reliving the horrors through commemorations around the world as much as Palestinians do in Black September and to a much earlier era when Hitler annihilated six million Jews to carve out a blue-eyed blond Aryan race although he was partly Jew himself.

The second generation of the Tamil diaspora are a force to reckon with despite the fact the government thumps itself on its back it vanquished the LTTE along with 40,000 or more Tamil civilians. Now it has to prove whether it wiped out terrorism or annihilated a sizeable portion of ethnic Tamils before UNHRC.

Notwithstanding the fact Tamils have suffered under successive governments, the NPC should take cognisance of the signs of fissure within the ruling party and be prepared for any eventualities such as its term coming to an end if it does not co-operate with other government bodies and garner support from our Muslim brethren.

(The writer has been a journalist for 25 years and worked in national newspapers as sub-editor, news reporter and news editor. She was Colombo Correspondent for Times of India and has contributed to Wall Street Journal where she was on work experience from The Graduate School of Journalism, UC Berkeley, California. Currently residing in UK she is also co-founder of EJN (Exiled Journalists Network) UK in 2005 the membership of which is 200 from 40 countries. She can be reached at thevanayagampearl@yahoo.co.uk)

Publish The Report On Five Trinco Student Killings Immediately – Liberal Party

July 22, 2014 

The Liberal Party in a statement to commend the government on expanding the scope of the Presidential Commission on Disappearances, has urged the publication of the Udalagama Report and for swift action to be implemented on its findings on the killing of five students in Trincomalee in 2006.

Liberal Party General Secretary, Kamal Nissanka in his statement has praised President Rajapaksa on expanding the scope of the Commission on Disappearances pointing out although it has been worded in a ‘circumspect and circumlocutory fashion’.

“It fulfills the long expressed need for an internal need into possible violations of law during the conflict,” he states.

Nissanka has also interpreted the move as the President commends President’s determination to continue with the South African initiative despite Government Minister Wimal Weerawansa’s vehement objections against it.

“The expansion of the scope helps address question of transparency and credibility raised concerning a domestic inquiry,” he adds.

Furthermore in the statement, Nissanka points out although they have always felt local officials are both competent and capable of, the failing point of the government has been in the publication of the reports of the Commissions’ work and the implementation of the recommendations.

“We welcome the recent development which we hope heralds a new understanding by the President of moral and international realities, we would also suggest that he look into past failures to act sensibly,” it has been asserted further while adding that if this step had been implemented earlier, Sri Lanka would not be facing the issue of an international inquiry.

We publish below the statement in full;

Statement of the Liberal Party of Sri Lanka welcoming the expansion of the scope of the Commission on Disappearances and the appointment of international advisers

The Liberal Party emphatically welcomes the recent gazette notification expanding the scope of the Presidential Commission on Disappearances. Though it is worded in a circumspect, and indeed circumlocutory, fashion, it fulfils the long expressed need for an internal inquiry into possible violations of law during the conflict. Thankfully, coming hard on the heels of the bombastic outburst of Minister Wimal Weerawansa, it unequivocally rejects the stand he took, which had also been undermined by the President’s determination to go on with his South African initiative.

The recent shift in position also helps to address the questions of transparency and credibility that had been raised with regard to any inquiry conducted within Sri Lanka. The Liberal Party has always felt that our own personnel were both competent and capable, and this has been justified by the work of Commissions such as that chaired by Justice Udalagama and by C R de Silva (the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission). The problem has lain in the failure of government to publish the Reports of the Commission, or to work effectively on their recommendations. But now that a panel of international experts has been appointed to assist the Commission, such problems are less likely to arise.

Indeed the gazette notification makes clear that the government is anxious to fulfil one of the most important recommendations of the LLRC. Unfortunately government seemed to have ignored this, and it is still regrettable that all recommendations have not been entrusted to the panel virtually headed by the Secretary to the Ministry of Research, Technology and Atomic Energy. The farce government went through in initially allowing the army to look into allegations of violations of law was compounded when the report, as it seems, dealt only with what was termed the Humanitarian Operation. Deliberately, or through foolishness, government ignored the fact that the LLRC had stressed the need to investigate what happened after the war. Certainly, as the Liberal Party has long argued, the forces seem to have done their best in general to have avoided civilian casualties, but there is credible evidence of executions of surrendees as with the White Flag case, which needed investigation.

Whilst welcoming the recent development, which we hope heralds a new understanding by the President of moral and international realities, we would also suggest that he look into past failures to act sensibly. Had this step been taken earlier, we would not now be facing an international inquiry, which the Liberal Party has always deplored, and thinks unnecessary. In particular, it would be tragic if the President continues to be advised by those who have brought this country to a sorry situation, which we do not deserve. The forces too should not be insulted by efforts to shield the few elements that behaved badly, since this conveys the impression that all our servicemen behave badly, which we know is not the case. In this context, the Liberal Party urges the publication of the Udalagama Report, and swift action with regard to its findings as to the killing of 5 students in Trincomalee in 2006. We are aware that the President on several occasions urged proper action in this regard, and he must not continue to be diverted from his purpose by those who do not care for the reputation of the country in general.

Related posts;

SRI LANKA: WAS IT A GENOCIDE? – ANALYSIS

By SAAG

By Dr. Parasaran Rangarajan-JULY 21, 2014

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) were one of the most advanced militant groups in the world listed as the world’s greatest terrorist threat by the United States (U.S.) Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) ahead of Al-Qaeda1.

Sri Lanka Was It a Genocide – Analysis by Maria Anderson

Living ironies and redefining democracy

By Rukshana Nanayakkara- July 21, 2014
 
Since the last Presidential election in 2010 there has been no national challenge to the existence of the government. The traditional common enemy, the main Opposition is a docile entity. So the government is losing its common enemy.
 
At present, the credible and reasoned criticism to the government's existence comes mainly from the media and Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) who work within the spheres of democracy, governance and human rights.
Indicatively, the 2014 Press Freedom Index ranked Sri Lanka 165th out of 180 countries. We share the tail end of the ranking ribbon with China, Vietnam, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Cuba and a few others. The press freedom index is a figurative indicator of media freedom in this country. Most recently, the Tamil language daily, Uthayan, came under organised attacks twice within a short span of 10 days. The office was set on fire causing severe damage to the premises. Two of its employees were nearly killed.
 
The intended dominance and control is now again moved to NGOs. This reflects the unfortunate understanding of the government the role civil society could play in a democracy. In the backdrop of the investigation to be conducted by the UN, the government is trying to subjugate the NGOs, who at present are the only alternative criticism to the actions and voices of the government.
 
There are many integral parts to a democracy. It is the civil society which brings out the organized voice of the constituencies as well as helps highlight key issues faced by the voters in between elections. It brings the voices of the often unheard and marginalized to the forefront. It brings an alternative voice to the mainstream to expand horizons. Holders of the power who are often unwilling to move and living in comfort zones become the focus of criticism of the NGOs. In a living democracy, the NGOs play a key role in expanding boundaries.
 
On the other hand, this is the role that regimes begrudge and resist. If power is moved for the benefit of the vested interest, an alternative voice is what is resented and threatened. In Sri Lanka, our international relations are already being propelled on a path alternate to the championing cause of human rights, democracy and good governance; our development model is coated with secrecy and is politically motivated.
 
Ironically, the space for NGOs was what was used by the present President when he was in the Opposition, to highlight human rights violations in the country. He armoured his political campaign against the then United National Party (UNP) Government with information he received from the civil society. In fact, it was the civil society which assisted him to go to Geneva to talk about the disappearances in Sri Lanka.
 
Another living irony is Prof. G. L. Peiris, whose teaching on international law once found its corner stones in democracy. His recent statements have alleged that a large amount of money is flowing into the country at present as funds for NGOs particularly during election times. According to the minister the aim of these programmes was not educating people about citizens' right but to change the regime. The minister has asked the people of this country to mobilize themselves against these NGOs stating that NGOs lecturing the citizens of this country on voting was an insult to the voters. Unfortunately the government and the political party that the minister represents at present engaged in violating people rights and election regulations during the time of past elections insulting right of the voters. The party of the government has been accused and proved with evidence of using public property for its election campaign. Unfortunately the honourable minister's statement was only a reflection of paranoia of slowly losing popularity of the government (as echoed in the last provincial council elections) even in the absence of a strong opposition.

The government's attempts to limit NGO activities are clear violation of fundamental rights of freedom of association and assembly. Undoubtedly NGOs themselves are accountable to their actions and money that they receive from donors and people. Nevertheless such accountability and scrutiny should not come from a State apparatus as of the present regime who themselves live in paranoia and frown at the activities of NGOs who often provide an alternate voice to their authoritarian actions.

Sri Lanka's militant monk rejects Dalai Lama 

as spiritual leader 

In this photograph taken on March 29, 2013 , Sri Lankan Buddhist monk Galagodaatte Gnanasara speaks during a press conference in Colombo, denying involvement in an overnight attack against a Muslim-owned clothing store just outside the capital. The island's top firebrand monk on July 22, 2014 criticised the Dalai Lama for urging Sri Lankan Buddhists to halt violence against minority Muslims and rejected the Tibetan as a global spiritual leader. -- PHOTO: AFP

Published on Jul 22, 2014

COLOMBO (AFP) - A firebrand Sri Lankan monk on Tuesday criticised the Dalai Lama for urging the island's Buddhists to halt violence against minority Muslims and rejected him as a global spiritual leader.

Buddhist monk Galagodaatte Gnanasara said the Dalai Lama was ignorant of the "true situation in Sri Lanka" and accused the Nobel Peace Prize winner of being a victim of "Islamic extremist propoganda".

The exiled Tibetan spiritual leader earlier this month asked Buddhists in Myanmar and Sri Lanka "to imagine an image of Buddha" before committing any crimes against Muslims, in a plea to halt the violence.

"We don't accept the Dalai Lama as a world leader of Buddhists," Gnanasara told reporters. "He is a creation of the West. For them, he is to Buddhists what the Pope is to Catholics, but not for us."

Prison Officers To Face Investigation Over Shielding Tangalle Murderer-Rapist

July 21, 2014

Just days after the verdict given on the murder case of British aid worker Khuram Shaikh, the Prisons Department has stated that UPFA strongman and former Chairman of Tangalle Pradeshiya Sabha, Sampath Chandrapushpa Vidhanapathirana – the main suspect found guilty of murdering the British aid worker and raping his fiancé – maybe able to walk out a free man in 12 ½ years instead of undergoing the full term of 20 years as per the judgment.

Officers had shielded the Vidanapathirana while escorting him back to the Prison from the Colombo magistrate courts after the verdict was given | Photo Foreign Correspondents’ Association of Sri Lanka – Facebook page

Local media reports that have quoted the Prisons Department states that according to the ranking system that is applicable to prisoners, an individual assigned a sentence of 20 years of rigorous imprisonment can reduce their sentence to 12 years and nine months on ‘good behaviour’.

Moreover, it has also been reported that a separate investigation has been launched into the actions of five officials attached to the Prisons Department, who had shielded the Vidanapathirana while escorting him back to the Prison from the Colombo magistrate courts after the verdict was given.

Prisons Commissioner C Pallegama had been quoted in media stating that the personnel had no authority to commit such an act and that the investigation will be on the matter. The investigation had been instructed following complaints by media personnel who were obstructed by the prisons officials in question who removed their headgear and using them as shield to cover the video cameras.

UNP accuses Government on probe

By admin on July 22, 2014

The main opposition United National Party (UNP) today accused the Government of making a U-turn on investigations over the war by expanding the mandate of the missing persons commission and also appointing three foreign experts to oversee the investigation.

The UNP noted that a proclamation issued by President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Gazetted on July 15, among other matters, calls for an investigation into alleged war crimes. For this purpose, the terms of reference of the Commission of Inquiry probing disappearances has been expanded. Three international advisors, who have prosecuted at UN war crimes tribunals, have been appointed. More are to be added.

“Since the military defeat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), over five years ago, the UPFA Government has consistently maintained that no war crime probes were necessary since Sri Lankan troops have not committed any of  them. This position has been enunciated at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva and locally at different occasions. Addressing the nation on Victory Day, President Rajapaksa has repeatedly re-iterated that the troops fought with the UN Human Rights Charter on one hand and a gun on the other. At last year’s elections to Southern and Western Provincial Councils, he exhorted from public platforms that he would rather face the ‘electric chair’ than betray the troops of Sri Lanka,” the UNP said.

The UNP says now the UPFA Government seems to be concurring with the views of the international community that alleged war crimes should be investigated.

The United National Party strongly believes that both President Rajapaksa and his UPFA Government should reveal to the public why a major policy change on such an important matter was made secretly. The UNP notes with serious concern that this course of action has been without any recourse to the Cabinet of Ministers.

The UNP also strongly believes the public should also know whether the actions are in the best interests of Sri Lanka or are the outcome of ignorant, shady but powerful brokers who are on an adventure wrapping up secret diplomatic deals behind the backs of the people. (Colombo Gazette)

SRI LANKA: Justice denied to two child victims of rape at the hands of the armed forces

   armed forces -                                       Defence Minister Rajapaksa with Sinhala children

 

July 22, 2014

There have been reports of an alleged abduction and rape of an eleven-year-old girl by a group of Navy officers, and of another nine-year-old girl treated in a similar manner.  In the first case, the soldiers have been serving at Karainagar Navy base have been deployed to patrol Ureddikulam, Urkatturai, Karainagar city and Kytes. Seven were initially arrested and their names are Ajith Kumara, Rupasinghe Aarachilage Chamara Indika, Nadira Dilshan Ratnayake, Kudabalage Jayaweera, Indika Kumara Vithanarachchi, Ranasinghe Sumith Subash and Vikum Senage Piyasiri Dissanayake, all serving the Karainager Navy base.

After the news of these rapes spread, the parents of the victims were threatened and they are reported to be living in fear. It is under these circumstances that an identification parade was held at the local magistrate’s courts, where all seven suspects were brought. The eleven-year-old girl, who earlier made a statement about the kidnapping and gang rape, failed to identify the sailors. There are serious grounds on which to believe that the girl was acting under stress and in fear as she and her parents have been threatened for exposing the rape. The medical report has confirmed that the girl was raped.

However, the Navy officers were released on personal bail. Personal bail means signing a guarantee to appear in court, and if one does not appear then the amount given has to be paid to the court. One was given an order for personal bail at the amount of rs. 250, and the amount of rs. 5,000 was set for three others.

The rape of a young child by members of the armed forces is a serious crime. The fact that the area where this happened is now under the control of the armed forces is another aspect which adds to the weight of the crime. Naturally, people in these areas live in great fear of the armed forces. Now that a report of a serious crime has been lodged against seven officers, the families of victims and the entire neighborhoods would be living in serious fear. The girl’s failure to identify the perpetrators of the crime is quite likely to be due to such fear. She may even have been instructed by adults not to identify the perpetrators because her life and the life of her family would be in serious jeopardy if she does so.

It is the duty of the leaders of the armed forces to guarantee security to those who report crimes committed by armed forces personnel, particularly in areas that are under the control of the armed forces, as there is no one who can guarantee the safety of people except the leaders of the armed forces themselves. Even the police cannot be expected to be in a position to guarantee security to the victim and her family, given the overwhelming presence of the armed forces.  However, there is no evidence to support that the leaders of the armed forces and, in particular, the leadership of the Navy, has taken adequate measures to guarantee such security.

It is also the duty of the government, and the Ministry of Defence and Urban Development in particular, to ensure the security of the civilians living in these areas. Of particular importance is the security of young children. There is no indication that the government is making any effort to guarantee such security in this instance and the normal situation that prevails in the country is that the government and the Defence Ministry promotes impunity.

There have been protests in the streets by people demanding action on the part of the armed forces and the government. However, the usual response to such protests by the government is to ignore them.

Thus, while a heinous crime against two children has been reported, there will in all likelihood be no serious attempt to guarantee proper investigations and the prosecution of the offenders.

The fact is that, now, Sri Lanka does not have a public justice system. Any of the developments towards a public justice system that happened during the British colonial times and that were continued in the first few decades after independence have now been deliberately displaced and dismantled. The essential features of a public justice system are a government-funded and well-managed system of receiving and investigating into complaints, done through the police, an independent and impartial prosecution system, and a competent, committed and independent judiciary. All that is now lost. There is public understanding of this loss.

Now everything depends on political influence and monetary power. Political influence prevails even over monetary power. This is the fate of all Sri Lankans now and these two cases of the rape of children by Navy officers is a stark exposure of the fate of every person in the country.

Sri Lanka today is one of the most backward and primitive places when looked at from the point of view of the possibilities of justice meted out through a functioning public justice system. Unfortunately, even an issue as important as this has not become a part of the public discourse in Sri Lanka. While there are private murmurs about Sri Lanka as a lawless place, there is hardly any attempt to develop an organized resistance against the displacement and dismantling of justice.

To be without the assistance of a public justice system is essentially akin to slavery. The rapes of these two children at the hands of the country’s armed forces personnel and the aftermath, in which justice has been completely denied, makes the point starkly clear that between slaves and the people of Sri Lanka, there is not much of a distinction.

No government that fails to maintain a functional public justice system could be considered a legitimate government. The situation is even worse when a government deliberately destroys the public justice system. The Rajapaksa government’s serious lack of legitimacy is being sharply expressed in these two incidents of the rape of children at the hands of officers of the armed forces.

Karaingar rape: Navy sailors identified

Monday, 21 July 2014 

The navy sailors who allegedly raped an 11 year old girl for 11 days and another 9 year old girl have been identified as Ajith Kumara, Rupasinghe Arachchilage Chamara Indika, Nadeera Dilshan Rathnayake, Kudabalage Jayaweera, Indika Kumara Vithanarachchi, Ranasinghe Sumith Subhash, Vikum Senage Piyasiri Dissanayake of Karainagar Navy base.

The sailors who have been serving at the Karainagar Navy base have been deployed on patrolling in Ureddikulam, Urkatturai, Karainagar city and Kytes.

The OIC of Crime Division of Kytes Police SI R.K.B Ratnayake in the B report submitted to the court under B/64/2014 has mentioned that the above mentioned 7 suspects are produced before court under the suspicion of rape based on the minor’s statement claiming that they kidnapped and gang raped the girl.

However, the Kytes acting Magistrate on 18th released the saliors, who were alleged of gang raping the minor, on bail on the grounds of one personal bail at the amount of Rs.250 and three other personal bails at the amount of Rs.5000.

Rape suspect sailors get political treatment

Published on Monday, 21 July 2014 18:42

A coordinating secretary of the President has reportedly ordered the police not to take action against the Navy personnel who had allegedly raped an 11-year old girl for 11 days as well as another 9-year old girl.

The reports further indicate that the particular officer has called the Kytes Police on two occasions after the incidents and said that if they were put under remand custody that will cause the losing of moral among the forces.

The particular crime has been recorded on 18 July 2014 in the register maintained by Kytes police regarding offenses against minors under the number 13/2014 reporting that a female minor has been kidnapped and gang raped. With reference to such cases it is mandatory to produce a JMO report before court.

However, following the particular order when presenting facts before the court under the B report number B/64/2014 with regard to the case a JMO report has not been submitted, reports say.

Following the above mentioned order, in order to ensure the issuing of bail the 7 sailors have not been produced before court with a JMO report but only with a statement claiming that the occurrence of rape is suspected based on the statement recorded from the girl.

It is said that this was done to ease the bail procedure.

The Chief Magistrate of Kytes ordered the 7 sailors to be kept under remand custody. However, the Kytes acting Magistrate had released the suspects. They were each released on a cash bail of Rs. 250 and three other personal bails amounting to Rs.5000.

Visiting Portugal Leader Urged to raise Security for Witnesses to UN War Crimes Investigation: TGTE

 Monday, 21 July 2014 

In an appeal to the Prime Minister of Portugal Mr. Pedro Passos Coelho, the Prime Minister of Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam Mr. Visuvanathan Rudrakumaran has urged the Portugal leader to raise with Sri Lankan President the issue of security for witnesses who will be testifying before a UN inquiry for the mass killing of Tamils.

Prime Minister of Portugal is currently visiting Sri Lanka.

The UN Human Rights Council in its March 2014 Session created an investigative body on Sri Lanka.

The Sri Lankan Government has taken a hostile attitude towards this investigation and some Cabinet Ministers have warned anyone from testifying before this body.

"Several Tamils who are either victims or witnesses are eager to testify to seek justice for the mass killing of their relatives and other Tamils" said Mr. Rudrakumaran.

"As the first world leader to visit Sri Lanka since the creation of the UN investigative body, you have enormous opportunity and responsibility to urge Sri Lankan President not to harm Tamils who testify before this UN body" continued Mr. Rudrakumaran.

"There are also concerns that the Sri Lankan Security forces may target the relatives of the witnesses."

According to United Nations Internal Review Report on Sri Lanka over 70,000 Tamils were killed in five months in early 2009 and Tamil women were sexually abused and raped by the Sri Lankan Security Forces. This UN investigation is about these and other abuses.

BACKGROUND:

Tamils have faced repeated mass killings since 1958 and the mass killings in 2009 prompted UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to appoint a Panel of Experts to report on the scale of killings.

According to the report by this UN Panel, tens of thousands of Tamil civilians were killed and women were sexually abused and raped by the Sri Lankan Security Forces (According to UN Internal Review Report over 70,000 Tamils were killed in five months in 2009).

These Tamils were killed due to deliberate and intense shelling and bombing of areas designated by the government as "no-fire zones", where Tamil civilians had assembled for safety. The Sri Lankan Government also restricted food and medicine for Tamils, resulting in large numbers of people dying from starvation and many of the injured bleeding to death.

According to the UN Panel, the killings and other abuses that took place amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity. Independent experts believe that there are elements of these abuses that constitute an act of genocide.

According to a May 2012 report by the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office on Human Rights and Democracy; there are up to 90,000 Tamil war widows in the North-East of Sri Lanka.

UN Human Rights Council in March 2014 established an international war crimes investigation to investigate these killings and the investigations have begun.

A Buddhist Monk shot and killed a Sri Lankan Prime Minister in 1958 for having talks with Tamil political leaders to find a solution to the conflict.

Members of the Sri Lankan security forces are almost exclusively from the Sinhalese community and the victims are all from the Tamil community.

Tamils overwhelmingly voted in a Parliamentary election in 1977 to establish an independent and sovereign country called Tamil Eelam. This Parliamentary election was conducted by the Sri Lankan Government.

ABOUT TRANSNATIONAL GOVERNMENT OF TAMIL EELAM (TGTE):

Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE) is a democratically elected Government of Tamils (from the island of Sri Lanka) living in several countries. TGTE was formed after the mass killing of Tamils by the Sri Lankan Government in 2009.

TGTE held internationally supervised elections among Tamils around the world to elect 132 Members of Parliament and is leading a campaign to realize Tamils’ political aspirations through peaceful, diplomatic and democratic means.

TGTE has a bicameral legislature and a Cabinet and held one of its Parliamentary sittings in the British Parliament. The Constitution of the TGTE mandates that it should realize its political objective only through peaceful means.

The Prime Minister of TGTE is Mr. Visuvanathan Rudrakumaran, a New York based lawyer.