On War Criminals & Privileged Holidaymakers

By Chaminda Weerawardhana –August 27, 2015

Dr. Chaminda Weerawardhana

Ex British Prime Minister and multi-millionaire Tony Blair’s summer holiday in Sri Lanka has been taking place under privileged conditions, with next to no media exposure. A visit that takes place on the invitation of those holding the reins of power in Colombo, the Blairs were provided with state security and amenities during their visit. Two people who have played a special role in facilitating this visit were, indeed, Mnagala Samaraweera MP andChandrika Kuamaratunga. The former, a clothing design graduate of Central Saint Martin’s in London, was also instrumental in fixing up a meeting between Tony Blair and Mahinda Rajapaksa back in 2006. That meeting took place in Britain, at a different time, for Messrs Samaraweera, Rajapaksa and Blair. In the previous year, Samaraweera played a frontline role in Rajapaksa’s presidential campaign, which led to Rajapaksa’s election as Sri Lanka’s fifth executive president. In that same year, Blair secured his third re-election as British Prime Minister, with a parliamentary majority slashed to a mere 66 seats (as opposed to UK Labour’s 160-seat majority in the previous parliament). Having been Prime Minister since 1997, Blair’s popularity was in decline. A key reason for this was Blair’s decision to support the Bush administration’s war in Iraq, in the absence of a 2nd UN resolution. At the 2005 general election, the Liberal Democrats castigated Blair as responsible for the carnage that was Iraq, an argument that won for them a good few disenchanted Labour voters.

Flash forward to 2015.

Samaraweera

Having just won the general election with a high count of preferential votes, Samaraweera has been reappointed to a cabinet ministerial portfolio somewhat removed, to say the very least, from his profession-proper (i.e. fashion designer) – that of foreign affairs. Indeed, Sri Lanka often distinguishes herself in appointing individuals with no prior experience in diplomacy and/or international civil service, no significant foreign experience, experience with international consultancies, or remarkable foreign language skills (other than Sinhala, Tamil and English) to spearhead its foreign policy apparatus. Having said that, Samaraweera’s appointment is less appalling, when compared with some of his predecessors, and more alarmingly, the track record of foreign affairs ministers who happened to be highly qualified, such as university professors. To borrow from Paul Auster, the Music of Chance certainly appears to be in Samaraweera’s favour in the 2015 quarter.

Rajapaksa

Rajapaksa was ousted from power in January 2015. Local specifics put aside, this was the result of an operation that received U.S. and Indian endorsement. Given the security challenges the USA is facing in the South China Sea, there is a clear effort to ensure that USA-friendly governments hold power across the South and Southeast Asian regions. In this light, it was neither majoritarian politics, corruption nor nepotism that caused disfavour for Rajapaksa internationally, but his close ties with Beijing. Rajapaksa’s second attempt at a political comeback was equally thwarted, through political machinations that ensured the West’s preferred outcome. Media reports indicate that Rajapaksa has nonetheless decided to remain in politics, most probably to wait for a new opportunity to spearhead a Sinhala nationalist uproar against the Ranil Wickremesinghe government. There is no question of the fact that the Rajapaksa ousting has been favourable for media freedom and fundamental rights. Domestically, a primary cause of public disenchantment with the Rajapaksa administration stemmed from the myopic policies of his siblings and preposterousness of his offspring. Despite his downfall, Rajapaksa continues to command the support of a considerable segment of the Sinhala community.

                                                                   .Read More

Takeaways from Sri Lanka General Election

by Col R Hariharan  

( August 27, 2015, Chennai, Sri Lanka Guardian) After the din of recently concluded general election in Sri Lanka is over, the United National Party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe has been sworn in as Sri Lanka’s prime minister. He is poised to work with a national unity government. There are eight takeaways from the election and its aftermath that can help in visualising the future course of events in the island nation.

1. Positive trends: A number of positive trends have emerged both in the conduct and in the aftermath of elections. People have shown that whipping up of Sinhala nationalist rhetoric or holding up the bogey of revival of Tamil separatism is not enough to win elections. They would rather prefer clean governance than ostentatious of display of power by the rulers. The peaceful conduct of elections holds a lesson for other South Asian nations: if the national leadership is determined it can ensure the government, administration and election commission come together, without working at cross purposes, to conduct peaceful elections. The abhorrent trend of local politicians was waving pistols and intimidating the public that had invaded the body politics in recent times. The election has shown they will have to change their act.
2. Rajapaksa’s fault lines: The electoral defeat of the former president for a second time within six months showed that he had not understood the dynamics of change that had become embedded in public discourse to win elections. Comparatively, Sirisena despite his low profile and soft rhetoric had done better. Of course, Rajapaksa will continue to be respected as a national hero for eliminating the Tamil Tigers. Yes; Southern Sinhala Buddhist constituency will probably continue to vote for him. No; that will not be sufficient to win an election without an inclusive agenda. And the bogey of revival of terrorism of the LTTE kind probably carries only limited credibility.  The failure of Rajapaksa coming to power showed the limitations of banking upon personality cult. But that is not enough to recoup credibility in public life; integrity in action is equally important. His reputation appears to have been badly bruised by allegations of corruption, misuse of office, family politics and cronyism. So Rajapaksa has to clean up his act rather than depending upon his cronies’ advice if he does not want to fade away from political limelight.  And keep the family at arm’s length; they have already done enough damage to him.
3. Sirisena’s strengths: President Sirisena has demonstrated that he was unfazed by political obstacles in the run up to the election. Probably other Rajapaksa and other SLFP leaders had underestimated his courage of conviction to pursue his end goals with doggedness and push aside political obstacles.  Though he was not strong within the party to prevent Rajapaksa hijacking the SLFP and the UPFA alliance, Sirisna showed enough mettle to express his determination to prevent Rajapaksa coming back to power. Probably this created enough confusion among the leaders who jumped to the Rajapaksa camp to carry out damage control.  Sirisena dissolved the Central Committee which was working against his interests as party leader at the first opportunity without the usual political palaver. If he can build upon his credibility, chances for the durability of the national unity government are bright.  And that is necessary to fulfill the promises he made to get the January 8th mandate from the people.
4. Ranil’s tough task table: The smooth-talking Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has a tough task ahead. From his interview to The Hindu, he appears to be aware of it. Completion of the structural change process to improve integrity of national institutions; improve accountability of the government and administration to the people; complete corruption investigations and bring the culprits to book; refine the election process; resume the political process with Tamil leadership to bring it to a logical conclusion; and last, but not least, build national consensus to produce a constitution to embed the changes made. This a tall order for any political leader to fulfill. Ranil had failed to take the peace process 2002 to a satisfactory conclusion; and President Kumaratunga and Prabhakaran were there to share the blame. But he has none now. Can he succeed? He appears to be clear that the UNP and SLFP have to come together to fulfill his tasks. Though President Sirisena is with him, will SLFP stop sharpening their axes and rise up to the occasion to help the prime minister?  Even the famous court astrologers would not dare to answer this question; so it’s wait-and-watch time now.
5. Muslim polity: The election has shown that the Muslim voter is no more the meek follower of their leaders.  They cannot take the peoples support for granted any more. That means in future the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) and the All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) will think twice before going along with Rajapaksa. Rajapaksa’s failure to attend to the concerns of Muslim community during anti-Muslim violence by fringe elements has cost him dearly in both the elections he faced. It could haunt him for some time despite all his skill at political maneuvering.
6. Tamils want positive action: The Tamil voter wants action-oriented approach than an emotional approach to improve his lot now. He is getting tired of empty rhetoric glorifying Tamils, notwithstanding the indelible and grim memories of the LTTE armed struggle for separate Eelam. The moderates within the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) leadership had excluded former LTTE cadres in their electoral discourse. But they cannot ignore their genuine grievances highlighted by their independent group, in any political dialogue with the Wickremesinghe government.  To sum up, TNA should work on an action plan to immediately improve the quality of life  of the war-affected population still living on the fringe as well as take up development work without any delay. For this they need to adopt a nuanced approach than solely depending upon resumption of political dialogue process. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has indicated that his willingness to rework the federal format within the ambit of 13thconstitutional amendment. Though this may not meet Tamil aspirations fully, Tamils should use this opportunity   to work with him rather than against him lest they miss the opportunity when the constitution is recast. In a nut shell, Tamil leaders will have to be pragmatic rather than dogmatic in their approach.
7. No corruption: Rajapaksa’s failure showed people are probably not going to forget the allegations of massive corruption against him soon. This would come as a surprise for many because corruption is an endemic problem in Sri Lanka, just as it is in India or any other South Asian country. So political leaders of all hues will have to clean up their style of backroom politics. Such an environment would enable President Sirisena to introduce checks to root out not only corruption in public life and government but also break up the politico-bureaucrat-business nexus that had been the bane of Sri Lanka.
8. Time for positive action from Tamil Nadu: The defeat of Rajpaksa has deprived Tamil Nadu politicians and TV anchors of their favourite whipping horse. The soft profile of Sirisena, and lack of fireworks in Sri Lanka politics now and conciliatory noises at the UNHRC have pushed Sri Lanka from mainstream political discourse in Tamil Nadu. The success of Sirisena-Wickremesinghe combine in the parliamentary election has further downscaled Sri Lanka from visual media’s TRP quest. Time has come for the ruling AIADMK to get away from political rhetoric and to produce a broader positive action agenda to benefit Sri Lankan Tamils. They could expand upon the positive vibes created in the wake of Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Jaffna to benefit Tamils trying to pick up their normal life. As a first step AIADMK should interact not only with Sri Lankan Tamil leaders but also the people to understand their pressing needs.  Tamil Nadu has the resources to undertake this; what is needed is the will. Some of the areas that come to mind are increasing job opportunities for widows and youth by investing in new enterprises and opening up educational institutions in Tamil Nadu. Such positive action could reinforce the AIADMK’s political strength particularly at a time when opposition parties are in total disarray and state elections are in the horizon.

(Col R Hariharan, a retired MI specialist on South Asia, served as the head of intelligence with the Indian Peace Keeping Force (1987-90). He is associated with the Chennai Centre for China Studies and the South Asia Analysis Group. E-mail for feedback:haridirect@gmail.com Blog: http://col.hariharan.info)

* U.S. promises to stand by Sri Lanka and support the government's forward-looking agenda

Tue, Aug 25, 2015, 08:12 pm SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.


Aug 25, Colombo: The United States will standby Sri Lanka and support the new government to continue its forward looking agenda for the progress, a top U.S. official said today.

Addressing a media briefing in Colombo Tuesday, after a meeting with Sri Lanka's Foreign Affairs Minister Mangala Samaraweera, the Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Tom Malinowski said the U.S. has seen steady progress towards the forward looking agenda of this government.
Since his visits earlier this year and Secretary of State John Kerry's visit in May to Sri Lanka, the progress witnessed by the U.S. has been heartening to all the people around the world, Malinowski said, adding that the most recent example is the recent election, another promise made that was kept.

The U.S. official said the message sent by the Sri Lankans twice this year that they support change is the most important.

"What is most important to us is the message that the people of Sri Lanka have sent. Twice now this year the people of Sri Lanka - North, South, East, and West - have told us that they support change."

"Twice now they have voted -- North, South, East, and West -- for the rule of law. Against impunity, for reconciliation, for building this country, developing this country for everyone, and against the politics of ethnic and religious division. Against extremism on both sides," Malinowski said.

He said the people of Sri Lanka have set an important challenge for their government and for the international community.

"They have told us that the promise of this transition now needs to be fulfilled, and what we hear from the government is a recognition that the work, the hard work, must continue to meet their expectations," the Assistant Secretary noted.

He said the U.S. recognizes that some of the choices people had are going to be difficult and the process will take time. "Nobody expects miracles," he added.

However, the official noted that they see an extraordinary opportunity for the government so long as forward momentum is sustained and the US has an extraordinary responsibility to support the process so long as the government of Sri Lanka keeps making courageous decisions.

"The United States will stand by its side and provide the support that is needed to keep this process going forward until Sri Lanka succeeds in every respect in terms of security, economic development, democracy, and playing its rightful role as a respected leader on the world stage," Assistant Secretary said.

Assistant Secretary Malinowski was accompanied by the Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Nisha Biswal, U.S. Ambassador to Colombo Atul Keshap, Foreign Affairs Minister Mangala Samaraweera, Resettlement Minister D, Swaminathan, and Justice Minister Wijedasa Rajapakshe.

Audio of the press conference

US to obtain UN backing for Sri Lanka’s domestic war crimes investigation

* Says SL’s changed attitude needs to be acknowledged

by Zacki Jabbar-August 26, 2015, 9:56 pm 

The US said yesterday that it had decided to move a resolution at next month’s United Nations Human Rights Council meeting in Geneva calling on member states to support Sri Lanka’s independent domestic probe into allegations of war crimes leveled against its previous government and LTTE.

Visiting US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, Nisha Biswal, speaking to a group of journalists in Colombo, said that the US decision stems from a change of attitude by the new Sirisena-Wickremesinghe administration to constructively engage the international community having recognized that they were an integral part of it.

Biswal observed that Tom Malinowski, who was US Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labour and she had, after meeting President Maithripala Srisena, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and other government leaders over the last two days, realised that there was a genuine commitment on their part to addressing reconciliation and rehabilitation issues aimed at uniting all communities in a such a manner that they could move forward as one nation.

The US resolution at the United Nations Human Rights Council would be moved after the Council released its delayed report on an inquiry that it had conducted into charges of war crimes against the previous government and LTTE, which was earlier due to be presented at its March sessions, she said.

Rajapaksas has agreed to return the public money spent for the Rajapaksa family tomb

Aug 27, 2015

The D. A. Rajapaksa foundation has come forward to return the 600 million given to them from Land cumulate and Development Corporation budgeted for the Weeraketiya Scheme in order to modernize the deceased tombs of the former president Mahinda Rajapaksa and the brother’s father late D.A. Rajapaksa and Mrs. Rajapaksa.

The corporation started its construction under the intervention of the ministry of defense and urban development.

 

The state auditors has sent an audit inquiry to the land cumulative corporation citing this wasteful expenditure questioning why such a large amount of money has been spent to renovate the family tombs of late Mr. & Mrs. D.A. Rajapaksa under the Weeraketiya Development Scheme.

 

The money has been spend for growing lotus flowers, pound engravings, construct a pond, flower railings decorations and to renovate the road reaching the graves.

 

During the state audit it was revealed the former chairman and the management of the land cumulative corporation has spent this large fund when the institution was ailing from a financial crisis and waiting for a grant applied for a large loan.

 

However an internal inquiry was conducted under the current chairman of the land cumulative corporation about this wasteful expenditure.

 

Under this situation when this news was published over the media the D.A. Rajapaksa Foundation has requested a report from the relevant ministry secretary and reported to have agreed to pay the stipulated amount.

Free & Public: Third Alternative For Educational Reform

By Sumanasiri Liyanage –August 27, 2015

Sumanasiri Liyanage

The UNP-SLFP national government would go for more privatization in education and health sectors. This would adversely affect the lower strata of the society aggravating the problem inequality. How to face this challenge and protect free education and health is one of the issues that needs creative and novel answers.

One of my favorite books that is always on my table for easy and quick reference is Istvan Meszaros’s Beyond Capital: Towards a Theory of Transition, the book that was loved and oftentimes quoted by Hugo Chavez, the beloved leader of the Venezuelan people. After the fall of the Soviet system, the issue as to whether a socialist transformation is possible had been raised not only by liberal writers but also by some Marxists. Many Marxists in Sri Lanka have already retreated to comfortable path of democracy and good governance. We are very much aware of the fact that even a left party or formation comes to power in Sri Lanka soon, that government cannot build socialism in the immediate future. The best recent example for this is that of Syriza government in Greece.

Any left government would immediately face what Walter Benjamin aptly called the “critical state of the present” in which the “status quo threatens to be preserved” by the operation of multiple factors that are supportive of the status quo. Chavez knew this very well so that he developed a long term strategy of transition carefully avoiding two weak pillars of the Soviet system, namely, the dominance of state capital and the absence of democracy. Meszaros’s magnum opus develops a thesis that a democratic system can be built moving away from the dominance of capital irrespective of the fact whether this capital is owned by the state or private corporations or individuals. However, it is necessary to keep in mind that this system is not yet socialism, as Marx defined it as the system of “associated producers”. In such a system, as Meszaeos has convincingly argued, capital ceases to be capital.

                                Read More

The Deconstruction of a Supremacist

Photo via Al Jazeera

• by Anura Gunasekera 
• - on 08/27/2015

Notwithstanding his rise to ultimate  power as a politician in this country,  Mahinda Rajapaksa retains the mindset of  an uneducated peasant , in this instance  from Giruwapattuwa. Despite being one of the most shrewd, and one of the most successful  political manipulators in the short independent history of this country, he opts to place his faith in necromancy, soothsaying, the casting of bones and the reading of entrails, rather than in the intelligence of his political sense. This is absolutely  no reflection on the Giruwapattuwa peasant who, under all normal circumstances, would be a splendid individual and a decent , honest, law-abiding citizen; that is, until he becomes the President of Sri Lanka.

The Deconstruction of a Supremacist by Thavam Ratna

Ex-Minister, top army officer involved?

2015-08-27
The son of M.S.M Niyaz (alias Loku Seeya, and a former kapuwa of Ragama Devalaya) has lodged a complaint with the Presidential Commission of Inquiry to Investigate and Inquire into Serious Acts of Fraud, Corruption and Abuse of Power, State Resources, and Privileges (PRECIFAC) that his father’s killing had taken place with the knowledge of a former minister and a top army official.

The son, M.N.M. Hijaz (alias Chooty Seeya), had said in his complaint that he had received information that state property had been used for the abduction and killing and requested that an investigation be made.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is also investigating the killing. (Sujith Hewajulige) - See more at: http://www.dailymirror.lk/85023/loku-seeya-s-killing-ex-minister-top-army-officer-involved#sthash.pxqyyFFY.dpuf

When winners lose out to runners-up

Now it looks as if the next two years at least will be a much more but still compromised benevolent oligarchy in which ‘national government’ means precious little in terms of accountability to the people

 Friday, 28 August 2015

Politics, like cricket, is a game of glorious uncertainties. Yesterday, your guard was virtually impenetrable and you look set for a very long innings indeed at the crease. Today, someone you thought was on the same side might choose to run you out in a cavalier act of insouciance. Tomorrow, if you’re still in, in the side, and available for a second innings, you could return the compliment with a corresponding coup: insouciance for the goose is insouciance for the gander. That’s politics.

When Winners Lose Out to Runners-up by Thavam Ratna

Top CID officer lends money: fish dealers evade repayment 

 Aug 27, 2015

SSP Shani Abeysekara of the CID is running a money lending business. We will soon expose how he finds that much money to be a lender.

This SSP loaned Rs. 02 million each to two dealers at the Colombo fish market. But, they are now evading payments, including the interest. Angered by that, Abeysekara has assigned four of his officers to get back the money from the duo somehow.

However, the two fish dealers are using their connections and continuing to evade paying back money to him.

Have thousands of Russian soldiers died in Ukraine?

WEDNESDAY 26 AUGUST 2015

A Russian website publishes what appear to be official figures showing that more than 2,000 soldiers have died fighting in eastern Ukraine, as Moscow insists its regular forces are not involved..

Putin U-turn

Have Thousands of Russian Soldiers Died in Ukraine by Thavam Ratna

“Breaking the Fear Factor”: Opposing War, Financial Fraud and State Terrorism, Dismantling Propaganda

By Peter Koenig-August 24, 2015

We are living in a (western) world dominated by neoliberal dictators, criminals and crooks. And many of us, impregnated with the human idiocy, as so well described by  Andre Vltcheck (The West Spreads Intellectual Idiocy) are every day deeper and deeper immersed into fear – fear of action, fear of what’s next – fear of losing our comfort zone. The western propaganda machine paid for by the corporate and financial oligarchy through the presstitute media is constantly indoctrinating the little we have left of our free-thinking brains.

“Breaking the Fear Factor” Opposing War, Financial Fraud and State Terrorism, Dismantling Propaganda by Thavam Ratna

Report: Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal could become the world’s third-biggest

This image released by the Pakistani government shows the test launching of a Ghaznavi missile at an undisclosed location in Pakistan on May 10, 2012. Pakistan successfully test-fired a short-range missile capable of delivering a nuclear warhead, Pakistan's military said. (Interservices Public Relations department/AP)

By Tim Craig-August 27

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — A new report by two American think tanks asserts that Pakistan may be building 20 nuclear warheads annually and could have the world’s third-largest nuclear stockpile within a decade.

The report by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and the Stimson Center concludes that Pakistan is rapidly expanding its nuclear capabilities because of fear of its archrival, India, also a nuclear power. The report, which will be released Thursday, says Pakistan is far outpacing India in the development of nuclear warheads.

Analysts estimate that Pakistan has about 120 nuclear warheads, while India has about 100.

In the coming years, the report states, Pakistan’s advantage could grow dramatically because it has a large stockpile of highly enriched uranium that could be used to quickly produce low-yield nuclear devices.

India has far larger stockpiles of plutonium, which is needed to produce high-yield warheads, than Pakistan does. But the report says India appears to be using most of its plutonium to produce domestic energy.

 

Pakistan could have at least 350 nuclear weapons within five to 10 years, the report concludes. Pakistan then would probably possess more nuclear weapons than any country except the United States and Russia, which each have thousands of the bombs.

“The growth path of Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal, enabled by existing infrastructure, goes well beyond the assurances of credible minimal deterrence provided by Pakistani officials and analysts after testing nuclear devices,” the report states.

Pakistani military officials were not available to comment on the report when it was made available to journalists Wednesday.

Western officials and analysts have struggled for years to get an accurate assessment of Pakistan’s nuclear capabilities. Several Pakistani analysts questioned the findings of the report, saying it is based on a faulty assumption that Pakistan is using all of its existing stockpiles of fissile material to make nuclear weapons.

Mansoor Ahmed, a nuclear expert at Quaid-i-Azam University in Islamabad, said he suspects that a more accurate assessment of Pakistan’s capability is that it can develop no more than 40 to 50 new warheads over the next several years.

Ahmed, however, doesn’t dispute that Pakistan’s military is seeking to expand its nuclear capabilities.

“This report is overblown,” said Ahmed, who was recently named a nuclear security fellow at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. “However . . . what the world must understand is that nuclear weapons are part of Pakistan’s belief system. It’s a culture that has been built up over the years because [nuclear weapons] have provided a credible deterrence against external aggression.”

 

France has about 300 warheads and the United Kingdom has about 215, according to the Federation of American Scientists. China has approximately 250.

The report was written by Toby Dalton, co-director of the Carnegie Endowment’s Nuclear Policy Program, and Michael Krepon, co-founder of the Stimson Center.

Pakistan is believed to use plutonium as well as highly enriched uranium to create nuclear warheads. Dalton noted that Pakistan recently added a fourth plutonium production reactor at its Khushab Nuclear Complex.

“We assume, maybe correctly, maybe inaccurately, with the fuel coming out of the four reactors, they are processing it as rapidly as possible to get the plutonium out,” Dalton said.

India and Pakistan, which have fought three major wars, became declared nuclear powers in 1998. Since then, Western leaders have been increasingly alarmed about the potential for a nuclear exchange between the rivals.

India has adopted a no-first-use policy on nuclear weapons. Pakistani leaders have repeatedly declined to take a similar stance, saying they might be forced to resort to using the weapons should India’s larger army ever invade Pakistan.

India views nuclear weapons “as a political tool, a prestige item, not something you use on a battlefield,” Krepon said. In Pakistan, he said, nuclear weapons are seen as “things you have to be willing to use” to guarantee stability.

But Krepon and Dalton said there is still time for Pakistan to slow down the development of its nuclear arsenal. If it does, they said, the international community should consider what steps it can take to recognize it as a responsible nuclear state.

Read more

Outcry as Pakistan builds new nuclear reactors in dangerous Karachi

Leaders of India and Pakistan make gestures to calm tensions

Old chasm between India and Pakistan again echoes with warnings and fears

Tim Craig is The Post’s bureau chief in Pakistan. He has also covered conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan and within the District of Columbia government.

Refugees found 'suffocated' in parked lorry in Austria

THURSDAY 27 AUGUST 2015
Up to 50 refugees are found dead in a parked lorry in eastern Austria. On the scene Channel 4 News International Editor Lindsey Hilsum says there's a "terrible" stench of death.

Channel 4 News International Editor Lindsey Hilsum, at the scene, reported a "terrible" smell of death around the lorry.

It is understood the truck had been parked at the side of the road for an extended period of time. The Austrian newspaper Krone reported that early indications were that the refugees had died of suffocation.

"Unfortunately there are many dead people in there," an interior ministry spokesman said. The state of the bodies made establishing an exact number difficult, police said.

By Thursday afternoon forensics teams were examining the lorry, which had Hungarian number plates. Police said they were searching for the driver.

A police spokesman said in a press conference that "it could be 50 people" inside the lorry. "We can assume that it could be 20 people who

died. It could also be 40, it could be 50 people," he said.

Tens of thousands of people have been making their way across Europe, fleeing violence - many of them from Syria and Afghanistan.

It is understood that the lorry's licence plates are Hungarian, and Hungarian authorities are helping the Austrians to try and locate the driver.

Channel 4 News International Editor Lindsey Hilsum, at the scene, says: When we drove past the white truck with Hyza on the side I thought it was a traffic accident. We were heading from Budapest to Vienna for a Balkans summit where they are to discuss the refugee crisis. 

We've just spent the week travelling with Syrian and Afghan refugees from Greece through Macedonia, Serbia and Hungary - we passed a few more on the road this morning. Then we heard that a truck had been found containing as many as 50 dead refugees - they had suffocated when travelling, crushed in the back, having arrived in the European Union.

We circled back and tried to film the truck but the Austrian police wouldn't let us. We drove by and any doubts I had had about whether this was the right truck were quelled - the smell of death was appalling. It wafted across the motorway - the terrible stench of lives ended, including children, whose parents thought they were escaping death, not heading towards it.

Everyone we've met on this odyssey had pinned their hopes on reaching Austria or Germany. The Hungarian authorities wouldn't let them take the train north from Budapest without passports, so the only way was to pay a taxi or, if they couldn't afford that, a truck to Austria.

People smugglers were charging 400 or 500 euros for the trip. Presumably, these families did exactly that. Reports in the Austrian media say the people banged on the roof and sides to say they were suffocating, but the driver - who has since fled - didn't stop. So they perished here, at the side of a motorway, in the European Union. I wonder if they'll talk about it at their summit in Vienna.

Lindsey Hilsum has been joining refugees on their long journey. Watch her latest report, from Hungary, here.

Head of police, Hans Peter Doskozil said "It has been standing there already since yesterday. From the back part desintegration fluid was already drippling outside."

"The police patrol on site stated that there were dead people inside or had been before. It is clear that there are dead people inside the lorry."

The Austrian Interior Minister said it was a "dark day" for the country.

"Our thoughts are with the victims, with the families lof the victims and their firiends. This tragedy touches us all."

"We all know that the smugglers in human trafficking are criminals, and who still thinks that they are gentleminded escape helpers is somebody one cannot help any more."

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said at a news conference in Vienna: "We are of course all shaken by the appalling news. This reminds us that we must tackle quickly the issue of immigration and in a European spirit - that means in a spirit of solidarity - and to find solutions."