Malaysia’s underground student prostitution industry

By Murray Hunter Jul 23, 2015

Malaysia is one of the most conservative countries in Southeast Asia. This is very overt when you wander around the cities and see most Malaysian wearing tudungs, or head scarves. However, student prostitution, even by the Government’s own admission, is rampant.

Prostitution by students occurs in many forms across the country. In truth, it has been happening for years. Even as far back as 2003, the Malaysian government set up a committee to monitor foreign students who could be tempted to enter the sex trade. This andother initiatives to curb the problem have had little impact, with student prostitution now a major underground industry involving both foreign and Malay students.

Malaysia’s Underground Student Prostitution Industry by Thavam Ratna

Lab-grown kidneys work in animals

Image copyrightScience Photo Library

By Michelle Roberts-22 September 2015

Scientists say they are a step closer to growing fully functioning replacement kidneys, after promising results in animals.

When transplanted into pigs and rats, the kidneys worked, passing urine just like natural ones.

Getting the urine out has been a problem for earlier prototypes, causing them to balloon under the pressure.

The Japanese team got round this by growing extra plumbing for the kidney to stop the backlog, PNAS reports.

Although still years off human trials, the research helps guide the way towards the end goal of making organs for people, say experts.

In the UK, more than 6,000 people are waiting for a kidney - but because of a shortage of donors, fewer than 3,000 transplants are carried out each year.

More than 350 people die a year, almost one a day, waiting for a transplant.

Growing new kidneys using human stem cells could solve this problem.

Image copyrightSPLImage captionStem cells are immature cells that can develop into different types of tissue

Dr Takashi Yokoo and colleagues at the Jikei University School of Medicine in Tokyo used a stem cell method, but instead of just growing a kidney for the host animal, they set about growing a drainage tube too, along with a bladder to collect and store the urine.

They used rats as the incubators for the growing embryonic tissue.

When they connected up the new kidney and its plumbing to the animal's existing bladder, the system worked.

Urine passed from the transplanted kidney into the transplanted bladder and then into the rat bladder.

And the transplant was still working well when they checked again eight weeks later.

They then repeated the procedure on a much larger mammal - a pig - and achieved the same results.

Prof Chris Mason, an expert in stem cells and regenerative medicine at University College London, said: "This is an interesting step forward. The science looks strong and they have good data in animals.

"But that's not to say this will work in humans. We are still years off that. It's very much mechanistic. It moves us closer to understanding how the plumbing might work.

"At least with kidneys, we can dialyse patients for a while so there would be time to grow kidneys if that becomes possible."

Other scientists have looked at rejuvenating old organs that would not normally be suitable for transplanting. Prof Harald Ott and colleagues have been testing out a method that washes away the tissue from dead organs to leave a scaffold that can be repopulated with healthy new cells.

They have built kidneys, hearts and lungs in this way.

Prof Ott says using a scaffold is a good short cut, rather than having to grow whole structures from scratch.

The CID has decided to seek Swiss government assistance to arrest the key suspect in the murder of TNA MP Nadaraja Raviraj.

25 September 2015

Identified as Charan, the wanted man is a closest supporter of former east chief minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillayan.

He has fled to Switzerland after the killing.

Three Navy personnel and a police constable are already under arrest over the gunning down of Raviraj.

Acting on information provided by them, the CID has found the murder weapon, and has also revealed the identities of the three wheleer driver who had taken the gunman for the shooting and the motorcyclist who helped him to getaway after the killing.

Two of those under arrest have agreed to turn state witness, and based on information given by them, a CID team is to go to Switzerland to arrest Charan.

Information has come to light that an LTTE leader of the east who had later joined the previous Rajapaksa regime had given the order to kill Raviraj, on instructions given by a top defence official at the time.

Death toll rises to seven at Wedamulla Watta landslide 

The death toll in yesterday’s landslide at Wedamulla Watta in Kotmale has risen to seven with the recovery of the bodies of four people who went missing. Seven houses had been completely destroyed in the landslide while two others were partly damaged. Disaster Management Centre said 188 people of 45 families had been displaced and that they were temporarily sheltered at Ramboda Hindu College.(Ranjith Rajapaksa) 
Pix by Ranjith Rajapaksa -2015-09-26

War crimes or political solution? 

By Izeth Hussain-September 25, 2015, 9:32 pm 

Once again the battle is raging in Geneva about the problem of war crimes in Sri Lanka. I believe that there is a sub-text to that battle, namely the problem of finding a solution to the ethnic problem. Some time ago I wrote an article on the Ban Ki-moon conspiracy, a tripartite one involving the US, India, and the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to use the threat of war crimes investigations to promote a political solution to the ethnic problem.

I emphasized that it was a "benign conspiracy" meant to serve the best interests of both Sri Lanka and India. Later when India surprisingly voted together with the US for a Resolution regarded as inimical to the Sri Lanka Government, it seemed that my postulate of a conspiracy was being substantiated. The important point is that on that occasion there was an abrupt volte-face on the part of India: it broke with its hallowed practice of never supporting country-specific Resolutions at the UNHRC. At present we are witnessing yet another volte-face, this time on the part of the US. Last year it was enthusiastic for an international war crimes investigation, but now together with the SL Government it favors a purely domestic process. What is the explanation for this volte-face? Last year under President Rajapaksa there wasn’t the slightest prospect of a political solution, whereas there is now at least a reasonable prospect for it. So it does seem that the threat of an international war crimes investigation was meant to propel the SL Government towards a political solution. The sub-text of a political solution is more important than the text of war crimes.

But, is the benign conspiracy still afoot? The question arises because there has been a change in the Indian leadership since the time of the initial hatching of the conspiracy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a much tougher character than that Oxbridge gentleman, Manmohan Singh. During his visit to Sri Lanka Prime Minister Modi outspokenly advocated federalism, which was undiplomatic because he knew full well that for the majority of the Sinhalese federalism remains an F word. Furthermore, as a devotee of the backward tribalist ideology of Hindutva, he went out of the way to affirm the Hindu commonality of the Sri Lankan Tamils and the Hindus of India. All that tended to upset many Sri Lankans. We must note also that although the TNA and the GTF have been admirably moderate in their statements in recent months, they are strongly supportive of the outrageous proposal for a hybrid war crimes tribunal. So, we cannot assume that India would go along with the US at the UNHRC.

But, I find it very difficult to believe that the US is acting unilaterally, without an understanding with India and regardless of Indian interests, in backing Sri Lanka’s proposal for a purely domestic process. According to the way big powers think, Sri Lanka belongs to India’s sphere of influence. Therefore the US would not want to do anything about the ethnic problem that might seem inimical to India’s legitimate interests. Furthermore, from the time the Soviet Union withdrew from Afghanistan the US has been building up a special relationship with India. The major objective is of course to counter China. Consequently I would expect some sort of understanding with India behind the US resolve to support a purely domestic process. That could become a major factor in shaping a Resolution favorable to Sri Lanka on September 30.

In any case – quite apart from the US-India factor – I find it very difficult to believe that a Resolution to set up a hybrid war crimes tribunal can succeed at Geneva. The Report released by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights contained the recommendation that the Sri Lankan Government should "adopt a special legislation establishing an ad hoc hybrid special court, integrating international judges, prosecutors, lawyers and investigators, mandated to try war crimes and crimes against humanity, with its own independent investigative and prosecuting organ". This seems bizarre in the extreme to me. We are required to take action, including the making of constitutional changes, to set up an institution that will erode our sovereignty to a very serious extent. Which government in its right mind will agree to any such recommendation? But of course the recommendation would not be bizarre if there is the assumption behind it that punitive action in the form of sanctions would follow if the government rejects the proposal. That might have applied to the Rajapaksa Government, but not to the present one. Anyway most of the members of the UNHRC will have reason to fear erosion of their sovereignty and therefore a resolution based on that recommendation is hardly likely to succeed.

So, the likelihood is that the UNHRC will adopt a moderate watered-down Resolution that will not be inimical to the SL Government. What conclusions can we draw from that fact? It shows that even in an institution that has been established specifically to promote human rights, such as the UNHRC, politics count for more than human rights. I am not denying that the movement for human rights has increasingly become a redoubtable revolutionary force after 1945. Nevertheless when the representatives of States get together, politics have greater weight than human rights. Under President Rajapaksa, who was seen as cynically intransigent on the ethnic problem and as unsatisfactory in many other ways as well, a tough resolution could have been expected. Under President Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil W, who could really move towards a political solution and are acceptable to certain powerful countries, a moderate resolution might be expected. So at the UNHRC it’s the politics and not the human rights that really count.

But more could be involved in the goings-on at the UNHRC than the mere cynical manipulation of political interests. Behind a moderate resolution there could be a genuine concern for the legitimate interests of Sri Lanka. Consider what could happen with a resolution echoing the bizarre recommendation that I cited earlier. Soldiers who have been regarded as heroes and saviors of the nation could be convicted as war criminals. Thereafter they could be imprisoned or become fugitives from justice or cross Sri Lanka’s frontiers only at the risk of being subjected to universal jurisdiction. How would the armed forces, accustomed to regard themselves as saviors of the nation, react to all that? What might be the unforeseen consequences? And how would the Sri Lankan people react? Would they see the nation as under serious threat again, and would that facilitate the return to power of the forces backing MR ahead of election schedules? Thereafter relations with India and the West could become much more troubled than in the past. Such considerations could weigh with the US in backing a purely domestic process. The US and other Western powers know full well that social action and political action usually have unintended consequences, and those consequences can be very terrible – as in the Middle East. No one can be quite certain of what might be the consequences of a tough resolution on Sri Lanka.

izethhussain@gmail.com

நேர்மையாக செயற்படாவிட்டால் 

நல்லிணக்கத்தை ஏற்படுத்துவது 

சவாலாகவே காணப்படும்

25-Sep-2015

தென்னாபிரிக்காவின் உண்மை மற்றும் நல்லிணக்க ஆணைக் குழுவின் முதலாவது அமர்வு 1996 இல் கேப்டவுனில் ஆரம்பமான வேளை, தென்னாபிரிக்கா நிறவெறி ஆட்சியாளர்களினால் ஏற்படுத்தப்பட்ட காயங்களை ஆற்றும் நடவடிக்கையில் ஏற்கனவே நீண்ட தூரம் பயணித்திருந்தது.

1948 முதல் அந்த நாட்டை ஆண்டு வந்த நிறவெறி ஆட்சியாளர்களை சர்வதேசஅளவில் தனிமைப்படுத்தி இறுதியில் அவர்களை அதிகாரத்திலிருந்தே அகற்ற முடிந்தமை குறித்து கறுப்பினத்தவர்கள் அதிக நம்பிக்கை கொண்டிருந்தனர். நெல்சன் மண்டேலா பெரும்பான்மை வாக்குகளால் ஜனாதிபதியாக அவ்வேளை தெரிவு செய்யப்பட்டிருந்தார்.

இன்று 20 வருடங்கள் கடந்த நிலையிலும் நிறவெறி காலத்தின் காயங்கள் இன்னமும் ஆழமானவையாக காணப்படுகின்றன.கடந்த வாரம் ஐக்கிய நாடுகள் மனித உரிமைகள் பேரவை மிகவும் எதிர்பார்க்கப்பட்ட இலங்கை குறித்த தனது விசாரணை அறிக்கையை வெளியிட்டிருந்தது,விடுதலைப்புலிகளுக்கும் இலங்கை இராணுவத்திற்கும் இடையிலான 26 வருட கால மோதல்களில் இடம்பெற்ற பல்வேறு மனித உரிமை மீறல்கள் குறித்து அதில் தெரிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

அறிக்கை, குறிப்பாக உள்நாட்டுப் போரின் இறுதித் தருணங்களில் இடம்பெற்றதாகத் தெரிவிக்கப்படும் போர்க் குற்றங்கள் குறித்து அதிக கவனம் செலுத்தியுள்ளது.2009 இல் சரணடைய இணங்கிய பின்னரும் விடுதலைப்புலிகள் படையினரால் தாக்கப்பட்ட தாக அதில் தெரிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.இந்தக் குற்றங்களுக்கு யார் பொறுப்பாளிகள் என்ற விவரங்கள் அந்த அறிக்கையில் இடம்பெறாத போதிலும்,முன்னாள் ஜனாதிபதியும், அவரைச் சுற்றியிருந்தவர்களுமே முக்கிய குற்றவாளிகள் என்ற எண்ணம் பலரின் மனதில் காணப்படுகின்றது.

இந்தத் துயரத்திலிருந்து நகர்ந்து எவ்வாறு நாட்டின் காயங்களை ஆற்றுவது என்பதே இலங்கை எதிர்கொள்ளும் நெருக்கடியான விவகாரம்,தற்போதைய அரசில் முன்னாள் இராணுவ அதிகாரிகளின் செல்வாக்கு இன்னமும் காணப்படுவதால் இந்த நெருக்கடி இன்னமும் தீவிரமானதாகக் காணப்படுகின்றது. ஐக்கிய நாடுகள் மனித உரிமைகள் பேரவை சர்வதேச சட்டத்தரணிகள், நிபுணர்கள், நீதிபதிகள் உள்நாட்டு நீதித்துறையினருடன் இணைந்து செயற்படும் கலப்பு நீதிமன்றமொன்றுக்குப் பரிந்துரை செய்துள்ளது இலங்கையின் தற்போதைய ஜனாதிபதியால் முன்னெடுக்கப்படும் நல்லெண்ண நடவடிக்கைகள் இவ்வாறான கலப்பு நீதிமன்றத்தின் செயற்பாடுகளுக்குத் துணைபோவதாகவும் அதனை வலுப்படுத்துவதாகவும் அமையக்கூடும்.

நாட்டின் வலிமிகுந்த கடந்த காலங்களுக்கும் நல்லிணக்கத்துக்கும் தீர்வைக் காணக்கூடிய உள்நாட்டுச் சீர்திருத்தங்கள் குறித்த வாக்குறுதிகளை முன்வைத்து ஆட்சிக்கு வந்தவர் தற்போதைய ஜனாதிபதி மைத்திரிபால சிறிசேன. இடை மாறுபாட்டு கால நீதியின் நான்கு தூண்களான உண்மை,நீதி, நஷ்ட ஈடு மற்றும் மீளநிகழாமை ஆகியவற்றை உறுதி செய்வதற்கான உள்நாட்டுப் பொறிமுறை ஏற்படுத்தப்படும் என தகவல்கள் வெளியாகியுள்ளன.

ஐக்கிய நாடுகளின் அறிக்கை வெளியான அதேகாலப்பகுதியில் தனது அரசு தென்னாபிரிக்கப் பாணியிலான உண்மை மற்றும் நல்லிணக்க ஆணைக்குழுவை ஏற்படுத்தும் என சிறிசேன அறிவித்தார், இலங்கையின் மனித உரிமை அரச சார்பற்ற அமைப்புகள் நீண்ட காலமாக இதற்கான வேண்டுகோளை விடுத்துவந்தபோதிலும், ராஜபக்ச அதனை நிராகரித்து வந்தார்.
தென்னாபிரிக்காவின் நல்லிணக்க மாதிரி சர்வதேச அளவில் மிகவும் மதித்துப் பின்பற்றப்படுகின்ற ஒரு விடயம், ஆனால் இலங்கையில் அதனை முன்னெடுக்க முடியுமா? இலங்கையில் அது சாத்தியமா?

இந்தக் கேள்விக்கான பதிலைக் கண்டறிவதற்கு 1990 களில் தென்னாபிரிக்காவின் உண்மை மற்றும் நல்லிணக்க ஆணைக்குழு எவ்வாறு செயற்பட்டது எனப் பார்ப்பது அவசியம்.
தென்னாபிரிக்காவின் ஆணைக்குழுவுக்கு 1960 முதல் 1994 வரை இடம்பெற்ற மனித உரிமை மீறல்களை முன்னெடுப்பதற்கான ஆணை வழங்கப்பட்டிருந்தது, பாதிக்கப்பட்ட வர்களின் சுயகெளரவத்தை மீள ஏற்படுத்துதல், தனிநபர்களையும் சமூகத்தையும் புனர்வாழ்வுக்கு உட்படுத்துதல், குற்றங்களில் ஈடுபட்டவர்களின் பொதுமன்னிப்புக் கோரிக்கையைச் செவிமடுத்தல் போன்ற இலக்குகளை அடைவதை நோக்கமாகக் கொண்டே இந்த ஆணை வழங்கப்பட்டிருந்தது.

அக்காலப்பகுதியில் 7112 பேர் பொது மன்னிப்புக்காக  விண்ணப்பித்தபோதிலும் 849 பேருக்கே அது வழங்கப்பட்டிருந்தது.உண்மை மற்றும் நல்லிணக்கத்துக்கான ஆணைக்குழுவின் விசாரணைகள் மூலம் வெளிவந்த விடயங்களுக்கு தென்னாபிரிக்க அரசு பதிலளித்த வேகமே இன்றும் உலகம் முழுவதிலும் அதிகம் சுட்டிக்காட்டப்படும் விடயமாகக் காணப்படுகின்றது . 
இதன் பின்னர் இனமோதல்களால் பாதிக்கப்பட்ட நாடுகள் நல்லிணக்கத்தை ஏற்படுத்துவதற்காக தென்னாபிரிக்காவின் மாதிரியைப் பின்பற்ற முனைவது பரவலாக இடம்பெற்றுள்ளது.

இதில் அந்த நாடுகள் வெவ்வேறு அளவுக்கு வெற்றியைப் பெற்றுள்ளன.
ருவாண்டா, பொஸ்னியா, உட்பட பல நாடு களுக்கு  தென்னாபிரிக்க நீதிபதிகள் தமது பாணியை ஏற்றுமதி செய்துள்ளனர்.துனிசியா இந்த வருடம் தனது உண்மை மற்றும் கெளரவத்துக்கான ஆணைக்குழுவின் செயற்பாடுகளை ஆரம்பித்துள்ளது. அராபிய புரட்சி மூலம்  அதிகாரத்திலிருந்து அகற்றப்பட்ட பென் அலியின் ஆட்சியின் கீழ் தாங்கள் எதிர்கொண்ட அநீதிகள் குறித்து பொதுமக்கள் பகிரங்க சாட்சியங்களை அளித்து வருகின்றனர்.
இலங்கையின் தற்போதைய அரசு  தென்னாபிரிக்காவின் உண்மை மற்றும் நல்லிணக்க ஆணைக்குழுவைப் பின்பற்றி நேர்மையான விவாதம் மற்றும் நல்லிணக்கத்தை முன்னெடுப்பதற்கான விருப்பத்தை வெளிப்படுத்தியுள்ள போதிலும்,பல விடயங்கள் அதனை முன்னெடுப்பதற்குத் தடையாகக் காணப்படுகின்றன.

இலங்கையின் வடகிழக்கு இன்னமும் இராணுவமயப்படுத்தப்பட்டதாகவே காணப்படுகின்றது. ஊடகங்கள் தொடர்ந்தும் ஓடுக்கு முறைக் குள்ளாகின்றன, விடுதலைப்புலிகளுடனான மோதலில் ஈடுபட்ட இராணுவ வீரர்களைக் கொண்ட படை யணிகள் இன்னமும் சுதந்திரமாகச் செயற்படுவதற்கு  அனுமதிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளன.தென்னாபிரிக்காவில் சாட்சிகளைப் பாதுகாத்தல் என்பது முக்கியத்துவம் அற்ற விடயமாகக் காணப்பட்டது, எனினும் இலங்கையில் இது மிகவும் முக்கியமான விடயமாகக் காணப்படும்.

மேலும் ராஜபக்சவின் ஆட்சிக்காலத்தில் நாட்டின் ஜனநாயகக் கட்டமைப்புக்கள் மிகவும் மோசமாகப் பலவீனப்படுத்தப்பட்டன. இந்தக் கட்டமைப்புகளே உண்மை மற்றும் நல்லிணக்க ஆணைக்குழுவை முழுமையாக நடைமுறைப்படுத்துவதற்கு முக்கியமானவையாக அமையப்போகின்றன.உலகின்  ஒவ்வொரு போருக்குப் பிந்திய சூழலிலும் தென்னாபிரிக்கா முதல் கொசோவா வரை போரின்  ருசி மிக நீண்ட காலம் விலகாமல் நீடித்துள்ளது உண்மை, இலங்கையின் அனுபவமும் இதிலிருந்து வேறுபட்டதில்லை, எனினும் மோதல் இன்னமும் பின்னணியில் எரிந்துகொண்டிருப்பதே கவலையளிக்கின்றது.

இலங்கையின் அரசியல் கட்டமைப்புகள் இன்னமும் புத்துயிர் பெறவில்லை, இது உரிய நல்லிணக்கத்தை ஏற்படுத்துவதற்கு கடுமையான முயற்சிகள் தேவைப்படும் என்பதைப் புலப்படுத்தியுள்ளது.இலங்கையர்கள் இந்த முயற்சியில் நேர்மையுடன் ஈடுபட்டால் அவர்களது உதாரணமும் தென்னாவிரிக்காவின் உதாரணத்தைப் போன்று மிகவும் ஆழம் மிக்கதாக விளங்கும்.

உலகம் தீவிரமோதல்களின் பிடியில் சிக்கியுள்ள இந்தத் தருணத்தில் சமாதானத்தை எப்படி வெற்றிகொள்ளலாம் என விடயத்தை செய்து காட்டவேண்டிய தேவை மிகவும் அதிகமாகக் காணப்படுகின்றது,சர்வதேச சமூகமும் இதற்கு என்ன விலையையும் செலுத்தித் தனது ஆதரவை வழங்கவேண் டும்.

- ரஜீபன்

Conservatives Stand Strong for Peace and Reconciliation in Sri Lanka

(September 25, 2015, Montreal, Sri Lanka Guardian) Today, Mr. Robert Nicholson, P.C., Q.C., announced that a re-elected Conservative government would continue to lead the world in its support for peace and reconciliation in Sri Lanka.

In 2013, Prime Minister Stephen Harper held firm on the dubious record of the Rajapaksa regime by boycotting the 23rd Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The Rajapaksa regime’s atrocities continued in defiance of the recommendations from the UN Secretary General’s Panel of Experts on Accountability, including calls for an independent international investigation into alleged crimes.

Recently, the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights confirmed this disturbing treatment of Sri Lankan Tamils, cataloguing a record of mass murder amounting to genocide, torture, extrajudicial killings, sexual violence, property seizure and other potential war crimes.

“With a re-elected Conservative government, Canada will continue its strong and unequivocal support of Sri Lankans as they pursue peace and reconciliation,” said Nicholson. “A re-elected Conservative government will call for and invest in international efforts that are essential in providing Sri Lankans confidence in the independence and impartiality of the difficult process that lies ahead.”

A re-elected Conservative government will press for an independent international investigation, and continue to engage the international community to advance justice and facilitate reconciliation. A re-elected Conservative government will also press for the return of seized land, provide support to the internally displaced, sponsor rehabilitation and relief efforts for the victims of war including war widows, and ensure that vital assistance is delivered to the communities that need it the most. A re-elected Conservative government will also continue its commitment to Sri Lankan democracy and civil society in the difficult process ahead.

“Building from the support Canada has provided to Sri Lankan civil society in recent elections, a re-elected Conservative government will continue its deep commitment to peace and reconciliation for all Sri Lankans,” concluded Nicholson.

An analysis of OHCHR report on Sri Lanka

UNHRC chief

By Neville Ladduwahetty-September 25, 2015, 9:30 pm 

In 2014 the UN Human Rights Council by resolutionA/HRC/25/L.1/Rev.1 authorized the High Commissioner for Human Rights "To undertake a comprehensive investigation into alleged serious violations and abuses of human rights and related crimes by both parties in Sri Lanka during the period covered by the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission, and to establish the facts and circumstances of such alleged violations and of the crimes perpetrated with a view to avoiding impunity and ensuring accountability…" (Clause 10b of Resolution).

An Analysis of OHCHR Report on Sri Lanka by Thavam Ratna

The Hybrid Court

By Nihal Jayawickrama –September 26, 2015

Dr. Nihal Jayawickrama

The hybrid court, which the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has recommended for Sri Lanka, is a unique element in the human rights based approach to transitional justice in a post-conflict situation. Comprising international judges, prosecutors, lawyers and investigators, a hybrid court is designed to deal with those who bear the greatest responsibility for serious crimes arising from or during the conflict, such as war crimes or crimes against humanity, including sexual crimes and crimes against children. Countries emerging from conflict have often failed to incorporate such crimes into their penal systems. They have weak or debilitated law enforcement mechanisms, compromised judicial systems, and a legacy of serious human rights violations without adequate means to address them.

Commencing at the turn of this century, hybrid courts were established, or are functioning, in several countries, notably Kosovo, Timor Leste, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sierra Leone, Cambodia, Burundi and Lebanon. It is not suggested that Sri Lanka is comparable to any of these countries. Yet, in many significant respects, the Sri Lankan legal and judicial system has, in the past few decades, failed its multi-ethnic and multi-religious population, and has demonstrated that it lacks the will and the capacity to address such serious crimes.

War Crimes and Crimes against Humanity

War Crimes and Crimes against Humanity, as well as Enforced Disappearances, have not been criminalized in Sri Lanka. Neither the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (which the Jayewardene Government acceded to) and its Optional Protocol (which the Kumaratunga Government ratified), nor the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, have yet been incorporated in our law. No effective mechanism has yet been established for the protection of witnesses and victims of crime. In 2006, Chief Justice Sarath Silva suspended the application to Sri Lanka of international human rights treaties, holding that their ratification was an infringement of the Constitution. His judgment has been described by a world renowned jurist as “an example of judicial waywardness”, requiring a new judicial value to be added to the Bangalore Principles of Judicial Conduct to address “judicial eccentricity”. Another referred to it as “Alice in Wonderland reasoning”. Therefore, we lack the legal framework within which accountability can be established for such crimes. The process of remedying that deficiency may benefit from expertise, whether international or otherwise.

                            Read More

India hopes for consensus on resolution at UNHRC on Sri Lanka 



By PTI | 26 Sep, 2015

UNITED NATIONS: There is a "sea change" in the approach of the new Sri Lankan government over the alleged war crimes during the last phase of the civil war with the LTTE and India is hopeful that there will be a consensus resolution on the issue at the UN Human Rights Council next week. 

The Indian position was explained by MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup while briefing reporters on the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sri Lankan PresidentMaithripala Sirisena last night on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. 

The issue of human rights and the situation pertaining to the ongoing discussions on UN Human Rights Council came up during a meeting between the two leaders. 

"As far as India is concerned, we naturally support the quest for justice. At the same time we are respectful of Sri Lanka's sovereignty. We are hopeful that a way will be found where both these points and objectives can be met," said Swarup. 

The Sri Lankan Government is "engaging" with the UN Human Rights Council and there is a "sea change" in the approach of the new government in this island nation, he said. 

When asked about India's position on the hybrid court including foreign judges to probe the alleged war crimes, Swarup said New Delhi would have to look at the final outcome of the draft resolution as he hoped that it would be a consensus and acceptable to the Sri Lankan Government. 

"Our expectation at this point is that hopefully it will be a consensus resolution which everyone will be able to pass unanimously and it is something which will be acceptable to the Government of Sri Lanka also," he said. 

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein has called for the formation of a hybrid special court, integrating international judges, prosecutors, lawyers and investigators. Sri Lanka has been insisting on a domestic mechanism to probe the matter. 

Rights groups claim that the Sri Lankan military killed 40,000 civilians in the final months of the three decade-long brutal ethnic conflict with the LTTE that ended in 2009. 

Swarup said the Lankan government is actively engaging with the Human Rights Council now. 

"It is a sea change from the position that was there earlier. Our position is very clear. We stand for justice and at the same time we are respectful of the Sri Lankan sovereignty issues to the extent the Sri Lankan Government is comfortable with the formulation that marries the two. We will be comfortable with that," he said. 

A US-initiated draft resolution on Sri Lanka's alleged human rights violations has called for a domestic judicial mechanism that includes foreign judges to probe the war crimes during the conflict with the LTTE. 

The draft resolution, co-sponsored by Sri Lanka, the US the UK, Macedonia and Montenegro was submitted to the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva this week. 

Complimenting the Sri Lankan President on the two elections in the country, Modi said this revealed the deep- rooted democratic traditions and the faith that the people of Sri Lanka had in democracy. 

There was a discussion on the reconciliation process and President said he expected this to move forward, Swarup said. 

Issues of developmental project in Sri Lanka came up, he said, adding that India has made a number of new commitments on railway, infrastructure power and housing project. 

"We expect 46,000 houses to be completed by early next year," Swarup added. 

SL co-sponsoring US resolution tragic: GL

2015-09-26 09
Former Minister G.L. Peiris said yesterday it was tragic that Sri Lanka had co-sponsored the resolution tabled by the US at the UNHRC which termed that the security forces had committed war crimes during the war.

Prof. Peiris rejected claims by some people that the government had been able to mitigate the allegations in the UNHRC report after the January and August elections and other claims that the report would have been worse if former President Mahinda Rajapaksa was in office.

He claimed the report had clearly stated that the security forces had committed illegal killings, arbitrary detentions and arrests, committed rapes and there was ample evidence to prove that army had committed massacre. “How can the government say that the report is not serious when it says that it could prove about massacre which is a grave crime in international law,” he said.

Prof. Peiris told a seminar organized on the impact of the UNHRC report that all these allegations had been levelled without any basis and that they had said that the witnesses would not be revealed.

“We do not know about the witnesses as they are anonymous and on what basis they had given evidence. These grave allegations had been directed based on such evidence,” he said.

Prof. Peiris said the US resolution which was similar to that of the UNHRC report was partial, politicized and unreasonable and that it had said that the LTTE had never used Hospitals in the North for its military purposes.

“This report is totally based on political agenda. How can a report released based on an incident happened in the past be lenient with the change of governments when the incident is the same,” he asked.

He said it was the responsibility of the government to safeguard the security forces.

Former ambassador and academic Dr. Dayan Jayathilaka said this was the first time where a hybrid court has been proposed on a democratic and sovereign country in the world whereas such courts had been proposed on failed countries in the past.

He said such hybrid mechanism was in place when Sri Lanka was a British colony and that what had been agreed upon today was the same as that. (Ajith Siriwardana)
- See more at: http://www.dailymirror.lk/88903/sl-co-sponsoring-us-resolution-tragic-gl#sthash.4bUKun1k.dpuf

Nepotism..! Before people can heave a sigh of relief it takes root again: Daham Sirisena is a UN representative !

(Lanka-e-News -26.Sep.2015, 11.00PM) The 70 th session of the United  Nations general assembly commenced at  the UN  headquarters in New York yesterday midnight Sri Lanka (SL) time.

This conference is attended by leaders of States and representatives  of over 150 countries of the world .SL’s President Maithripala Sirisena ,the  foreign minister , the minister of justice, the minister of skills development and vocational training (participation of this minister whose portfolio has no relevance to  this conference is a joke deserving a hearty laugh !), the SL ambassador to America and State representatives.

Daham Sirisena the young immature son of the president also was one of the SL  representatives at this event along with others (vide  photograph). 

Interestingly , Daham Sirisena (so called) who is supposed to have completed the higher education, and has not even reached the age of 25 years holds no official post in the government . Hence , the only qualification Daham has to be a representative of the government is the  Asian primitive qualification - son of his excellency the  ‘King’ , which in the modern world is considered as a disqualification meriting nothing except disdain and detestation because it savors of  most reprehensible unalloyed nepotism ( it is significant to note that people elected him on the 8 th of January as president solely and wholly because he loudly  said, he will never be a “king” nor wear a ‘crown’ and fantasize  himself as a King)

Therefore when the president had vowed most solemnly and loudly before the people he will not be an imaginary ‘King’ or  wear a ‘crown’ , who made him a  clown now ?

Who made young immature Daham Sirisena a representative and attend the UN assembly ? How did that happen and was it at public expense or were the expenses met out of his personal funds ? If it was out of his personal funds , how did he collect the funds when he has no proper job? Or were the expenses included in  president’s entourage expenditure   or from his private funds ? If Daham represented the governmment at this assembly what is the benefit he reaped for the country ? The Sri Lankans all over the world of the civilized age are entitled to know the  answers to  these questions.

Let us not forget, the Sri Lankans through  the rainbow revolution of  8 th January threw out Mahinda Rajapakse’s despotic and  family rule lock , stock and barrel.  It is also undisputable that although  Mahinda the despot selfishly  plundered the country  wholesale for and on behalf of his family , never did the country see his son going to Geneva and occupying a seat at the assembly despite the raging nepotism and cronyism during his reign .

In the present climate under Mathripala , even before the people could heave a sigh of relief that Rajapakse nepotism was  got rid of ,nepotism in its worst abominable form seems to have already taken root outrageously at  the very place and with the person it was least expected. 

No matter what , let anybody who is trying to play fast and loose be warned , the triumphant rainbow revolution of the people which commenced on  8 th january cannot be reversed , and will not be reversed. Good governance shall flourish  and those selfishly opposing it overtly or covertly  shall perish. Buffaloes shall be tethered or sent back from where they came .

People should hence  resist complacency and be alert against evil trends and evil leaders trying to take the people down the garden path while  engaging in  lip service, and doing disservice to the nation as a whole

---------------------------
by     (2015-09-26 17:49:09)

Five Lies In Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Statement On OHCHR Report

By Niranjan Rambukwella –September 26, 2015

The Member of Parliament from Kurunegala, Mahinda Rajapaksa, recently released a statement explaining his position on the recently released United Nations investigation into allegations of human rights abuses and crimes that occurred during and after the war in Sri Lanka. His statement contained five major factual inaccuracies.

1. “The investigation on Sri Lanka was not carried out by an independent Commission of Inquiry but for the very first time, by the OHCHR.”

This was not the first time the OHCHR has carried out an investigation. Other investigations include the OHCHR investigations into Darfur in 2004, and the investigations on Afghanistan and Kyrgystan. These were all carried out by the OHCHR.

2. “Similarly, I too had to go against the wishes of certain powerful nations to defeat terrorism and bring peace to this country.”

The LTTE is banned in the United States, EU and India. The US and India both provided vital intelligence, training and military equipment that played a critical role in the defeat of the LTTE. EU countries also assisted with training and equipment. There is no basis for saying that these countries did not want the LTTE defeated.

3. “Some politicians have been telling the people that all these international initiatives are based on my joint communiqué with the UN Secretary General of 23 May 2009. I see that as a deliberate attempt to mislead the people and seek justification for their own cooperation with interventionist foreign forces.”

These are the words of the Mahinda Rajapaksa-Ban Ki-moon Joint Communique, “The Secretary General underlined the importance of an accountability process for addressing violations of international humanitarian and human rights law. The Government will take measures to address those grievances .” Dayan’s famous congratulatory but self-defeating resolution in 2009, made this promise to the whole world, it “welcomes the visit to Sri Lanka of the Secretary-General of the United Nations at the invitation extended by the President of Sri Lanka, and endorses the joint communiqué issued at the conclusion of the visit as well as the understandings contained therein;”

4. “The most that can be done with a report of this nature is to recommend the setting up of a war crimes tribunal and that has been done.”

The report could have done a great deal more than recommend a tribunal. It could have recommended referral to the Security Council, it could have named individuals and it could have recommended an international tribunal. It could even have recommended economic sanctions.

5. “Some appear to believe that had my government still been in power, this report may have led to economic sanctions being imposed on Sri Lanka. However, neither the UNHRC nor the OHCHR can impose economic sanctions on a country.”       Read More