Wasim Thajudeen’s death and lackluster investigations took center stage during the run up to the August 2015 general elections. His body was exhumed, and after further examination was reburied a few days ago. I was a witness to the exhumation at the Dehiwela Mohiyadeen Jummah masjid. The media and civil society who were very vocal about Wasim’s death inquiry have now joined the political vultures and are forgetting Wasim. Was this part of the election agenda of a vested few. Muslim families usually are reluctant to agree to an autopsy, and exhuming a buried person is a whole lot worse. Islam lays down strict directives on the treatment of a dead person. Extreme care needs to be exercised even when the dead body is washed prior to burial. Yet the entire Muslim community was supportive of the exhumation of Wasim Thajudeen because they wanted to see justice.
Rumors and social media implicate many (wheeler-dealers) who were attempting, prior to the general elections to get Wasim’s family to issue statements implying that they did not suspect foul play. Whether this was for political advantage at the elections or an attempt of a cover-up is difficult to judge. Further, various stories have been leaked to imply that Thajudeen was drunk and his drunken state caused the motor accident. This is the worst form of intimidation that one could cause the family, as Islam forbids the consumption of alcohol and the family would not want any discussion leading to this stigma. Whether, Thajudeen consumed alcohol or not is between him and his creator. Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala is the greatest forgiver and the family should not worry about the embarrassment that is attached to this accusation.
Whatever the cause of Wasim’s death, his family, friends and the general public in Sri Lanka need to know what happened to this lovable father of an infant and rugger-rite of repute. Even though I did not know Wasim Thajudeen personally, I was a great fan of him in the field of rugby at St. Thomas’s Collage and Havelocks sports club. People who know him well enough swear by his kindness and sincerity.
President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe consolidated their hold on power by luring some of the senior members of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) to join the national unity government. This had dissipated the effectiveness of SLFP to function as the main opposition party. As a result, the speaker nominated the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) leader R Sampanthan as the opposition leader in a welcome gesture to the Tamil minority.
The President’s political exercise has created a jumbo cabinet with 47 members of cabinet rank (including the president and the prime minister), 19 state ministers and 23 deputy ministers. Thus out the 225 members of parliament, as many as 88 members are occupying ministerial chairs! Though the Sirisena regime has ensured its stability by accommodating various political and regional interests within the power structure, its adverse effects on the quality of governance remains an open question.
President Sirisena and Prime Minister Wickremesinghe and their loyalists are controlling the portfolios like defence, finance, home affairs, external affairs and policy planning. This would enable them to continue with the reform agenda. However, the presence of some of the tainted SLFP members facing corruption allegations in ministerial appointments has clouded the sincerity of the government’s promise to get rid of corruption and take action against the corrupt.
In yet another step to improve governance, the government announced the formation of the Constitutional Council (CC). This was in accordance with the 19th Amendment of the Constitution which was adopted in the parliament to ensure transparency in appointing members for nine independent commissions (i.e., electoral commission, bribery commission etc). However, the first meeting of the 10-member CC on Septemebr 10, 2015 was attended only by six of the seven members of parliament (including the speaker, the prime minister, leader of the opposition and three ministers). The other four members expected to join the CC shortly include the nominee of the opposition Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and three civil society nominees – Dr AT Ariyaratne, former UN Under-Secretary General Ms Radhika Coomaraswamy and President’s Counsel Shibly Aziz.
Sri Lanka PM’s visit to New Delhi
Prime Minister Wickremesinghe after assuming office made his maiden visit to New Delhi from September 14 to 16. During the visit he met with his counterpart Narendra Modi, external affairs minister Ms Sushma Swaraj, President Pranab Muhkerjee and minister for road transport, highways and shipping Nitin Gadkari.
The two prime ministers are believed to have discussed issues related to bilateral trade and defence cooperation. Addressing a joint press conference after their talks, Modi described it as a historic year for India-Sri Lanka relations because “Sri Lanka has voted twice this year for change, reforms, reconciliation and progress.” He assured India’s full support to Sri Lanka’s new government. Modi added “we recognize our closely aligned security interests and the need to remain sensitive to each other’s concerns. We both reaffirmed our commitment to deepen our defence cooperation.” Wickremesinghe reciprocating the sentiments said the two countries had to improve trade and increase security forces cooperation in the Indian Ocean.
Though they made no specific reference to Tamil minority issues or to the forthcoming UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), probably both issues figured in their talks. Sri Lanka media went on overdrive after Indian minister Gadkari spoke of discussing a proposal to construct a land-tunnel link between India and Sri Lanka with the Sri Lankan prime minister; however, Colombo denied holding any talks with India on this issue.
Sri Lanka resolution at the UNHRC
The UN Human Rights Commissioner Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein presented the report of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OCHR) on the follow up action on the UNHRC resolution Sri Lanka’s 2012 at the Council meeting. The OCHR report was based on the “principal findings of the OCHR investigations on Sri Lanka (OISL)” which were included in the report.
The report was a scathing indictment of the conduct of both the Sri Lanka government and the LTTE during the years preceding, during and after the Eelam War resulting in gross violations of human rights, killing of innocent civilians and prisoners, enforced disappearances and alleged war crimes by Sri Lanka army and the Tamil Tigers. However, the report recognised the cooperative attitude of the Sri Lanka government to the UN efforts and the series of actions it had taken to improve governance overcoming the aberrations of the past. Pointing out the failure of the Rajapaksa government to conduct an impartial investigation into the allegations, Prince Zeid recommended the setting up of an international hybrid mechanism to investigate the allegations and monitor further action. Both foreign and local judges would participate in the hybrid court.
In Sri Lanka, the proposed hybrid mechanism drew a lot of flak on the constitutional impropriety in having foreign judges presiding over domestic courts as well as on the issue of violation of Sri Lankan sovereignty. Not surprisingly, former president Rajapaksa came out strongly against the revised draft.
Sri Lanka would prefer to have a purely domestic process due to political sensitivities in international involvement in such a process. It would also pave way for former president Mahinda Rajapaksa to whip up nationalist sentiments and use them as a ploy to come back to power. However, the Sirisena government knows it has to agree to an internationally acceptable inquiry as Sri Lanka’s credibility both at home and abroad on this issue has been eroded. So its stand had been to agree for holding an internationally acceptable domestic inquiry and not any international inquiry.
After hectic diplomatic parleys, in a bid to evolve a consensus last week the US presented a fresh draft resolution co-sponsored by Sri Lanka. The revised US draft tones down the exact nature of foreign participation while retaining it in a domestic mechanism, though it recognizes the serious nature of the allegations as well as the failure of Sri Lanka to act upon them as required by earlier UNHRC resolutions.
The TNA chief and opposition leader Sampanthan, acting with pragmatism rather than playing for the gallery, has welcomed the draft. In an interview toThe Hindu he said the draft addressed the main issues of accountability and reconciliation. The involvement of Commonwealth and other foreign judges, defence counsel, prosecutors and investigators would give the judicial process much greater credibility, he added. Tamil Diaspora has been divided over the US resolution. Though some of the diehard erstwhile supporters of the LTTE have criticised it, many agree with Sampanthan that this was the best possible resolution that could have been achieved. And only a consensus resolution could make its honest implementation possible.
Not unexpectedly, Tamil Nadu political parties have demanded a purely international investigation to do justice to Sri Lankan Tamils. However, Indian external affairs ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup has made clear that India would support the revised US draft. This was expected as India had always been on principle opposed to the role of foreign judges in internal conflicts.
The spokesman commenting on the issue after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Sirisena met on the sidelines of the UN general assembly meeting in New York, said “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.”
Written on September 30, 2015
[Col R Hariharan, a retired Military Intelligence specialist on South Asia, served with the Indian Peace Keeping Force in Sri Lanka as Head of Intelligence 1987-90. He is associated with the Chennai Centre for China Studies and the South Asia Analysis Group. E-Mail: colhari@yahoo.com Blog: http://col.hariharan.info]
(Lanka-e-News -04.Oct.2015, 8.30PM) Yesterday when my child and I were travelling along Galle Road at Dehiwala I was rudely shocked by a spectacle that met my eyes .That is, the groups that were prodding and propelling Rajapakse to victory and determined to defeat Maithripala , and even now deeply in their toils in that direction are now taking president Maithripala Sirisena down the garden path.I saw the preliminary deceitful and diabolic actions of these groups with amazement.
These photographs will tell a thousand stories pertaining to these hypocrites and opportunists. ‘We salute the president who rescued the prestige of the motherland’ were the slogans in the cutouts along Galle road .The cutouts were on display at Dehiwala roundabout and municipal council, Dehiwala.
Apparently these cutouts were out in conjunction with the UN Human rights sessions that were successfully concluded yesterday.
This cutout ‘carnival’ had been organized by the Dehiwala –Mt. Lavinia SLFP electorate organizers and supporters. As far as I know this ‘carnival’ has been organized by none other than pro MaRa confirmed notorious crooked mayor Dhanasiri Amaratunge.It is his hypocrisy and hollow politics which are his favorite occupation which have obviously prompted him to carry out this ostentatious false display . Anyway , there is none who does not know about his opportunistic politics .
It is an acknoweledged , well and widely known fact that we drove Mahinda home , not to witness again a repetition of his cheap publicity gimmicks by another leader ,not to mention by his successor . The civil population including myself brought about the change on 8 th January to have a State leader who would fondly remain in our hearts, not for us to see his photographs in cutouts put out by hypocritical scheming so called supporters along roads , on lamp posts , roundabouts and pavements in the same way as did his predecessor who tried to achieve by false publicity and hollow displays what he could not achieve in substance and reality.
By these bogus exhibitionisms , it is only those who risked their lives and worked with commitment for the change and on behalf of good governance who are being offended , for these political parties , individuals and organizations did not make those supreme sacrifices risking even their lives to repeat what Mahinda did until he met his Waterloo.
Moreover , it is a universal truth that , the country’s lost international image has now been refurbished and revived because of the commitment and dedication shown in that direction by the president , prime minister , foreign minister , political parties, patriotic media , individuals , and civil organizations , and not because of the racist , corrupt , crooked pro MaRa scoundrels and rascals who aligned behind Mahinda Rajapakse during the last two elections . The nation should by now be able to appreciate this stark truth .
Let us also make it abundantly clear it is not Maithripala Sirisena with inadequate fluency in English language who held discussions with the international leaders to re build and restore the image of the country internationally. This is not be construed as insulting him,but that is the indisputable stark fact.Hence we cannot conclude without issuing the dire warning that by Maithripala seeking a popularity which he hasn’t on this soil , throught cutouts , is only carving a short cut to disaster
Dehiwala Sarath Perera Translated by Jeff.
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The plight of the 17-year-old boy, and the 31-year-old man arrested and remanded over the brutal murder of Seya and then suddenly released, brings to focus the plight of those who are wrongly arrested by the police, and then sent to remand prison by judges who are at times oblivious to the importance of human liberty and the suffering and ignominy of being remanded.
Not so long ago, a gentleman who appeared to have significant academic credentials and bearing a last name that has generated respect in this country for a long time – “Pethiyagoda” to be exact – wrote a scathing critique of conditions at the Peradeniya Teaching Hospital. For whatever reason and despite its incendiary content the article did not receive the attention that it deserved in the medium in which it was published.
I had occasion to visit the Peradeniya Teaching Hospital not so long ago and was not surprised by the fact that it seemed to personify a Sri Lankan edition of Bedlam caused by the usual – simple lack of funds to provide the elementary facilities for the people of this country who are accused (and I use the term deliberately) of using allegedly “free” health care. Among other things I was directed to change from the trousers and underwear I wore into the (white) sarong I needed to be clad in for the procedure I was to undergo. I was directed to the toilet located on that particular floor which I was told to use as a changing room. Unfortunately, that facility was barred, literally, because it was undergoing extensive renovation. Since, I did not need to use the facility for its avowed purpose, I crept past the barriers, effected the required change in clothing and returned to the theatre where I was to undergo the procedure concerned. Fortunately, I was not observed breaking this, hopefully, temporary “house rule” by any of the Security personnel on the premises. What also crossed my mind at the time was the hope that this “temporary closure” would not have been encountered by a patient who was awaiting treatment for incontinence or an associated malady!
If I thought that horror story could not be replicated elsewhere in the Central Province, I was in for a very rude surprise.
I expected that the Kandy General (Teaching) Hospital would be an improvement over its Peradeniya equivalent because to achieve that plane of excellence would not have taken much. Read More
It is not pure knowledge economies, but innovation economies Modern economies are called ‘knowledge economies’ because they rely on human knowledge for economic prosperity. However, this designation describes a modern economy only partly. Instead, they should appropriately be called ‘innovation economies’. That is because as we discussed in the previous part (available at: http://www.ft.lk/article/475843/Part-3--Social-Market-Economy) knowledge or invention alone is a lame duck incapable of delivering prosperity.
Bribery and corruption are too entrenched in the political system in Sri Lanka. Politicians and political parties need funds for their longevity and without the big bucks of corrupt businessmen they will be like without oxygen. In the past, tenders were not “open” but dished out to pre-selected bidders. Today, the same players continue to be “in business”.
by Sinha Ratnatunga
( October 4, 2015, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) It is ten months since the January 8 presidential election; ten months of waiting for the perpetrators of corruption from the previous administration to be brought to book.
The election campaign had been rip-roaring. The battle cry of those political parties backing Maithripala Sirisena’s candidacy was eliminating corruption. They vowed to punish the perpetrators of corruption and to ensure there was no recurrence.
Forget punishment. We are not even seeing indictments! The law enforcement agencies are busy trading allegations of incompetence. It is a race to the bottom. The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption, is in deep sleep. When the Commission is asked about investigations it hides behind a secrecy clause, but in fact, the Commission is non-functional. It is functus officio with no authority or legal efficacy. We see law enforcement authorities trading allegations for the incompetence. The endless stream of self-righteous politicians that marched through its gates for the press cameras, carrying stacks of files, has dried up.
The new Financial Crimes Investigation Division of the Police claims to have completed several investigations and handed the files over to the Attorney General’s (AG) Department from what we know. But the AG’s Department says that the evidence collected is so wishy-washy and flimsy that the department has been able to file indictments on just three cases.
The Police appear to be adopting the age-old tactic of breaking down suspects with long periods of incarceration in remand to turn into State witnesses, ratting on their partners in crime. But, while that is an archetypical Police approach and could provide the desired results, it betrays a lack of forensic skills to go after paper trails.
We were informed by over-enthusiastic politicians of the new Government that World Bank teams, including the Stolen Asset Recovery Initiative (StAR) and US Federal investigators were in town many months ago to help identify the rogues of the last regime and to recover the loot. It seems like a long time ago. US Secretary of State John Kerry said in Colombo his government would help in the search for illegal deposits abroad.
The Government seems to have taken a different approach now. Short of money, it is not so much after the crooks but just the bounty. The Finance Minister has fired the first salvo by offering what is an amnesty by some other name for those who have stacked funds overseas in contravention of local laws. The next move would be — or would it be — an amnesty for the crooks of the past as long as the loot is recovered.
For the past three weeks, we have run exposés on how hundreds of millions of US dollars were channelled via the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) to lobby firms in the United States. It would appear that some of the funds ended up in a black hole. Little is known about what some of these payments were used for. One of the main concerns is the money that was paid into the personal account of an American influence-peddler named Imaad Zuberi. There are other multi-million dollar payments, most disbursed within a few months in 2014 No accounting has been done on these.
There was a reason for why the CBSL account was used to make these outlays. The regulator falls outside the purview of Parliament or Cabinet. Meanwhile, one payment was so questionable that the Federal Reserve Bank of New York queried it three times-and then stopped it because the Central Bank had not helped the Fed Reserve “fulfill our risk management and due diligence requirements”.
As far as we know, even the CBSL under the new government has not followed up on this. Some of the payment files are “missing”. They are not to be found anywhere. The nexus between the present incumbency and the previous incumbency of the CBSL is an open secret. They did business together. One might say they are birds of a feather. The same rascals who did crooked deals in the past have wormed their way into this “National Government”. The few decent, well-meaning politicians of the new dispensation have the chance of a snowball in hell to make a difference.
Bribery and corruption are too entrenched in the political system in Sri Lanka. Politicians and political parties need funds for their longevity and without the big bucks of corrupt businessmen they will be like without oxygen. In the past, tenders were not “open” but dished out to pre-selected bidders. Today, the same players continue to be “in business”.
The controversial coal tender is a clear example of how even an open process can go wrong. There were several bidders for the multi-billion rupee contract but the selected company did not get the deal. Instead, another party received the award. The tender is still stuck in limbo with plenty of charges being traded this way and that.
A few years ago, a handful of journalists, lawyers and accountants traced a paper trail that showed that a former president had authorised the release of State lands to a friend, allowing him to make a windfall.
Two ordinary citizens of Sri Lanka filed a case and the former President was found guilty of violating the Doctrine of Public Trust and fined. Neither the Police nor the Bribery Commission was involved. And it showed how some clever minds and public-spirited persons can take a one-time, all-powerful President to justice.
In most economically developed countries, mechanisms exist as deterrents to unbridled corruption at the top. Even newly-emerging economies like China are working out ways and means to prevent continuing corruption at Government levels.
In India, various legal instruments exist for civil society groups (like First Information Reports) and even for judges (Suo Motu) to initiate investigations. This is something missing in Sri Lanka’s legal system. Here, one must sit and wait till the Bribery Commission or the FCID does what it takes. But they need not have exclusive rights to tackling bribery and corruption. They are themselves enveloped in political controversy.
It is one thing to track down corruption of past regimes. It is another if amnesties are to be offered in exchange for the loot and still another, to take measures to prevent corruption in the present.
( Sinha is the Editor, Sunday Times, Colombo, where this piece was originally appeared.)
(Lanka-e-News -04.Oct.2015, 8.30PM) When all arrangements have been made to file cases against the notorious demented sex starved Supreme court (SC) judge Sarath Abrew against whom there are so many accusations of rapes committed on his domestics and battery , the Attorney General (AG) is moving heaven and earth to suppress the matter, the AG’s department inside sources reveal.
The CID conducted an investigation into a complaint made by a domestic of Abrew in July , that the latter forced her to strip nude , and because she refused to allow him to rape her , Abrew had threatened to kill her , her husband and family , while attacking her with a pistol causing injuries.
It is over a month since the file was sent to the AG’s department for advice by the CID after concluding its investigations against Abrew , in connection with the accusations of rape , forcible sexual abuse, illegal detention and harassment of domestics and battery.
When everything was finalized after oral and circumstantial evidence were recorded , and the file was sent to the AG to file action based on so many charges against Abrew, the AG has not taken any action to do the needful.
A deputy solicitor general too in this connection has recommended based on the indictments to file case in the high court , and only the AG’s signature remains to be placed , yet Yuvanjana the AG is wantonly holding back , and dilly dallying it is learnt.
It is well to recall dome time ago, Mt.Lavinia magistrate Shahabdeen issued a a warrant to arrest Abrew and then withdrew it illegally. Thereafter Abrew surrendered before Shahabdeen , when both of them had secret private discussions. The outcome : Abrew was let off the hook , by granting personal bail to Abrew in a case based on four heinous charges , where no magistrate can grant bail.
The most rudely shocking part of this underhand legal manipulations was , Abrew the notorious demented rapist mounting the sacrosanct judicial bench again without let or hindrance despite all the criminal charges staring in his face. The other judges too who had not an iota of shame also mounted the bench alongside him.
Now , the latest position is , the AG is also contributing to these sordid activities despite being a legal luminary who on the contrary should be in the vanguard of safeguarding the rule of law and fostering justice. It is reported he is deliberately delaying action against Abrew.
In these circumstances , the international request for a hybrid court to probe SL war crimes on the grounds that nothing just and fair can be expected from judgments of SL courts is justifiable. When Abrew is a SC judge and Yuvanjana is AG , justice will continue to be its travesty and a mockery .
--------------------------- by (2015-10-04 14:58:43)
A comprehensive investigation have been started against the chief executive officer of the Sri Lanka Mobitel Ranjith Rubasinghe against illegally using Mobitel resources and finances for the political campaigns of the former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
The investigation team has already collected significant evidences of financial discrepancies of Ranjith Rubasinghe and how the latter used his official powers and deployed the Mobitel for political campaigns.
Illegally providing two advertisement trucks belong to the Mobitel to election campaign and spending a sum of Rs. 2.5 million belong to the Mobitel to the alliance contestant, surreptitiously deploying Mobitel workers in a special unit created in Narahenpita to rig the election results with the help of the TRC, Printing a calendar by the theme “Pubudamu Hetak” by spending 15 million belong to the Mobitel, offering Mobitel advertisement boards to the election campaign of the Rajapaksa, Offering the advertising and printing works to “Kumar Stickers” without calling for tenders, offering advertisements to the CSN TV channel without accepted norms, Giving abnormal financial sponsorships to Carlton pre-school and rugby tournaments, possessing a USD 132 million bid when the Hutch Telecom was offered to sell for USD 70 million and trying to manipulating USD 60 million are some of the large illegal financial irregularities of the latter.
Although the investigations against Ranjith Rubasinghe was swept under the carpet during the Rajapaksa tenure and during the 100 days program due to political affiliations and financial donations confirmed reports say there are credible evidences and the law would be enforced duly this time.
JERUSALEM — In a move that Israeli police themselves called “drastic,” security forces on Sunday barred Palestinians from entering the Old City after last week’s fatal stabbing of an off-duty Israeli soldier and a well-known rabbi.
The unprecedented closure of Jerusalem’s Old City to Palestinians comes as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised “an all-out war against Palestinian terrorism.”
Sunday brought waves of arrests of Palestinians and violent demonstrations across the West Bank, with local media reporting that more than 70 Palestinians were injured by rubber bullets and live rounds during clashes.
Israeli police said the two-day closure of the Old City was intended to protect visitors arriving to celebrate the Jewish holiday of Sukkot.
“This is a drastic measure that’s being taken in order to make sure there are no further attacks during the Jewish festival, where you can see thousands of people visiting the Old City,” Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said, according to the Associated Press.
Israel and the West Bank have been on edge since a deadly knife attack late Saturday and the fatal shooting of an Israeli couple driving in the West Bank on Thursday.
According to Israeli police, a Palestinian teenager attacked an off-duty Israeli soldier, his wife and their young daughter near the Lions’ Gate in the Old City on Saturday night. The soldier was wearing civilian clothes.
Hearing the woman’s screams, Rabbi Nehemia Lavi, 41, who lives in the Muslim quarter of the Old City, ran to confront the assailant.
Lavi and the soldier, Aharon Benita, 22, were fatally stabbed. Benita’s wife was seriously wounded. The couple’s 2-year-old daughter was injured.
Lavi was a married father of seven and a leader of a Jewish religious school run by Ateret Cohanim, an organization dedicated to displacing Palestinians in East Jerusalem and the Old City and creating a Jewish majority there.
Thousands attended Lavi’s funeral in Jerusalem on Sunday, including Zev Bareitan. His daughter has married into the Lavi family.
Bareitan called Lavi “a hero” and said Lavi’s oldest son “told us his father wasn’t murdered. His father was killed fighting the enemy. He heard screams and knew it was a terror attack. He died fighting a terrorist.”
Bareitan said security in the Old City was “very limited” and called on the Netanyahu government to crack down.
“We’re a country at war,” he said.
Israeli President Reuven Rivlin said in his eulogy for Lavi, “We will reach the killers of the innocent and pure, and we will reach their inciters and their dispatchers and will deliver them a stinging blow.”
The 19-year-old Palestinian assailant, Mohannad Halabi, was a law student studying at al-Quds University. He was shot dead at the scene by police.
His Facebook page warned that “the third intifada has begun” and suggested that the uprising was a reaction to Israeli provocations at the al-Aqsa mosque site, the raised esplanade in the Old City known to Jews as the Temple Mount and to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary. It is a place holy to both.
“What’s happening to our holy places, what’s happening to our mothers and sisters in al-Aqsa mosque? We are not the people who accept humiliation. Our people will revolt,” Halabi wrote.
His father, Shafeek, a plumber, said he was proud of his son.
“He was a very smart kid with a strong personality. He wanted to be a lawyer to defend the Palestinian people against Israeli brutality,” he said.
Shafeek spoke as his children hung a large banner of the Islamic Jihad, a Palestinian militant group, across the entrance of the family’s house in the village of Surda, a few miles north of Ramallah in the West Bank.
The family had already emptied their home of possessions, expecting the Israelis to carry out a demolition order.
“I am so proud of him. He defended the honor of 1.5 billion Muslims all over the world. He will be missed not only by me, but by every free decent human being,” the father said.
Israeli security forces and Palestinian youths have fought at the front door of al-Aqsa mosque in recent weeks, and Israelis have restricted access to the mosque by age and gender.
They have also outlawed a Muslim organization that brought men and women to the mosque to stand guard and to harass Jewish visitors who enter the compound escorted by armed Israeli soldiers.
The civilian guardians, known as Mourabitoun, or defenders of Islam, say they are there as volunteers to protect the site from Jewish extremists.
But Israel says the guards have triggered clashes over the past two years .
On Sunday, Israeli police said the Old City would be off-limits for 48 hours to all Palestinians who do not live, work or study there. Israelis and tourists would be welcome.
The walled Old City, less than half a square mile, was captured by Israeli forces during the 1967 war and annexed as part of the Jerusalem municipality. Most of the world considers the Old City occupied territory; Israel disputes this.
On Sunday, the Old City’s Muslim Quarter was deserted and its shops shuttered.
Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat praised the decision to close the Old City to Jerusalem’s 300,000 Palestinian residents.
“It’s a good, specific solution. This is a correct example of how the police needs to act,” Barkat told the newspaper Haartez. “The closure is intended to protect Jews who only want to pray.”
Early Sunday, Israeli police said, another Palestinian teenager stabbed and wounded a 15-year-old Israeli near the Old City’s Damascus Gate.
Video footage of the scene show onlookers pointing at the alleged assailant and calling out, “Shoot him!” The video shows a police car arriving and multiple shots being fired.
Palestinians ask why the teenager was shot dead instead of being arrested.
After condemning violence against innocent civilians, Palestinian leader Hanan Ashrawi said, “Netanyahu is under the delusion that he can convince his own people and the international community that he can ‘manage the situation.’ This is not only morally deplorable, it is also politically irresponsible and effectively unsustainable. Never has a people under foreign occupation accepted the systematic violation of their rights and freedoms.”
Locals support family of Jerusalem knife attacker ahead of home demolition Hundreds of Palestinians gather to halt reprisal against family home of young man shot dead after killing two ultra-orthodox Jews in Old City Palestinian men from Surda village in the West Bank dismantle the room of Muhanad Halabi, who was killed by Israeli forces, in anticipation of an Israeli home demolition (MEE/Abed Al Qaisi)
Sheren Khalel-Sunday 4 October 2015 12:44 UTC
SURDA, Ramallah, Occupied Palestinian Territories - All roads into the village of Surda, in central occupied West Bank, were blocked with flaming tires and mobs of young men overnight Saturday in a move to prevent demolition of the family home of Muhanad Halabi, who earlier killed two Jews in East Jerusalem.
Boys came from villages across Ramallah city to protect the house of "the martyr," which has reportedly now been slated for demolition, a common practice by Israeli forces against Palestinians suspected of crimes against Israel.
Halabi, 22, was shot dead by Israeli forces on Saturday night after he stabbed and killed two ultra-orthodox Jews in the Old City of occupied East Jerusalem, home of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.
The stabbing victims have been identified as Aharon Banita, 21, an Israeli soldier from the illegal Israeli settlement of Beitar Illit, and Nehemia Lavi, 41, who was reportedly killed while trying to stop the attack.
Banita’s wife, 22, was also stabbed and injured. She is reportedly in serious to moderate condition, while the couple’s two-year-old son was lightly injured in the attack.
Hours after the stabbing, early on Sunday, another Palestinian allegedly stabbed a 16-year-old Israeli demonstrator in front of Damascus gate, the main Palestinian entrance into the Old City.
The Palestinian was shot dead on the scene.
The stabbing attacks come just two days after suspected Palestinians killed two Israeli settlers in a drive-by shooting in the northern occupied West Bank district of Nablus.
‘When the soldiers come, we will all fight’
Following Saturday’s incident, the Halabi family was allegedly informed that their home is slated for demolition by Israeli forces. MEE could not confirm whether an official demolition notice had been issued.
Hundreds of villagers from across Ramallah showed up at the Halabi home following the attack in support of the dead attacker, in an attempt to protect his family and their home from demolition overnight Saturday.
Mohammed Barghouti, a man from a neighbouring village, drove to Surda with nine other cousins.
“When we heard the Israelis were planning to destroy the martyr’s home we came right away to help. We have been moving everything and saving anything we can from inside their home for them,” Barghouthi said. “And when the soldiers come, we will all fight. There are more than a thousand men and boys on the streets waiting to protect this family.”
Within hours, the Halabi home, an immaculate three-storey building that housed his mother, father, and four siblings, was completely emptied, stripped of everything from kitchen cabinets to light fixtures.
‘In support of Al Aqsa’
“We are resilient,” Mahmoud Arian, Halabi’s uncle, told MEE. “Yes, they will come and destroy this home, but we support my nephew’s actions. Muhanad was a smart boy, a law student, top of his class. Muhanad was a normal boy, not overly religious, but he did what he felt he needed to do for his country, his people and his God.”
Arian said Halabi had become increasingly political after a friend, Diyaa Talahmah, was shot dead by Israeli forces in Hebron two weeks previously.
“Muhanad was deeply upset by his friend’s death, and what the Israelis are doing to Al-Aqsa. In the end, he did what he did in support of Al-Aqsa,” Arian said.
Israeli authorities have imposed increasingly tight restrictions on Palestinians entering the Al-Aqsa compound, the third-holiest site in Islam, sparking clashes and violence around the mosque.
Palestinians fear that Israeli authorities plan to create a schedule in which Muslims and Jews would share the compound, which is venerated by Jews as the holiest site in Judaism.
Halabi’s family members told MEE that they feel no remorse for the recent Palestinian attacks on Israelis.
“Yes, my nephew went to Jerusalem and did what he did, but it’s normal for Israelis to kill Palestinians who have done nothing at all, in cold blood, like Ali Duwabsha,” said Halabi’s aunt, who asked not to be named, referring to the 18-month-old infant who was burned alive by Israeli settlers two months ago.
“The political Jews, especially the settlers, are just killing people, just killing and killing - how long are we supposed to be silent? The people have had enough. Everyone will send their family to fight now,” she said.
Halabi's mother, Suher Habali, sitting outside her family home, told MEE that the attacks won't stop until Al-Aqsa Mosque is freed from "the reign of Israeli terror".
"I am proud of my son. Of course every mother wants to watch her son grow up and graduate and get married and live their life, but Al-Aqsa is bigger than any of us. We are all Al-Aqsa, and every Palestinian would be happy to die for Al-Aqsa.
“They can destroy my home, but my son is martyr for Al-Aqsa. They can’t take that away,” she said.
Palestinian factions across the West Bank and Gaza Strip have announced their support for the stabbing attacks, with several factions in Gaza calling the actions resistance and “a natural reaction to the occupation,” local media reported.
Between 2001 and 2005, Israeli forces demolished 664 homes as punishment, leaving more than 4,000 Palestinians homeless, according to Israeli human rights group B'Tselem, which condemns the practice.
SUNDAY04 OCTOBER 2015 President Bashar al-Assad says only Russia, Syria and its allies can decide the fate of the Middle East, and that terrorism has actually spread as a result of the US-led airstrikes.
Speaking on Iranian television the embattled Syria leader said that if Syria, Russia, Iran and Iraq could unite in battling terrorism they would see real practical results
"The chances of this alliance's success are big, not small," Assad said, adding that failure would mean "we face the destruction of the whole region".
However he said the air attacks by Western forces and allied Arab nations on the so called Islamic State targets in Iraq and Syria had been counterproductive and terrorism had spread both in terms of territory and new recruits.
His comments come only days after Russian jets launched air strikes from bases in western Syria against targets the Russians claim are Islamic State bases. But others claim they are striking other rival rebel groups that are backed by other nations.
Prime Minister David Cameron said that Russia's decision to take military action in Syria to support Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was a "terrible mistake".
"They are backing the butcher Assad, which is a terrible mistake for them and for the world.
"It's going to make the region more unstable, it will lead to further radicalisation and increased terrorism. I would say to them 'change direction, join us in attacking ISIL'"
Rumors and social media implicate many (wheeler-dealers) who were attempting, prior to the general elections to get Wasim’s family to issue statements implying that they did not suspect foul play. Whether this was for political advantage at the elections or an attempt of a cover-up is difficult to judge. Further, various stories have been leaked to imply that Thajudeen was drunk and his drunken state caused the motor accident. This is the worst form of intimidation that one could cause the family, as Islam forbids the consumption of alcohol and the family would not want any discussion leading to this stigma. Whether, Thajudeen consumed alcohol or not is between him and his creator. Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala is the greatest forgiver and the family should not worry about the embarrassment that is attached to this accusation.
by Saliya Pieris-
called ‘innovation economies’. That is because as we discussed in the previous part (available at: http://www.ft.lk/article/475843/Part-3--Social-Market-Economy) knowledge or invention alone is a lame duck incapable of delivering prosperity.
Bribery and corruption are too entrenched in the political system in Sri Lanka. Politicians and political parties need funds for their longevity and without the big bucks of corrupt businessmen they will be like without oxygen. In the past, tenders were not “open” but dished out to pre-selected bidders. Today, the same players continue to be “in business”.
