Thursday, June 8, 2017

Arundhati Roy on the ‘Ministry of Utmost Happiness’

Author and environmental activist Arundhati Roy criticises Donald Trump for pulling out of the Paris climate change agreement. pic.twitter.com/N1rUpdMoWU
— Channel 4 News (@Channel4News) June 8, 2017

Jon Snow

Presenter

It has been twenty years since the Indian writer Arundhati Roy won the Booker Prize for her debut novel “The God of Small Things”.

Since then she’s devoted much her time to politics and human rights. Controversially she’s supported an independent Kashmir and opposed Prime Minister Modi – critical of both the way he handled sectarian violence in Gujurat 15 years ago and the way he’s running the country now.

Her new novel ‘The Ministry of Utmost Happiness’ explores the rise of Hindu Nationalism and gender identity – from the perspective of its transgender leading character. Jon Snow went to meet her.

Al Jazeera TV says it is combatting hack, all entities operational -source

The Al Jazeera Media Network logo is seen on its headquarters building in Doha, Qatar June 8, 2017. REUTERS/Naseem Zeitoon

Fri Jun 9, 2017

Pan-Arab satellite network Al Jazeera is combatting a large-scale cyber attack on its media platform, but all its entities remain operational, a company source said on Thursday.

"There were attempts made on the cyber security of Al Jazeera but we are combatting them and currently all our entities are operational," said a senior employee who declined to be named.

Al Jazeera is the flagship broadcaster for Qatar, which is in a stand-off with fellow Arab states which accuse it of ties to terrorism, in a row that is endangering stability in the region.

Al Jazeera's English- and Arabic-language channels and its websites appeared to be still functioning on Thursday after the network tweeted it was "under cyber attack on all systems, websites & social media platforms".

A later tweet said Doha-based media platforms were undergoing "continual hacking attempts".
It was the third reported hack of Qatari organisations in the last 14 months.

Qatar said last month its state news agency had been hacked and false statements attributed to the country's ruler posted, helping ignite the current rift with other Arab states.

Last April Qatar National Bank, the largest lender in the Middle East and Africa by assets, suffered a security breach and data was posted online revealing the names and passwords of a large number of customers.

(Reporting by Tom Finn; Writing by Stephen Kalin; Editing by Andrew Roche)

Up to 1 in 20 babies born to mothers with Zika have birth defects, report says

Risk jumped to nearly one in 13 when mothers had virus in first trimester
Study comes as US prepares for mosquito season

The Zika virus is still spreading locally in some areas, including Puerto Rico. Photograph: Ricardo Moraes/Reuters

Jessica Glenza in New York-Thursday 8 June 2017

As many as one in 20 babies born to mothers infected by Zika have birth defects, a new report from by US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows.

The risk jumped to nearly one in 13 when mothers were found to have Zika in the first trimester, the CDC stated.

The report on more than 2,500 pregnancies across five US territories found 122 babies, or 5%, were born with birth defects from 1 January 2016 to 25 April 2017. It is the largest study of the impact of Zika in America to date.

“The bottom line for women is Zika virus infection diagnosed during any trimester can lead to severe birth defects,” said Anne Schuchat, acting director of the CDC. “This is a very dangerous virus in the context of the pregnancy setting.”

The report comes as Americans in Gulf Coast states and US territories prepare for a summer mosquito season with the virus still spreading locally in some areas, including Puerto Rico.

“We can’t predict exactly how much Zika will be spreading these next several months, or in fact the next several years, but we know the vector is there,” said Schuchat, referring to territories such as Puerto Rico.

In the same report, the CDC changed how it reports cases of birth defects related to Zika in the US territories. After a reported dispute with Puerto Rico, the CDC will now release data all Zika-related birth defects collectively among five US territories. Officials refused to say how many birth defects were found in Puerto Rico specifically.

The US territories of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands are heavily dependent on tourism. Island officials blamed a major slump in the industry on news of the Zika virus. The head of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company, José Izquierdo II, told local news outlet Primera Hora that the island lost an estimated $254m in tourism in 2016.

Earlier this week, the territorial government of Puerto Rico declared the Zika epidemic “ended”, after new infections dropped from 8,000 to 10 per week. The CDC is still warning women who are pregnant not to travel to Puerto Rico.

A June report by Stat News indicated 38 cases of Zika-related birth defects on the island, despite known infections among 3,300 women. The Guardian attempted to confirm this number with the Puerto Rico department of health, but a spokesman said he did not have a current count of the number of Zika-related birth defects on the island.

By comparison, in the 50 states and Washington, 1,579 Zika-infected women gave birth to 72 children with defects.

“Zika hasn’t gone away and while the number of new cases has decreased the virus remains a concern for pregnant women living in the US territories,” said Shuchat. “We must continue preparing for another mosquito season while researchers seek more definitive prevention through vaccine development.”

Wednesday, June 7, 2017

CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY HAS HAPPENED IN SOUTH AND NORTH; NOW IMPLEMENT UNHRC RESOLUTION- SAMPANTHAN

An image from the documentary ‘Sri Lanka’s Killing Fields.

07/06/2017

R. Sampanthan, Leader of the opposition and the TNA reiterated the need for full and expeditious implementation of the UN Human Rights Council Resolution if Sri Lanka wants to stop crimes against humanity taking place in the country again. He was speaking at the parliament on the resolution moved by the Joint Opposition re UNHRC resolutions. He said that what happened in the South in 1988 – 1989 and in the North in 2008 – 2009, are crimes against humanity. No country can continuously disregard such crimes.

“Can the cases pertaining to journalist, Lasantha Wickrematunge, cartoonist, Prageeth Eknaligoda, five students murdered in Trincomalee when they were standing on the beachfront or the 17 aid workers killed in Muttur be swept under the carpet merely because the persons who are accused of those crimes are members of the armed forces; so called war heroes? If those crimes cannot be swept under the carpet merely for the reason that those acts were committed by war heroes, how can violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law which are crimes against humanity committed in 2008-2009 be swept under the carpet” he further said.

The full speech made by Hon. R. Sampanthan on 06 June in Parliament on UNHRC resolutions follows:

R. Sampanthan .

Mr. Presiding Member, this Resolution has been moved by the Joint Opposition.
The objective of the Resolution is the attempted repudiation of the Report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and also the Resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council.

Unfortunately, I do not think such steps are within the competence of this honourable House and I might, perhaps, safely say that it is not the will of the present House. I might say very clearly that the Sri Lankan State is bound by the Resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council and that it is the bounden duty of the Sri Lankan State to implement that Resolution. We should really work towards how that can be achieved without any harm being done to this country. That should be our objective.
I do not want to approach this matter in a spirit of confrontation. I want to approach it from the perspective of what would be in the best interests of the country and all its people while ensuring truth and justice.

The causes and events that led to this situation, to this Resolution being adopted, occurred during the tenure of the former Government. The present Government took over when conclusions, decisions, had been arrived at by the UN Human Rights Council. Not having been able to contain the situation despite being given every opportunity from 2012, the former Government could not have contained the situation when decisions had been arrived at in 2015 by the UN Human Rights Council.
The former Government was given every opportunity to implement its own LLRC -Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission- recommendations and conduct its own domestic investigations in 2012, 2013 and up to 2014. It was the policy of confrontation and refusal to participate that led to the Resolution adopted in 2015. This is undeniable and the former Government must accept responsibility for that situation.

UNHRC resolution is not against SL

This Resolution is frequently referred to as a Resolution against Sri Lanka. I do not agree with that view. It is a Resolution dealing with violations of human rights laws and humanitarian laws committed by both parties to the conflict, the State and the armed rebel group, the LTTE. It is not a Resolution against Sri Lanka. It is a Resolution pertaining to certain acts, not all acts, committed by the two parties to the conflict.

One must not forget that this whole process commenced when the then President, His Excellency Mahinda Rajapaksa, gave a commitment to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, His Excellency Ban Ki-moon, on the 26th of May 2009 when the Secretary-General visited Sri Lanka, to the effect that His Excellency Mahinda Rajapaksa, the President, and the Sri Lankan Government would address the question of accountability. That was a commitment very clearly made by the then President to the Secretary-General of the UN when the Secretary-General came here. His Excellency Mahinda Rajapaksa undoubtedly knew what he was doing because he himself had gone to Geneva in the late 1980s – in 1988 and 1989 – to seek the intervention of the UN Human Rights body when there were grave violations of human rights and humanitarian laws in the South of this country, when Sinhala civilian youth and Sinhala people were being slaughtered in their thousands, indeed tens of thousands, at that point of time. The only difference is that what happened in 2008-2009 happened in the North.

Nobody is complaining on behalf of the armed combatants. His Excellency Mahinda Rajapaksa did not complain on behalf of armed combatants when he went to Geneva in 1988 and 1989. He only complained about what happened to civilians. The UN Human Rights Council is also dealing with what happened to civilians. In fact, simultaneously investigations have been conducted against the armed combatants about their own violations of human rights laws and humanitarian laws also against civilians. This culture of impunity should not continue. It should come to an end.
What happened to unarmed civilians in violation of human rights and humanitarian laws must not be confused with legitimate actions taken by the State against armed combatants carrying on an armed struggle against the State. The distinction between these two situations is clearly defined in humanitarian laws and human rights laws, and the standards of judgement pertaining to the applicability of the said two laws are clearly recognized internationally. I found my Friends, in the course of the speeches they made earlier the day, referring to war heroes. I do not think all war heroes were engaged in committing violations of international humanitarian laws and human rights laws but some of them undoubtedly committed crimes against both those laws.

Impunity at its zenith

Can the cases pertaining to journalist, Lasantha Wickrematunge, cartoonist, Prageeth Eknaligoda, five students murdered in Trincomalee when they were standing on the beachfront or the 17 aid workers killed in Muttur be swept under the carpet merely because the persons who are accused of those crimes are members of the armed forces; so called war heroes? If those crimes cannot be swept under the carpet merely for the reason that those acts were committed by war heroes, how can violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law which are crimes against humanity committed in 2008-2009 be swept under the carpet? This was impunity at its zenith.

Sir, no one should be allowed to confuse between the execution of legitimate duties by a government and the wanton killing of unarmed civilians in furtherance of the political agendas of persons holding high office. Unless this culture is brought to an end, it will continue and that must not be allowed.
What happened in the South in 1988 – 1989 and in the North in 2008 – 2009, are crimes against humanity. No country, Sir, can continuously disregard such crimes.

As a result of its short-sighted policies and not being inclusive in exercising powers of governance and not being inclusive in sharing sovereignty that is vested in all the people of this country, our country has faced catastrophic situations. We need to retrieve ourselves from this dire situation.
Full and expeditious implementation of the UN Human Rights Council Resolution will be the first step in that direction. Engaging in devious tactics to delay or deny the process will – I respectfully submit – be positively harmful to the future of this country.

Thank you, Sir.

Maithri engages in religious observances invoking blessings on indisposed Ranil -But what happened to us ?

(Lanka-e-News - 07.June.2017, 1.45PM) Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe who was admitted to Maryland John Hopkins hospital , America was discharged after the medical treatment . Meanwhile a pinkama ( religious observances) was conducted for the recovery of the P.M., yesterday (04) at the Gangaramaya temple , Hunupitiya , Colombo with the participation of president Maithripala Sirisena. This Pinkama to evoke blessings was organized by the UNP youth trade unionists’ organization . Sagala Ratnayake chief of staff of the P.M.’s office , foreign minister Ravi Karunanayake ,minister Fowzie and several others also took part in this Pinkama .

Herein are photos depicting president engaging in several religious observances to evoke blessings on the P.M. during the Pinkama .

Post scriptum ….
During the nefarious corrupt decade of Medamulana Rajapakse , when the despotic ruler was for sometime ailing from a cancerous growth in an organ of his below, was admitted to Houston M.D. Anderson hospital, U.S.A. Lanka e news reported this at that time . Surprisingly Mahinda Rajapakse the tyrant who was provoked by this revelation , set fire to Lanka e news . At about the same time while publishing reports through the State media that Mahinda was not ailing made a huge publicity din that Rajapakse ( nomerene miniha- deathless man) was not suffering from any disease . Those media reports also carried photos depicting Mahinda taking a walk along the sea shore.

Interestingly , it was Lanka e news again which first reported that Ranil Wickremesinghe P.M. has been admitted to Maryland hospital U.S .A. for medical treatment . In contradistinction to the barbaric and despotic conduct of barbaric brutal Rajapakses then , in this instance , neither a brother of the P.M. nor anybody else set fire to or threatened Lanka e news even via phone for reporting the illness.

Sadly however , this report of Lanka e news could not be endured by the deposed people discarded brutal Rajapakses because their evil aim and agenda was to malign and criticize the P.M that he left for the US disregarding the flood disaster . Through the social media , e mails , sms messages and phone calls to us they wreaked havoc and insulted us saying ‘ you are giving your ar….. ole to Ranil.’

The weirdest and most incomprehensible part of the conduct of these uncouth , uncultured , uncivilized ‘Rajapakses’ is their getting enraged and maddened whenever we report about the sickness of a leader – Mahinda (man who thinks he is deathless) or even Ranil.

The old adage ‘ dog’s tail cannot be uncurled even if it is put on a hot stove ‘ is certainly not without meaning.

(photos – Vimukthi De Soysa)

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by (2017-06-07 08:22:16)

Minister Karunanayake invite the expatriate community to return home

Jun 07, 2017

"I invite them to come back as this country needs their services"

Foreign Minister Ravi Karunanayake thanked his officers and staff of the Finance Ministry who had rendered their support to him to accomplish this task. He said now he has added responsibilities both nationally and internationally. Excerpts of the interview with us.

Q: What are your views regarding the past?
A: The previous regime handed over a country with an bankrupt economy and scraping the bottom of the pit, so to speak. It was as if a grenade was handed to us with the pin removed. Our first task was to prevent it from exploding. Then we had to defuse the ticking time bomb and move forward. That is what we have done over the past two years. Now the gross domestic production has increased to 15%. The unofficial income sources have been turned into state income sources. There were assets that did not bring in any income such as the Mattala airport and the Hambantota harbour. In 2005 the Hambantota port was in debt of Rs. 1764 billion and by January 8, 2015 it had increased to Rs. 8900 billion. However, after taking over, we have created 43 development projects. Development is taking place throughout the country. We did not boast about what we were doing but we worked. But, the previous regime glorified their projects but nothing was done. That is the difference between them and us. Although we imposed a 4% Value Added Tax, we have reduced the price of many essential commodities and we created job opportunities. We restored an economy on the brink of collapse. I have done my best for this country. The parties leveling allegations at us are doing so out of utter jealousy.

Q: How do you see the recent changes in the cabinet?
A: I see the changes as positive changes. I wanted to use the best resources in different ways. On the other hand I would like to mention that I am happy that the President and Prime Minister are committed to bringing in the best for the country. However, there are unscrupulous elements that cannot bear to see the progress we are making and want to destabilise our progress. They don’t want to see anything good happening to anyone.

Q: Some speculate that the Cabinet reshuffle is a ploy by the Joint opposition. Do you agree?
A: It’s a waste of time listening to them. The Joint Opposition can question, but we must keep these concerns in mind when we work as a government. I choose to look at this in a positive way. There are also those who instigate trouble between us and the opposition. Hence, we must be mindful of that too, as I said earlier.

Q: You attempted to redeem a collapsing economy and you must have had plans for the future. Now what happens to those plans as you are no longer the Finance Minister?
A: It is because I uplifted the economy that they are slinging mud at me and branding me as a rogue. They are also upset because we stopped the corruption not just reduced it. They cannot bear to see that we are slowly but surely creating a country free of corruption and fraud. This is why they are attacking us and trying to destabilise our progress.

Q: What is your opinion of our foreign policies?
A: I am happy and appreciate what the government and the former Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera have done. Now what we must do is take the country forward and stabilise our economy.

Q: However, there are many allegations against the foreign Ministry. In such an institution, how confident are you of making positive strides?
A: Just as I restored a collapsing economy in my capacity as the Finance Minister, I will do my best to make positive changes and forge ahead with the good work done so far by my predecessor.

Q: There are many allegations that our foreign missions have failed to serve the people. Now that you have taken over, what measures would you take to rectify this situation?
A: I will not leave room for our foreign representatives to make our missions their private holiday homes without serving the people. If they don’t perform, I will ensure that they will return home. I will not keep them and allow them to waste public funds. I will address this issue on a priority basis soon. If anyone has such complaints I urge them to notify me of it and I will take immediate measures to rectify these shortcomings.

Q: How do you view the foreign policies with regard to India and China?
A: I think India is our closest neighbour, our best and most powerful friend. I will strive to keep that in mind and also deal with China accordingly as they too have brought a lot of investment to this country.

Q: What is your message to the expatriate community?
A: I invite them to come back as this country needs their services. I say to the young people living in foreign countries that they are the country's treasure and we need their youthful energy. Therefore, I urge them to return home and be a part of this transformation and be a part of building a new Sri Lanka.

Q: How do you intend to face the Geneva allegations of human rights allegations?
A: I must study this properly first. After that I will implement a plan on how best to face this issue.

Q: You will be entrusted with the Lotteries Board and Sri Lankan airlines. What are your future plans for these institutions?
A: Yes these are currently being gazetted. In a few days time I will be able to comment regarding these institutions.

Q: What are your plans on bringing in foreign investment?
A: I intend to transform the whole system here. This is something that has to be done. Exports have dropped by 10 billion US dollars. In order to bring a sustainable solution I intend to increase exports by around 20 billion US dollars.

AshWaru Colombo

SRI LANKA: THE SAD STATE OF AFFAIRS OF JOINT OPPOSITION AND THE GOVERNMENT TODAY – SUMANTHIRAN

07/06/2017

Thank you, Hon. Presiding Member, for this opportunity to speak at this Adjournment Debate.
As I sat listening to speeches on both sides of the House, I thought the Debate was reaching heights of absurdity and hypocrisy. There has been a murder in broad daylight. Some people have informed the police of this murder. But the issue seems to be: “Who informed the police? Why did you inform the police?” That is what is being debated in this House today, not that there has been a murder.   “Why did you go and tell the police?” One is pointing the finger at the other. “You are the one who told the police.” And from the other side another one is pointing the finger at this side and saying, “No! No! You are the one who told the police.” That is the sad state of affairs that this country has come to. No one is worried about the fact that there has been a murder.

That is the gist of the Debate between the so-called Joint Opposition and the Government today. The Government is bending backwards trying to say, “We are not going to allow anybody to be punished.” The Joint Opposition says, “You are trying to punish.” Nobody is talking about the crime. No one is talking about the victims. No one is talking about what is right and what is wrong. Both are competing with each other, trying to excel each other in claiming that they are better at covering up. One says, “We covered up well. You have now revealed it.” And the Government says, “No! No! You are the one who exposed it. Now we are covering up.” Shameless conduct both by the movers of the Resolution and those who are replying on behalf of the Government! Why cannot you face reality? Why can you not be truthful? Why can you not act with honour and tell the people of this country the reality. Why do you have to beat around the bush? That is why I call it hypocrisy.

There were references made to 1988/89 period, a comparison between that and 2008/09 period. Why do we even have to go there? Is not a wrong a wrong to whoever it happens? Have we descended to a point when the Representatives of the Tamil people have to ask the question “If it happens to Sinhala youth, you will do and if it happens to Tamil youth, you will not?” Do we even have to raise that as a question in this House?

Hon. Minister Rauff Hakeem praised the virtues of this UN Resolution but it was he, in 2012, who went to Geneva and campaigned against the first Resolution. And as I say so Hon. Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe smiles. He led the delegation fighting hard against these Resolutions, but failed, failed miserably, to prevent those Resolutions. Why? Because you were wrong; because you allowed these things to happen; you did not take responsibility and act as a responsible Government and when you were asked, you gave assurances.

I am glad that the Hon. Wimal Weerawansa read in Sinhala that undertaking, the Joint Communique that was signed by the then President Rajapaksa in Kandy in May, 2009 with the Secretary-General of the UN when the Government said, “We will inquire into those when we appoint the LLRC.” The first two Resolutions in 2012 and 2013, as the Hon. Minister knows very well, only asked the Sri Lankan Government to hold internal investigations. That was all it asked, according to the undertaking given in that Joint Communique. And it asked the Sri Lankan Government to implement the recommendations of its own Commission – the LLRC. We did not have faith in that Commission, but even that Commission made constructive recommendations. Even that was not implemented. Then, what did the international community do? They did not interfere; they did not say, “You must do what we tell you to do.” They only said, “Do what you have said you will do.” “Do what your own Commission has recommended that you must do. But if you fail in that, certainly there will be repercussions.” Those who scream about international interventions must know that it was during that time that Dr. Palitha Kohona was appointed head of an investigative team by the UN to look into a bombing of an aid flotilla against Israel. We participated in investigations against other sovereign countries as a responsible member of the United Nations. We are members of the United Nations and we are proud of it.   Why are we members of the United Nations if we cannot abide by the basic Charter of the United Nations? What is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. What is good for Israel is good for us. So, it is that, that will remain on the international agenda until it is accomplished.

I am glad, the former Minister of Foreign Affairs – the present Minister of Finance and Mass Media – very clearly set that out, about sovereignty; about what sovereignty means today. Sovereignty is not something that is given to a ruler of a country to do as he pleases with his subjects.   We are no longer subjects; we are citizenry. We are citizens in whom sovereignty rests. Sovereignty is no longer with the rulers. It is with the people and that is why if the people are mistreated, you cannot take cover behind sovereignty. That is a false cover. That will never protect you and that is why questions can be asked and are being asked. That is why this Government took the proper step of co-sponsoring HRC 30/1 and HRC 34/1 Resolutions, because that is the only proper course available. But our complaint is against this Government as well. You co-sponsor a Resolution and you drag your feet implementing it.

You have all kinds of excuses not to implement it. You do not say you will not implement it, but you will not do it either. Even in taking action, there is blatant discrimination. We commend you for taking action in the case of Prageeth Eknaligoda; in the case of Lasantha Wickramatunga, but there was a course of Tamil journalists who were killed. Why has the Government not moved one finger in respect of one of those assassinations? Why? Are Tamil journalists any less citizens of this country than Sinhala journalists? Is that your view? You do not have to answer that. It is blatantly obvious what your view is, when you do not do what you are supposed to do; when you do not do the right thing for certain sections of the community, but rush to do other things. Until you change your course, we will have international spotlight on Sri Lanka and – I do not want to beat around the bush – we will ensure that, but that is not what we desire. We do not do that with glee, we do that with a heavy heart. We would like to say that we are equal citizens in this country, that our people are protected by the State as much as any other people in this country are protected. That is what we want. Then only we can be proud. But you are not allowing us to be proud citizens of this country.

So, my urge to the Government, at this time, is that you did the course correction; you turned towards the right direction; you did the right thing by co-sponsoring those two Resolutions, but please do not drag your feet any longer. Be brave and do what is right and nothing will go wrong. Do not be afraid to do the right thing. The previous regime was not afraid to do the wrong thing, but you are afraid to do the right thing, perhaps the presence of many who were in the previous Government being in the present Government too may be a cause for that. But, you cannot be dictated to by those forces. You have come with a fresh mandate; you have come with a very clear directive from all the people of this country and that is what you are expected to do. There were simple things that could have been addressed long ago that afflict our people and this Government is dragging its feet.

The Hon. Risad Badhiutheen was heard to complain bitterly about what is happening now and I have sympathy for what he said. A certain person has informed the Court of Appeal that he is in hospital and the IGP says that he has four units of police looking for him. Can there be any worse joke than that? That person informs court that he is in hospital and the Inspector General of Police with four units of searching policemen cannot find him. Why is that?

At the same time, I would also like to say to the Hon. Risad Badhiutheen when he complained about resettlement of protracted Muslim IDPs, we are all for all of those who were removed from the Northern Province coming back. We have said that time and again. Not just the Muslims but the Sinhalese, the Tamils, all must be resettled from where they were moved. If there are protracted IDPs and their issues have not been addressed, all of those issues must be addressed. Protracted IDPs cannot be only Sinhalese and Muslims.

It is a sad fact that a definition was sought to be introduced to the word “Protracted IDPs”. A Cabinet subcommittee has been appointed and the definition was “Sinhala and Muslims IDPs”. How can that be? When that was objected to, the definition has now been suggested “that those who were ousted prior to December 31^st, 1990″ – that is all right – “by the LTTE”. Why only by the LTTE? What about the others? An IDP is an IDP. If he is a protracted IDP, then fix a date. But it cannot be only those who were ousted by a particular movement. A particular movement should not come under that definition.

So, as much as we support the call of the Muslim people, indeed the Sinhala people and the Tamil people to be resettled in their original places, we say that also must be done without discrimination. We stand for a country that is not divided, a country in which all the peoples will be proud of their equal status to live without discrimination or fear, but, until we reach that, you cannot oust the concern of the world on this country.

Thank you.

(Full transcript of the speech made by Hon. Sumanthiran in Parliament yesterday.)

Keith Noyahr Abduction And Assault: Gota Goes Numb

JUNE 7, 2017

The Keith Noyahr abduction investigation finally took a decisive turn when the CID questioned Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the former Secretary to the ministry of of Defence of Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Presidency. Gotabaya, a younger brother of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa was questioned at the CID Offices in Fort on 2nd of June. Early into this investigation the CID arrested and remanded Major Prabjath Bulathwatte, Sergeant Duminda Weeraratne, Sergeant Hemachandra Perera, Corporals Lasantha Wimalaweera and Nishantha Jayatillake, all serving officers of the Military Intelligence led by Gen. Kapila Hendavitharne and his immediate subordinate Brig. Amal Karunatilleke.

Gota

Going by circumstantial and other documented evidence the CID had gathered, finally Gotabaya Rajapaksa was summoned to record his statement. Colombo Telegraph learns from CID sources that Gotabaya Rajapaksa had early into his statement deflected the responsibility of Colombo’s security to Gen Hendavitharne and Brig. Amal Karunatilleke, who reported to (then) Gen. Sarath Fonseka, the serving Army Commander at the time of this crime.

Confronted by conflicting evidence, the CID continued to question on evidence available that the then President Mahinda Rajapaksa did call Gotabaya subsequent to a plea by the Editor of the Nation Lalith Alahakoon. Alahakoon had called President Mahinda Rajapaksa for his help when Keith Noyahr was abducted. This late night call resulted in Mahinda Rajapaksa calling Gotabaya Rajapaksa who in turn did intervene. Major Bandara Bulathwatte at this time was at the Dompe safe house and answered the phone saying “Yes Sir, Yes Sir…..”.Keith Noyahr who was being assaulted at this safe house heard this one sided conversation. He was released a little while thereafter.

The CID questioning Gotabaya Rajapaksa presented this evidence which led to the former Defence Secretary going numb !! Colombo Telegraph learns that Gotabaya Rajapaksa went numb at the evidence presented and was in deep thought for about ten minutes before saying that when the former President called he had to intervene and he did call the Army Intelligence and the Police ( former DIG Anura Senanayake, now bailed out in Wasim Thajudeen murder investigation).

Colombo Telegraph further learns that investigators were somewhat baffled by this revelation. “Why the former Defence Secretary had to call the Army Intelligence for a common crime?”, they query. “It is the duty of the Police to investigate such crimes”, they said. “The facts are that Keith Noyahr was released subsequently and the thread of evidence clearly ties the Army Intelligence to the crime. It does beg some other questions as well”, they said.

Colombo Telegraph further learns that the CID would have additional statements to record from the former Secretary Defence Gotabaya Rajapaksa. “Why did the former President call the Defence Secretary to intervene ? Why did the Defence Secretary call the Army Intelligence in addition to his pet Police Officer? Did they know who had to be contacted to release Keith Noyahr? But the sixty million dollar question is that Keith Noyahr WAS (emphasis by CT) released subsequent to these calls. And the fact that Keith Noyahr heard Maj. Bulathawatte say “Yes sir, Yes sir……” before a sea change happened with the abductors, are relevant,” they said.

Colombo Telegraph learns that the CID has evidence that it was the same team that was involved in the brutal killing of former Editor in Chief of The Sunday Leader, Lasantha Wickrematunge. Lasantha Wickrematunge too, according to evidence, had called President Mahinda Rajapaksa when he was being followed by the murderers on motor bikes.

RI LANKA: Man rescuing his brother illegally arrested, detained and produced in Court on fabricated charges

June 6, 2017

Dear Friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission has received information regarding Mr. Mutthuswamy Sathgunam, 47, of No: 2/2, Maberitenna, Digana, Rajawella, in Kandy District. Police Officers illegally arrested, detained and produced him before the Teledeniya Magistrate’s Court on fabricated charges. According to Sathgunam, the police officers conducted themselves in an unlawful manner to take revenge on him. The reason? He peacefully opposed his brother’s illegal arrest by the police. He demands justice for violations against his human rights.

Case Narrative:

Sathgunam is 47, married and the father of two sons aged 14, 12 and a daughter aged 6. He is the sole breadwinner of the family; his wife stays at home. He is a light vehicle driver working in Colombo, 160 kilometers away from his home. He comes home only on public holidays. His children study in a school in Teldeniya Town. Sathgunam has had a peaceful relationship with his neighbors. There is no record or complaint against him. He has not committed any crime or aided or abetted a crime.

On 28th March 2017, Sathgunam was in his village home taking several days of his annual leave. He was enjoying being with his family members. At 10 am, his brother Calisstus asked him to go to the police station with him. He received a message to visit the Police Station with the Officer-in-Charge (OIC). No reason was given. As a result, he was afraid to appear before the OIC.

Then Sathgunam repeatedly questioned his brother for the reason for visiting the police station. He learned police had initiated an investigation on a complaint they received. It regarded the ownership of the lands distributed among the new settlers in the recently established village in the Maberitenna Estate.

Sathgunam was not inclined to go with his brother. He had no any connection with these re-settlements. He said that he owns his own land on which his house is built. It is in a definite place in the village outside the re-settlers land. He has no wish to join in these affairs. However, his brother’s mind is embedded with fear--even to enter a police station. The reason is that they belong to an ethnic minority community of Indian origin Tamil. His brother convinced him that he had never committed a crime or participated or abetted any crime.

Sathgunam understood his brother’s mentality even as came to his aid. He agreed to go to the Teldeniya Police Station with him. They reached the police station at 10.45am. His brother and his friend entered the police compound.

Sathgunam did not enter the police premises. He stayed outside. His brother as he entered the police station promised he would return soon.

Sathgunam waited for several hours. However, he did not return. After two hours, he decided to go to the police station and check on his brother’s fate. Sathgunam first talked to the police officer in the reception area and informed him that he is waiting for his brother who came to visit the OIC.

In return, the officer replied that they are already in the workplace of the Officer-in-Charge (OIC). Immediately the officer informed the OIC that the brother of one person is waiting for his release. The OIC asked Sathgunam to come to his office.

He asked for his name, religion and address, which Sathgunam provided. The OIC ordered another officer in his room to record these details. Sathgunam was not aware of the reason these details were recorded. He was asked to sit on a chair in his office. He was there for some time. Although Sathgunam explained that he came with his brother and no any connection to any police matter, the OIC did not pay any attention to him.

The OIC told Sathgunam that he is going to produce him before the Magistrate. Again no reason was provided. Sathgunam pleaded with the officer to release him. He is an innocent person working in Colombo and living in a peaceful manner. However, the OIC did not change his mind. Meanwhile, Sathgunam observed that the three-wheeler driver who brought them to the police station was also arrested and detained. And in the end, the OIC arrested and detained Sathgunam.

Sathgunam observed that the OIC was talking to a caller on the phone. He was later identified as a powerful, wealthy man, the estate manager in the area. This took place while he was in the process of arresting and detaining them. The OIC clearly related every step taken to the estate manager.

At 2:15 p.m., all the detainees were transported by jeep to the Teldeniya Magistrate’s Court and were produced in the Court. Sathgunam was not aware of the charges against him. He was informed at the Court that he had been granted bail and ordered to pay Rs. 5000 as a condition of the bail. As he could not provide the money, he was given a week to pay. He later learned that his case was postponed until 4 September 2017.

Sathgunam states that he had no criminal record or complaint against him. Despite this, the Police station’s OIC started a malevolent prosecution against him by illegally arresting and detaining him. He seeks justice for this illegal behavior.

Suggested Action:

Please send a letter to the authorities listed below and express your concern about this case. Please request an immediate investigation into the allegations of abuse of an innocent person by the Police, and the prosecution of those found responsible. The officers involved must be subject to internal investigations for breach of Police Departmental Orders.

Kindly request, that the National Police Commissioner and the Police Inspector General, open a special investigation into the malpractices of those officers who abused their powers. Please note that the AHRC has written a separate letter to the United Nations Chairperson of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention in this regard.

To support this case, please click here:

SAMPLE LETTER:

Dear ________,

SRI LANKA: Man rescuing his brother is illegally arrested, detained and produced in Court on fabricated charges

Name of Victims: Mr. Sathgunam Sandanaraja (47), No: 2/2, Maberitenna, Rajawella, Digana in Kandy District
Alleged perpetrators: OIC and officers attached to the Teldeniya Police Station
Date of incident: 28 March 2017

Place of incident: Teldeniya Police Division

According to the information I have received Mr. Sathgunam is 47, married and the father of two sons aged 14, 12 and a daughter aged 6. He is the sole breadwinner of the family; his wife stays at home. He is a light vehicle driver working in Colombo, 160 kilometers away from his home. He comes home only on public holidays. His children study in a school in Teldeniya Town. Sathgunam has had a peaceful relationship with his neighbors. There is no record or complaint against him. He has not committed any crime or aided or abetted a crime.

Then Sathgunam repeatedly questioned his brother for the reason for visiting the police station. He learned police had initiated an investigation on a complaint they received. It regarded the ownership of the lands distributed among the new settlers in the recently established village in the Maberitenna Estate.

Sathgunam was not inclined to go with his brother. He had no any connection with these re-settlements. He said that he owns his own land on which his house is built. It is in a definite place in the village outside the re-settlers land. He has no wish to join in these affairs. However, his brother’s mind is embedded with fear--even to enter a police station. The reason is that they belong to an ethnic minority community of Indian origin Tamil. His brother convinced him that he had never committed a crime or participated or abetted any crime.

Sathgunam understood his brother’s mentality even as came to his aid. He agreed to go to the Teldeniya Police Station with him. They reached the police station at 10.45am. His brother and his friend entered the police compound. Sathgunam did not enter the police premises. He stayed outside. His brother as he entered the police station promised he would return soon.

Sathgunam waited for several hours. However, he did not return. After two hours, he decided to go to the police station and check on his brother’s fate. Sathgunam first talked to the police officer in the reception area and informed him that he is waiting for his brother who came to visit the OIC.

In return, the officer replied that they are already in the workplace of the Officer-in-Charge (OIC). Immediately the officer informed the OIC that the brother of one person is waiting for his release. The OIC asked Sathgunam to come to his office.

He asked for his name, religion and address, which Sathgunam provided. The OIC ordered another officer in his room to record these details. Sathgunam was not aware of the reason these details were recorded. He was asked to sit on a chair in his office. He was there for some time. Although Sathgunam explained that he came with his brother and no any connection to any police matter, the OIC did not pay any attention to him.

The OIC told Sathgunam that he is going to produce him before the Magistrate. Again no reason was provided. Sathgunam pleaded with the officer to release him. He is an innocent person working in Colombo and living in a peaceful manner. However, the OIC did not change his mind. Meanwhile, Sathgunam observed that the three-wheeler driver who brought them to the police station was also arrested and detained. And in the end, the OIC arrested and detained Sathgunam.

Sathgunam observed that the OIC was talking to a caller on the phone. He was later identified as a powerful, wealthy man, the estate manager in the area. This took place while he was in the process of arresting and detaining them. The OIC clearly related every step taken to the estate manager.

At 2:15 p.m., all the detainees were transported by jeep to the Teldeniya Magistrate’s Court and were produced in the Court. Sathgunam was not aware of the charges against him. He was informed at the Court that he had been granted bail and ordered to pay Rs. 5000 as a condition of the bail. As he could not provide the money, he was given a week to pay. He later learned that his case was postponed until 4 September 2017.

I request the intervention of your good offices to ensure that the authorities listed below open an immediate investigation. They need to look into the allegations of violations of fundamental rights of the victim by officers of the Sri Lanka Police Department. Any officers involved should be subject to an internal investigation for breach of Police Departmental orders.

Yours sincerely,

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PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:

1. Mr. PujithJayasundara
Inspector General of Police
New Secretariat
Colombo 1
SRI LANKA
Fax: +94 11 2 440440 / 327877
E-mail: igp@police.lk

2. Mr. Jayantha Jayasooriya PC
Attorney General
Attorney General's Department
Colombo 12
SRI LANKA
Fax: +94 11 2 436421
E-mail: ag@attorneygeneral.gov.lk

3. Secretary
National Police Commission
3rd Floor, Rotunda Towers
109 Galle Road
Colombo 03
SRI LANKA
Tel: +94 11 2 395310
Fax: +94 11 2 395867
E-mail: npcgen@sltnet.lk or polcom@sltnet.lk

4. Secretary
Human Rights Commission
No. 36, Kynsey Road
Colombo 8
SRI LANKA
Tel: +94 11 2 694 925 / 673 806
Fax: +94 11 2 694 924 / 696 470
E-mail: sechrc@sltnet.lk

Thank you.

Warrant on former Blood Bank Directress

Importing outdated blood plasma filtering units:

Thursday, June 8, 2017

The Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court yesterday issued a warrant for the arrest of former National Blood Centre Directress Dr. Mangalika Bindusara.

The warrant is for her failure to appear before Court regarding a case which involved the importing of outdated blood plasma filtering units and issuing them for usage.

When the case came up before Chief Magistrate Lal Ranasinghe Bandara, neither the accused nor the sureties were present in Court. Defence Counsel who appeared on behalf of Bindusara told Court that his client is currently overseas.

Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption had filed a case against former Blood Bank Directress for causing financial loss to the government when importing outdated blood plasma filtering units and issuing them for usage.This case is to be taken up again on August 9.

Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption’s Deputy Director General (Legal), Ganga Heiyanthuduwa appeared for the prosecution.