House-to-house search in north for two LTTE suspects

File photo

A Police-Army joint operation has been launched in the Northern Province to track down two former LTTE cadres wanted for criminal activities and a two-million-rupee reward has been offered for any information, a senior police officer said. The operation has been launched in the Vavuniya, Mannar, Kilinochchi and Jaffna districts for the suspects identified as Kajeeban Ponniah Selvanayagam alias ‘Gopi’ a.k.a. Kasiyan, and Navaratnam Navaneethan. The Police yesterday released the photographs of the suspects with descriptions.

Against Duckspeak on the Sri Lankan Muslims

BBS backed by state racisits

Izeth Hussain

My primary purpose in this article is to point out that the main instrument of most of our Governments since Independence in dealing with our ethnic problems has been duckspeak. It is a neologism coined by George Orwell in his Swiftian satire on totalitarianism, Nineteen Eighty Four. This is what he writes about it: "Ultimately it was hoped to make articulate speech issue from the larynx without involving the higher brain centers at all. This aim was frankly admitted in the Newspeak word duckspeak, meaning ‘to quack like a duck’.

Lawyers release testimony of Vibushika, details confirm SL military trap

Vibushika holding her brothers
 photo ( Photo: Freddy G.)

Lawyers in Colombo working on a Fundamental Rights case, have released a translated text of the letter written by 13-year-old Vipooshika on what happened to them on 13 March 2014 and in the continued detention. The details given by her confirms the earlier reports of alleged trap set by the SL military Establishment and the reports of assault and intimidation. The letter further establishes how the Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) in Vavuniyaa cooperated with the Sri Lankan military establishment to intimidate the women. 

Sri Lanka Army says video of Solidiers beating Tamil female recruits is authentic

Screen shot from the video

See video here

“The military says a new video leaked and circulating on YouTube showing some soldiers harassing a group of female recruits is authentic, and promised strict action against them,” the Colombo Gazette reports while quoting the Army spokesman today. Army spokesman, Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasooriya said that Army Commander Daya Ratnayake had ordered an investigation into the video after it first surfaced earlier this month. The investigation carried out by the Sri Lanka Army Corps of Military Police had revealed that the video in question is an authentic one, the army spokesman said.

US concerns on continued intimidation of Sri Lankan civil society and HRDs

Jan Paski: Intimidations continue

Press Statement by Jen Psaki, Department SpokespersonThe United States is concerned by intensifying pressure on Sri Lankan civil society and human rights activists. We are especially concerned by the detention of well-known human rights defenders Ruki Fernando and Father Praveen Mahesan after they made inquiries regarding the arrest of another activist. While it is encouraging that Mr. Fernando and Father Mahesan have since been released, they continue to face harassment by security forces. We are also aware of reports that additional human rights groups are being targeted for investigation by security forces.

Ban ki-Moon had encouraged the idea of follow-up activity and further accountability in Sri Lanka

UN SG ( UN photo)

The following is a near-verbatim transcript of 21 March 2914 noon briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesman for the Secretary-General

Question:  On Sri Lanka and something about labour. On Sri Lanka, there’s been a report issued by Yasmine Sooka, who was on Ban Ki-moon’s panel of experts.  And the report focuses on since 2009, instances of torture and sexual abuse of Tamils by the Government.  And it’s been widely circulated in Geneva.  At the same time, the former President Kumaratunga, has said that she lives in fear of the Sri Lankan security forces. 

Suppression of HRDs: Sri Lanka police and military in a joint operation to find Ruki Fernando's car!

J.C. Weliamuna speaking at the press con.

Minutes after the press conference held by five leading civil society organisation to oppose the arrest and restriction imposed after the release on  Ruki Fernando and Fr. Praveen Mahesan, , a military contingent of 15 soldiers has entered the office of one of those civil society organisation, looking for a vehicle, used by Ruki Fernando to travel within Colombo last two days.

The press conference was addressed by Dr. P. Saravanamuthu of Center for Policy Alternatives (CPA), Attorney at law J.C. Weliamuna and Attorney at law Chandrapala Kumarage of Lawyers for Democracy,

UPFA - JHU candidate says Wigneswaran more dangerous than Prabhakaran;TNA should be banned

Warnasinghe ( DM photo)

UPFA Colombo district candidate Nishantha Sri Warnasinghe said today Northern Province Chief Minister C.V.Wigneswaran was more dangerous than LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran. “Prabhakaran fought with weapons but Wigneswaran fights using the constitution, the law and international support to divide the country while enjoying his perks as Chief Minister,”he said.  Mr. Warnasinghe, who is also the JHU Nataional Organizer ,expressed these views at an event held in Colombo where the 18-fold programme he had complied to counter Geneva was launched.

India to back UNHRC motion on SriLanka

UNHRC in session (UN photo)

Shubhajit Roy
India will vote in favour of the resolution on Sri Lanka at the United Nations Human Rights Council, the UPA government is learnt to have decided in possibly its last major foreign policy decision. The vote is expected on March 28 in Geneva. This is the third time when Delhi has decided to vote in favour of the resolution, and sources said the decision has been taken in view of “diplomatic” as well as “political” considerations in mind.

Security tightened in North - All vehicles entering and exiting North are checked

The Army has decided to strengthen security in the Jaffna Peninsula and the Northern Province as part of the

According to Army Media Spokesman, Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasooriya, the Army had taken a decision to once again commence checking all vehicles, vehicle owners and their identity cards that are entering and exiting the North, with effect from Wednesday, 19 March. "Gopi and his colleagues are trying to revive the LTTE, according to information provided by intelligence. The raids will continue until we apprehend the suspect, whom we believe is still staying in the Northern Province," he added.

A court order imposing unheard limitations to Ruki Fernando and Fr. Praveen sets a world recorded

Fr. Praveen and Ruli

Lanka e News is has been informed by our legal sources on a unbelievable a court order imposed on Ruki Fernando and Fr. Praveen Mahesan , who were arrested by TID and released without any charges after two days of questioning. According to this court order both of them are not even allowed to speak to anyone including their loved ones. 

 They were arrested on last Sunday night (SL time 10.30 pm ) in Kilinochchi and released in Colombo. For the first time in Sri Lankan judicial history they were released at 1.30 am on 18th March 2014. An another record.

Report: Torture and Sexual Violence in Sri Lanka 2009—2014

Yaumin Sooka , Author of the report at HRC25
presenting the report (©sunanda deshapriya)

Executive Summary

This report paints a chilling picture of the continuation of the war in Sri Lanka against ethnic  Tamils, five years after the guns went silent. The findings are: • Abduction, arbitrary detention, torture, rape and sexual violence have increased in the post-war period. Targeted for these violations are LTTE suspects, or those perceived as having been connected to, or supporters of, the LTTE. The purported aim is to extract confessions and/or information about the LTTE and to punish them for any involvement with the organisation.

HRC25: Tamil extremists in de facto alliance with Lanka regime

US  Ambassador Paula Schriefwer in a pensive mood during
the 3rd informal discussion on the Resolution (© sunanda d.)

Kumar David

Some things are difficult to believe; occasionally they are out of this world, but some are this-worldly perfidious realities. Increasingly vocal UFO-nuts insisting that MH 370 was abducted by aliens to a far away star-cluster fit the first group.

What example of the latter has sprung to light? Geneva season is driving Tamil ultra-extremists balmy. Forgive me if my consternation is excessive, but my concern is great; information coming through from London and Geneva strikes me as either other worldly insanity or a grubby play for some kind of benefits. Tamil ultras, it is reported, are planning a march in Geneva next week to burn copies of the US sponsored resolution against alleged human rights violations in Lanka.

Tamil doctor 'was pressured to recant war reports by Sri Lanka

Dr. Vatharaja at UNHRC (© sunanda deshapriya)

'Saroj Pathirana BBC Sinhala Service
Doctors appear before the media At a news conference in 2009 the doctors said the rebels had forced them to lie about casualty figures A doctor who worked in Sri Lanka's combat zone in the final days of the civil war has told the BBC he was forced by the government to recant his claims about casualty figures. Sri Lanka's army defeated the Tamil Tiger separatist rebels in May 2009. Dr T Varatharaja was one of five doctors who spoke regularly to the media during the war, giving far higher casualty figures than the government. The doctors were arrested and later said the rebels had forced them to lie.

Julie Bishop stalls on UN call for Sri Lanka war crimes inquiry

Julie Bishop (AP)

Tom Allard

The Abbott government is resisting a push by its closest allies to establish a United Nations investigation into war crimes and human rights abuses in Sri Lanka, where Australia has returned more than 1100 failed asylum seekers in the past 18 months. A draft UN resolution, obtained by Fairfax Media, calls on the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to conduct the inquiry into ''alleged serious violations and abuses of human rights'' in Sri Lanka that leaves open the possibility it could lead to prosecutions, including for members of the current government.

Ruki Fernando on CNN: Are Sri Lanka's 'anti-terror' arrests an attempt to intimidate activists?

Ruki Fernando pictured in 2009

(CNN) A prominent Sri Lankan rights activist controversially detained by his government under anti-terror laws says he believes his arrest was partly spurred by an international push to independently investigate the country's human rights record following decades of civil war. Ruki Fernando, one of his country's leading human rights activists, was arrested late Sunday night with fellow activist Rev. Praveen Mahesan, a Roman Catholic priest, in the former Tamil rebel stronghold of Kilinochchi in the country's north.

Former President Kumarathinga Complains to Pre.Rajapaksha on llegal surveillance targeting her

CBK under surveillance

Former president Chandrika Kumaratunga has written to incumbent Mahinda Rajapaksa, asking that immediate steps be taken to stop all. In her letter, Mrs. Kumaratunga gives instances of the harassment she has undergone, and clearly informs president Rajapaksa that the surveillance mounted on her by his government is illegal and unconstitutional and a violation of her fundamental rights. For instance she has state that '' I also went recently to Anuradhapura with foreign friends.  The hotel I stayed in was under a 24 hour surveillance by NIB officers, who were recognized and spoken to by my security detail.  The net result would be that the said hotel management will be hesitant to accommodate me in the future.It is noteworthy that my security officers have recognized some of the NIB personnel engaging in various acts of surveillance

Sri Lanka: Leader of the oppostion Ranil writes to EC on blatant violations of election law

EC needs to take action - Ranil W

Opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, in a letter to elections commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya today (19), lodged a strong protest against the blatant violation of election law by all sections of the state media and some private institutions. Pointing out that the law regarding election campaigning is very clear, the opposition leader said it is the duty of the Commissioner of Elections to control all matters in respect of elections including election campaigns. “Coverage by the Radio or Television of speeches and views expressed by the President and Prime Minister or Ministers should be treated as a coverage given for the political party to which he belongs and therefore leaders of rival political parties contesting elections should be given similar programmes.

Arrest of HRDs in Sri Lanka:Repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) ; Charge or release all others

HC Navi Pillay is being welcomed by Vibhushika Palendran (13),
(right) who was arressed withher mother HRD Jayakumari

19th March, 2014

Statement condemning the arbitrary arrest and detention of Human Rights Defenders, Ruki Fernando, Father Praveen Mahesan, victims and their families

We, the undersigned welcome the release of prominent Sri Lankan Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) Ruki Fernando and Fr. Praveen Mahesan on 19th March 2014. We however strongly condemn their arbitrary arrest and detention by the Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) in Kilinochchi (Northern Province) on 16th March 2014. We also note, that this release was an exception to the general pattern, and was only made possible by sustained pressure and efforts by a wide range of individuals, organizations and Governments advocating with the Sri Lankan Government to secure their release.

Sri Lanka: No amount of time will allow truth, justice and accountability to be established domestically so long as rule of law is subverted

''From our experience we know that no amount of time will allow truth, justice and accountability to be established domestically so long as rule of law is subverted and an environment of human rights abuse and impunity prevails. In such circumstances, pursuant to its mandate to address violations of human rights, including gross and systematic violations, the Council must lose no time in instituting an international mechanism to independently investigate allegations of serious violations in Sri Lanka. Moreover, the High Commissioner’s call for investigations represents the natural progression of the Council’s efforts on Sri Lanka in the last two years. ''

Sri Lankan state is undergoing a conversion to quasi-theocratic ethnocracy and Govt in to a clan based oligarchy

 Cartoon By Gihan de Chickera

Sri Lanka in Geneva: Frozen In Fixed Positions  by DR DAYAN JAYATILLEKA

With almost exactly a week to go before a crucial vote in Geneva, Sri Lanka seems very much on the back foot. While William Hague, the Foreign Secretary of the UK makes a direct appeal to the readers of ‘The Hindu’, presenting four points in support of his country’s call for an ‘international mechanism’, his counterpart Prof GL Peiris busies himself addressing a series of meetings, not in the member states of the UNHRC but in the Southern province of Sri Lanka.

Sri Lankan Human Rights Defenders Freed Without Charge

IFJ Asia

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is relieved to report that the respected human rights activists Ruki Fernando and Father Praveen were released by Sri Lankan authorities at approximately 1.30am Sri Lankan time today. Ruki Fernando, one of Sri Lanka’s most prominent human rights activists and a close friend of the IFJ, was arrested alongside Fr. Praveen Mahesan, a Roman Catholic priest and the former director of the Jaffna-based Center for Peace and Reconciliation on March 16 in Kilinochchi by Sri Lanka’s Terrorist Investigation Division. They were charged with terrorism offenses.

(Photo: Sri Lankan national K.M Ruki Fernando before  his arrest, speaking to the media about the humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka © AFP PHOTO/JES AZNAR )

Sri Lanka: Polls Chief powerless to prosecute violaters

EC Deshapriya: Powerless

Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya said he had only a fraction of the powers that had been afforded to India's Elections Commissioner. He said he had no power, even after the conclusion of the Provincial Council polls, to take legal action against any candidate who violates election laws. Deshapriya however said the Elections Department had an extensive archive of photographic and video footage evidence, which they had received and amassed, that would aid in filing cases against errant politicos, when the correct time came.

The charges against Provincial Council candidates include the illegal, unauthorized display of cut-outs, banners and preferential numbers.

Hours before two SL HRDs released in Colombo, SL Geneva mission accused them of 'terrorist connections' at HRC 25

SL AMB Ravinatha Ariyasinha

''The detention on 16th March of Mr. Ruki Fernando and Father Praveen under the PTA were in connection with the aforesaid investigation into attempts to revive the LTTE by operatives, including the recovery of the arms caché at Vishwamadu and the shooting incident in Dharmapuram involving Gobi. Investigations have revealed that Mr. Fernando and Father Praveen had been in Killinochchi engaging with persons connected to Gobi. Their questioning is continuing at present to ascertain the whereabouts of Gobi and other related operatives.''
Right of Reply by Sri Lanka 25th Session of the Human Rights Council / March 18th, 2014

Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the UN, Geneva

SL Minstry of Defence (MOD) site has deleted libelous statement re Ruki Fernando and Fr. Praveen, posted this morning

Here  is the post on the MOD site this morning now taken out. See Srilanka brief note posted this morning with the heading :Arresst of HRDs in Sri Lanka: Misinformtion campaign begins 

''We reprodse an news item form state controlled Daily news which is full of lies. 

'Ruki Fernando and Fr, Praveen have never been prominent activists of the National Peace Council (NPC) - SLB

NATIONAL PEACE COUNCIL TIGER LINKS BARED - 

Prominent NPC activists in TID custody -Close contacts with LTTE faction trying to revive Eelam''

The MOD site screen shot of the said article follows