Sinhalese leaders are the cause
of terrorism - Mangala Munasinghe
AUGUST 22—Mangala Munasingha, Sri Lankan High Commissioner for India, while giving evidence to the LLRC (Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission) stated that terrorism was rooted by the Sinhalese leaders.
He further added that when Tamil leaders tried to come to en agreement with government regarding the ethnic crisis, it was the opposition parties which interrupted the process. The 2002 peace talks too proved failure and since none of the decisions which were agreed upon were implemented. This helped the LTTE Intelligence Unit to move freely about in the country and carry out suicide attacks.
He recalled the 1958 peaceful protest of the Tamils who were silenced by way of using violence by the Sinhala majority. Therefore, terrorism emerged due to irresponsible actions by the Sinhala state. He went on to say that 1983 riots were not an ethnic conflict but a political based violence, this made the Tamil youth to believe that violence is the only way to solve the ethnic conflict.
IDPs facing difficulty humanitarian crisis
AUGUST 28—Mr. Sritharan, Member of Parliament of the Tamil National Alliance stated that the IDPs in Mullaitivu and Killinochchi are facing intolerable difficulties as State Forces are preventing them from resettling in their hometowns. Currently they are residing in temporary shelters such as tents in Mailvaganapuram and Kumaraswamipuram and facing unbearable sufferings due to flooding. Some of the major problems are Starvation and Sanitation.
Case heard concerning a disable arrested in camp
AUGUST 28—A Fundamental Rights petition by Mr. Sri Selvan Anton Jude was heard in the Supreme Court. Sri Selvan Anton Jude was arrested in the rehabilitation camp last year on suspicion of having connections with the LTTE. Mr. Sumandiran, Attorney at law who appeared on behalf of the victim stated that the victim lost his eyesight due to torture under police custody and is detained in Bussa to prevent him from attending the case filed in the District Court Colombo claiming compensation for the damages done. Further he added that the victim’s wife and children should be permitted to visit him.
36,000 students have been displaced in North
The Director of Education, Northern Province stated that 36,000 school students have been displaced due to the war in the past two years. And nearly 32,000 are from Killinochchi and Mullaithivu. Furthermore he stated that their learning has been delayed by staying in refugee camps. Due to this a immediate solution must be taken towards helping the displaced children.. And also serious thought should be given to the 3,000 children in refugee camps.
People say Jaffna police do not know Tamil
August 18-- The police in the Jaffna police station do not know Tamil and during an emergency public are required to speak in either Sinhala or Tamil. The police had informed that if an emergency occurs to call 0212222222 but this is impossible due to language barrier. Even though Jaffna is known as Tamil speaking people’s motherland it is facing a long term setback in appointing Tamil speaking police officers. The Tamil is also a official language of the State but authorities have not taken any action towards implementing it.
The detainees without case should be released
August 19-- Mr. Rajan Asirvatham former Chairman of Bank of Ceylon stated that Tamil prisoners in custody without being filed any case for the past 10 years. Not having taking any legal action could be excused until last May 2009 but now it should be given serious consideration and prisoners should be released. Furthermore he mentioned that the former LTTE members who are in rehabilitation camps are well rehabilitated and the credit should be given to the government. Also some of the information of the dead cadres should be revealed so that the families of the prisoners could carry out the religious rituals for the demised.
Need for protecting volunteer workers - France
AUGUST 21--Foreign Minister of France Mr. Bernard Kowsha stated that suspects who brutally murdered the 17 ACF volunteer workers in 2006 in Mudoor have not been arrested. Furthermore, he added that France would give importance to the protection of the humanitarians and take serious action against the violators. He also stated that this would be discussed in the forthcoming UN conference.
Inquiries on Sri Lankan refugees in Canada
AUGUST 16—Sri Lankan who recently entered Canada seeking refuge by the famous Sun Sea vessel from Thailand are undergoing inquiries and medical examination on the process of receiving citizenship. It is stated that the Canadian government intends giving these Sri Lankans refuge status in a week’s time. Currently the refugees are detained at Vencor jail following inquiries for further information.
Women plead to the Commission of Reconciliation
AUGUST 16 – Women in Vavuniya plead with the Members of the Commission of Reconciliation regarding their loved ones who are arrested, abducted or surrendered. They stated that when the war was going on in Vavuniya their family members were either abducted in white vans or arrested. Finally, they appealed to find their loved ones and restore their lives.
3000 LTTE suspects released after rehabilitation
AUGUST 12—The Minister D.E.W. Gunasekera stated that 12, 000 LTTE suspects were arrested following the war. In this 3,000 suspects have been released after the rehabilitation. Furthermore, he stated, that they driven into conflict due to poverty. Currently the prisons are overcrowded and lack of space has due to large number of prisoners. Each cell consists of inmates more than allocated. Finally as a solution it would prove profitable if detainees who are unable to pay the bail money, since the prisons have to spend more than this amount on these prisoners during detention.
Conflict in Magazine prison
AUGUST 11— one prisoner was killed in a clash in the New Magazine Prison Colombo. The Commissioner General of prison stated that the clash broke out after a remand prisoner attempt to stab a fellow prisoner using a hook from a basket. When the clash broke out another inmate had attempted to intervene and settle the dispute, only to be stabbed by the prisoner he said. And thereafter, he was admitted to the Colombo National Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
Rehabilitation
for ex- prisoners
AUGUST 10—A programme to rehabilitate ex-prisoners with the assistance of UN Development units is being discussed. As a preliminary measure this will be carried out in 14 district secretariats in the Batticaloa district. The location would be Kathankudi where ex-prisoners will be rehabilitated and provided career development training.
Release 765 detainees - P. Ariyanethiran
AUGUST 22— MP Mr. P.Ariyanethiran stated that he has written to the President requesting to grant presidential pardon or bail for 765 prisoners including 50 women and five children who were arrested on suspicion during the war. Furthermore, he stated that these prisoners are facing a number of problems related to health and sanitation, while some are depressed and mentally affected. He also added that the children are longing to see their father and lead a normal life.
INGO worker forced to leave the country
AUGUST 28—The Kenyan woman who was a worker of a leading non government organization ’Non Violence Peace Force’ was officially announced to leave the country by the department within July due to the report submitted by the CID, which claims her activities are disrupting peace in the country.
Show mercy for Tamil refugees
- Archbishop of Vencor
AUGUST 28—The Archbishop of Vencor, J. Micheal Miller, requested to show mercy for Tamil refugees, stating to keep in mind that all citizens should be respected. Furthermore, he added that arguments and debates regarding the 492 Tamil illegal immigrants are taking place often and this should not destroy any innocent lives. Also Canada should grant refugee status to the people who were affected due to the war.
Release 12 university students in Bussa
AUGUST 30—The Jaffna university student representatives gave a petition to S.P. Dissanayaka, Minister of Higher Education requesting to take immediate action to release the students of the University of Jaffna, detained at the Bussa detention camp. The requests stated in the petition are:
· Immediate release of the 12 students in Bussa.
· Renovation of the University hostel
· Restarting the Agriculture Faculty in Kilinochchi..
· Transport arrangements for students.
In the meantime, the sister of P. Duvaraka, (a student of the Engineering Faculty, University of Peradeniya who was arrested on suspicion) was present to handover a plea requesting her sister's release but the Minister stated that he has no time to receive it and asked her to come the following day.
Forceful resettlement stopped in Chettikulam
The 1500 families who were in the rehabilitation centre were promised to be resettle in the Kathirgamam rehabilitation centre and in one month time they would be settled in their own town. This was objected by the people because of the inconvenience which will be caused in children’s education and occupation and therefore the army forced them to resettle in Kathirgamam Rehabilitation Centre. This was stopped after interference made by the Cabinet Minister Mr. Vino Knogarathalingam .
LTTE suspects plead for rehabilitation
August 19--LTTE suspects who were produced before the Court stated that to rehabilitate them as a solution to live with their family. Furthermore they stated that they were promised to be rehabilitated if they surrender but the police are going back on their word and keep them in detention continuously by forcing to sign on the indictment which is in Sinhala language. The judge stated that the indictment has been sent to the Chief Justice due to this they should remain calm till there is any response.
Detainees under emergency not in Bussa
August 18--The prisoners who were arrested under the emergency regulation are not in Bussa. This statement was given when Mr. Ravi Karunanayaka raised a question on behalf of Minister Praba Ganeshan. The Minister Vijayamuni Soysa responded to the Speakers Chair stating that out of the total number of people arrested under the emergency, 12 are produced before the Court and inquiries are taking place.
146,000 Sri Lankans are refugees in 64 countries
August19--The UNHCR stated that 146,000 Sri Lankan refugees are in 64 countries. It stated that India has 73,200, France 20 500, Canada 19 500, Germany 12, 250 and another 7 500 are in 57 countries. Furthermore 15 women went to Canada in the Sun Sea vessel are in custody until August, 24.
G.C.E. (A/L) examination for ex-LTTE members
AUGUST 10—Mr.V. Rasaiya, Director of Education Northern Province stated that the ex LTTE members who are living in rehabilitation camps are sitting for the G.C.E. Advance Level Examination. The 'Girisat' gave financial assistance to the Ministry of Education to provide studying materials and excellent teachers for this purpose. Furthermore, he stated that 265 students in the Vavuniya Tamil Maha Vidyalayam and 104 students in Punthotam sat for the exam.
87,000 women are widows due to war
August 4—Widows in the North and East are undergoing mental and physical problems due to loss of their loved ones and belongings, UNP MP Swaminathan stated in the Parliament. He further added that the government should help the widows in need and fulfill their fundamental need and prevent increasing the burden by not trying to grab their ten acres land. He also mentioned that he is not against settling the Sinhalese majority.
women LTTE political department head -- before courts
August 4—Tamilini in charge of the political department of the LTTE surrendered to the army at the latter part of the war in May 2010. Thereafter, she was in police custody until August 4, 2010 and then TID produced her before the Chief Justice Rasmie Singapulli. The Chief Justice ordered to incarceration till July 18 2010. TID requested Chief Justice to extend he remand period for further questioning.
Cases conducted against 1, 350 LTTE
The police stated that 1,350 detainees have committed serious crimes when they were involved in terrorism and legal action would be taken against them. Now 650 of them are imprisoned in a detention camp in Vavuniya and 700 are at Bussa. These men are connected with placing bomb in public places, getting information for planning the attack, transmitting heavy explosives and attacking villages. Furthermore he stated that they were caught during the latter part of the war at Vanni.
No birth certificates for CP inhabitants
August 2—Mr. Gamini Jeyaweera, Director, Mithuru Sevena mentioned that there are 50,000 inhabitants without the birth certificate in the Central province. He stated that since they do not register births of their children, there are problems in claiming their basic documents such as birth certificate and identity card. These people are depending on brokers who play their money by promising them to issue birth certificate.
Jaffna youth from Britain arrested in Airport
August 19--The victim Mr. Mailvaganam Sivaganesh (30) a native of Jaffna was arrested in the Katunayake Airport when he returned after 12 years as his refugee status was cancelled in Britain. He agreed to return in view of the guarantee given by the authorities.
Kilinochchi rape case
Two women were raped and abused in the Visvamadu area. This is an area under post war resettlement plan. The victim aged 22, is a mother of two. A group of army personnel in uniform and civil visited the victim’s house in the morning of June 6, 2010 and on the same afternoon the she was raped and her brother was assaulted by two army personnel. Meanwhile, another army cadre too was involved in an unnatural act. Mankulam Police carried out the initial investigation where statements from the victim’s two children were recorded and six army personnel including a corporal were taken into custody for rape and sexual abuse
CHRD made legal representation on behalf of the two victims. CHRD retained senior counsel Mr. K.S. Ratnavale, together with attorneys-at-law Mr. Lakashan Dias, Ms. Mangaleshwary Shanker, and Mr. Celestine Stanislaus.
The accused were produced in the Kilinochchi Magistrate Court on June 14, 28 and July 13. In the identification parade held on June 14, four accused were identified by the victims. The Kilinochchi Magistrate Mr. Sivakumaran released the remaining two accused as there were no charges against them. On June 28, the defense counsel filed bail applications on behalf of the suspects. On July 13, the Magistrate Court Judge Mr. Sivakumaran refused bail following the objection raised by senior counsel Mr. Ratnavale appearing on behalf of the victims.
Currently investigations are being carried out by the Kilinochchi Police. The next hearing will be on July 27, 2010 and CHRD will continue to represent the victims.
Sri Lanka forces blamed for most civilian deaths
NEW DELHI — Tens of thousands of Tamil civilians died in the last, bloody months of Sri Lanka’s civil war, the International Crisis Group said in an investigative report to be released Monday, most of them as a result of government shelling of areas that were supposed to be safe zones.
The report, which cites witness testimony, satellite images, documents and other evidence, calls for a wide-reaching international investigation into what it calls atrocities committed in the last months of the Sri Lankan government’s war against the Tamil Tiger insurgency.
The war ended a year ago, when the Tigers’ top leadership was killed on a narrow strand of beach in northeastern Sri Lanka, capping a two-decade armed struggle by a group that pioneered some of the ugliest insurgent tactics in the world, including female suicide bombers and child soldiers.
Because the government barred independent journalists and most humanitarian workers from the war zone, the death toll of the final months of fighting, when at least 300,000 Tamil civilians were pinned down on a beach, caught between the rebels and government forces, is not known.
United Nations workers counted about 7,000 dead in the last weeks of April, just before the last phase of the fighting, but diplomats, aid workers and human rights activists have long argued that those figures far underestimated the dead and did not include the final weeks of battle. Government officials, meanwhile, have repeatedly denied singling out civilians, and have said that the total number of people killed is much lower.
Sri Lankan officials declined to comment on the report, saying they had not yet seen it.
The report by the Crisis Group, an advocacy organization based in Brussels and Washington that seeks to resolve and prevent armed conflicts, said that despite its promises to protect civilians and aid workers as it made its assault on the Tigers, the Sri Lankan government had bombed relentlessly in areas where it knew unarmed people were present.
“Evidence gathered by Crisis Group provides reasonable grounds to believe that during these months the security forces intentionally and repeatedly shelled civilians, hospitals and humanitarian operations,” the report said. “It also provides reason to believe that senior government and military officials were aware of the massive civilian casualties due to the security forces’ attacks, but failed to protect the civilian population as they were obliged to under the laws of war.”
The report said that the insurgents, known as the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, also committed atrocities, particularly in choosing to corral as many people as possible around its fighters, hoping to maximize civilian casualties and force international intervention.
“Their calculation, ultimately an incorrect one, was that escalating civilian casualties would eventually get the attention of the international community to broker a cease-fire so the L.T.T.E. could regroup or perhaps enter negotiations,” the report said, using initials the Tamil Tigers are also known by.
Instead, the Sri Lankan government pressed the rebels to the bitter end. Tamils who tried to escape were killed, children were forced to fight, and the sick and wounded were left to die, the report said.
But it was the Sri Lankan government, the report concluded, that carried the greatest responsibility for the killing.
“All but a small portion of these deaths were due to government shelling,” the report said.
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