Day: 11 June 2014

The Ease Of Negotiating With Sympathy

Karu

By Rajiva Wijesinha –  Prof Laksiri Fernando, in responding to my account of discussions about a Senate, has reminded me about publishing the proposals, as I had mentioned, and I will send them in as soon as I am back in Colombo. However, while I do not recall promising to publish my correspondence with Mr Sumanthiran – which is not in fact of any great significance – perhaps it would be useful, given current controversies, to publish the draft he and I prepared about land matters. What we realized, which is why I proposed that we…

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Government missed the chances to strike a deal with the moderate Tamil nationalists by implementing the 13th amendment.

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International Inquiry: Putting The Cartwright Before The Horse By Dayan Jayatilleka – In her farewell address to the UNHRC, Madam Navi Pillay drew attention to the need for healing the wounds of Sri Lanka’s civil war, which she rightly noted, had yet to be done. To this intent and purpose she commended cooperation by the Government of Sri Lanka with the comprehensive international inquiry that her office has undertaken. What is bitterly ironic is that the healing of wounds cannot take place by means of a lacerating external inquiry or even an overly extensive and premature…

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Sri Lanka takes on Beyani’s report

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The Government has raised objections to some comments made by Dr. Chaloka Beyani, the Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) during his visit to Sri Lanka last year. A Government report noted that no person who met Dr. Beyani, during his visit to Sri Lanka were threatened or intimidated at any point, and there have been no reports or complaints to that effect. In a report to the ongoing session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, the Sri Lankan Government said that the…

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Government Braces For Pillay’s Parting Shot

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Pillay to seek cooperation By Easwaran Rutnam The month of June is set to be a crucial time for the Government as the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) launches the much anticipated investigation into the war in Sri Lanka. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, is expected to refer to the investigations when she makes her opening speech at the 26th Session of the UN Human Rights Council which begins meeting in Geneva on Tuesday. The focus will be on the composition of the…

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Suspected War Criminal Appointed To Eastern Provincial Council

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K. Pushpakumar alias Iniyapaarathi took oath in front of Governor, Rear Admiral Mohan Wijewickrama as a new Member of Eastern Provincial Council on June 11, 2014 at the Governor’s Secretariat in Trincomalee. He is a man who has been accused of war crimes by the United Nations for forced arms training to children. And also accused by the public for playing a key role in the abductions and disappearances of several people in Poththuvil, Akkaraippattu, Thirukkovil and Vinaayakapuram in the Ampara district of the Eastern Province.  Iniyapaarathi is a lead operative of the paramilitary…

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“Student – People standing” called by the IUSF fails to take up the repression of minorities at all

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UNP leader Ranil is campaigning against intervention of the IMF in Lanka to cut down social warfare including in education , health , pensions, provident fund etc. In addition he defends 13th amendment and insists LLRC recommendations should be implemented. In this scenario any left oriented mass movement has to stand more consistently and clearly for this anti- global capitalist and democratic position. Unfortunately the “Student – People standing” called by the IUSF fails to take up the repression of minorities at all. No one called to the stage to…

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SRI LANKA: What is the future of a country with zero respect for law enforcement?

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FOR PUBLICATION AHRC-ART-044-2014 June 11, 2014 An Article by the Asian Human Rights Commission SRI LANKA: What is the future of a country with zero respect for law enforcement? by Basil Fernando The major problem affecting all Sri Lankans now, and which is likely to affect future generations, is the complete failure of law enforcement and resulting lawlessness. While virtually everyone is aware of this problem, it is not subject to conversation. For the few who are vocal on matters of public interest, the sole concern seems to be regime…

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Can Prince Zeid be labelled a Tiger?

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President Mahinda Rajapaksa visited Jordan on a special official tour early this year. He was not seeking the support of Jordan to vote in favour of Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), where a resolution was passed against Sri Lanka in March as Jordan was not among the voting States of the UNHRC this year. However, now we have an inkling about the President’s sudden tour. It is revealed that the reason may be the President wanted to meet Prince Zeid Al-Hussein of Jordan, who is to…

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Sexual violence against Tamils ‘systematic’, ‘part of policy framework’ – Yasmin Sooka

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Yasmin Sooka, co-author of the UN Panel of Experts report into mass atrocities in Sri Lanka and the ‘An Unfinished War: Torture and Sexual Violence in Sri Lanka 2009—2014‘report, called on Tuesday for international action to stop ongoing sexual violence by the security security forces against Tamils, which she stressed was “not random” but “systematic”. In an interview with the Tamil Guardian during the global summit on ‘End Sexual Violence in Conflict’ taking place in London this week, Ms Sooka stressed that five years after the war, sexual violence “is still happening in Sri Lanka and we…

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William Hague to investigate claims of Tamil rape victims being deported

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Pledge follows allegations UK is sending back Sri Lankan asylum seekers who have been abused by security forces. William Hague has said the government will investigate claims that Tamil asylum seekers are being deported from the UK to Sri Lanka despite evidence they have been subjected to rape and sexual abuse by the country’s security forces. Link to video: Angelina Jolie: prosecutions can prevent future sexual violence in conflict Refugees, their lawyers and advocacy groups made the allegations on Tuesday on the opening day of the Global Summit to End…

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Wings of Security forces in secret camps for torture and sexual violence on Tamil Girls – Time To Act on Sri Lanka

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Why has the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict forgotten the Sri Lankan survivors?  But regrettably, Foreign Secretary Hague has forgotten about the courageous survivors of sexual violence in Sri Lanka. Yet Sri Lanka, where rape has been used as a weapon of war for many years of brutal civil conflict, is not being examined. Refugees are being deported from the UK back to Sri Lanka to face further torture or even death. Horrific crimes are being committed with total impunity by police and armed forces. The Global Summit to End Sexual…

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