By Shamindra Ferdinando | The Island
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Testifying before the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) at the Kadirgamar Centre, the former General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Task Force I/58 Division said that there couldn’t have been any reason for indiscriminate action at a time the LTTE was clearly on the verge of collapse.
Responding to a query by the LLRC, Maj. Gen. Silva said that the government had set up a No Fire Zone (NFZ) and then shifted it gradually eastwards as the army advanced into the last enemy strongholds. Had the government failed to declare specific areas for civilians in the Vanni, there would have been large scale loss of life, he said.
The soldier turned diplomat alleged that the LTTE rump and a section of the media had been busy accusing Sri Lanka of war crimes. In an obvious reference to recent Aljazeera coverage of the last phase of the Sri Lankan offensive directed at the LTTE, Maj. Gen. Silva said that a section of the media had been engaged in a propaganda campaign against the country.
Maj. Gen. Silva cited a failed attempt by the LTTE and its allies in the media to blame his Division for having destroyed a hospital close to the frontline. The LTTE had dragged those who couldn’t walk out of the hospital and placed them on the ground, while a section of the media accused the Army of indiscriminate action. "But I was able to counter that campaign by taking a group of Colombo-based Indian journalists to the hospital within 24 hours. At the time of the initial accusation, three Indian journalists were with the 58 Division," the officer said.
The LTTE had gone to the extent of firing at Tamil civilians taking refuge in NFZ to blame the army of atrocities.
Currently New York based Maj. Gen. Silva said that the LTTE fighting cadre, including its top leaders had fought in civilian attire. According to him even the likes of LTTE Jaffna Commander Theepan and Prabhakaran’s son, Charles Anthony had fought in civilian clothes. "I personally identified the body of Theepan following a major battle at Puthukudirippu. He was in civilian attire," Maj. Gen. Siva said. According to him the Puthukudirippu battle in April had effectively destroyed the LTTE command and control structure. The enemy had been encircled and decimated in a battle, which caused the loss of over 600 LTTE cadres, including their senior ground commanders, he said. Those, who faced the advancing troops subsequently in a series of battles, lacked the experience to have a tight grip on the combatants.
Commenting on the wives and relatives of LTTE cadres who had testified before the LLRC in the North recently, Maj. Gen. Silva said that claims were being in some quarter that those killed in battles with the army were civilians. The war veteran recalled how the LTTE had trained a civilian militia to fight alongside its regular units. He went on to explain the circumstances under which the Army had transferred bodies of LTTE cadres in civilian attire through the ICRC on many occasions. Although the dead hadn’t been in uniform, the LTTE always accepted their bodies as it knew they were fallen cadres, Maj. Gen. Silva said.
Responding to a query by the LLRC, Maj. Gen. Silva said that the LTTE had carried out a massive suicide bomb attack on May 17 evening as it gradually lost control of the last stretch of land on the Vanni front. He said a fire triggered by the explosion had destroyed a large number of vehicles belonging to civilians and the LTTE.
© The Island
Friday, November 19, 2010
"The army killed no civilians" says Sri Lanka’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN
Friday, November 19, 2010
Sri Lanka to inaugurate leader with 'biggest rice cake'
By Charles Haviland | BBC News
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It's the world's biggest ever kiribath, or milk rice cake, a dish being cooked up by a top chef for the public.
Other revelries are under way at a special exhibition in the capital.
The city is lit up and pasted with posters of the man at the centre of it all, Mahinda Rajapaksa, who is being re-inaugurated as president on Friday.
As part of celebrations, dancers from the ancient hill capital, Kandy, have shown off their skills, while crack troops mounted a pageant.
The opposition and the government's critics are boycotting this week's ceremonies, calling them a waste of public funds.
'Sun and Moon'
On Thursday, the president's 65th birthday, he oversaw the first Sri Lankan vessels entering the huge new port of Hambantota in his home district, the showpiece among a series of big development projects.
Pro-Rajapaksa rhetoric is flowing.
"You are the Sun and the Moon, who dispelled fear and will preside over a glorious tomorrow," says the main, ubiquitous poster, mostly in the majority Sinhala language, although there are some in Tamil.
Sri Lankan Prime Minister DM Jayaratne has poured out the tributes in his own message.
Mr Rajapaksa is, he says, a great man and a blessing to the whole nation.
He is the "father of principle", the "giant tree that would give shade to the whole nation for an eternal period", said the prime minister.
Another message in the papers, from a Sri Lankan-Chinese environmental group, says the "miraculous" new port will help in the "crusade of making Sri Lanka the Miracle of Asia".
Monks of the Buddhist faith - that of most Sinhalese - have been bestowing their blessings, including 250 who sailed around the southern coast in one of the boats entering Hambantota.
The inauguration seems anomalous. President Rajapaksa was re-elected 10 months ago. But, because he went to the polls earlier than he had to, the Supreme Court then ruled that his six-year term would only start now.
A recent constitutional change means that he can later stand for a third and further terms if he wishes.
So does Sri Lanka need these celebrations?
Yes, says the government.
Media and communications minister Keheliya Rambukwella dismisses complaints that the Rajapaksa family is too powerful.
Some commentators suggest the president and two of his brothers - the economic development minister, Basil, and the defence secretary, Gotabhaya - control 70% of the country's budget.
But Mr Rambukwella says it is "a blessing for the country" to have politicians who can "deliver finally to the people".
'Personality cult'
Mr Rajapaksa enjoys great popularity because of last year's victory over the Tamil Tigers.
But critical writers say the island's government is promoting a personality cult and treating the inauguration like a royal coronation.
They say the government is destroying democracy, having pushed the recent constitutional change through parliament by securing opposition crossovers through shadowy means.
"They are systematically undermining all these state institutions we have taken for granted for years," says the main opposition party spokesman, Mangala Samaraweera.
"The police, the judiciary, the independent election commission, the independent public service commission, have all more or less become like a private serfdom of the presidency."
Mr Rajapaksa's critics also say he has done little to address the Tamil minority's grievances - or tackle human rights problems such as people missing and intolerance of dissent.
But the opposition is decimated and one of its figureheads - the ex-army chief and former presidential candidate, Sarath Fonseka - is in prison.
Sri Lankans may disagree in their assessment of Mahinda Rajapaksa but he enjoys huge power.
On Friday all schoolchildren will be expected to tune into his re-inauguration speech.
© BBC News
Friday, November 19, 2010
Sri Lanka's president sworn in for second term
Associated Press | CTV
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The colorful ceremony, with a military parade and traditional dancing, was held outside the president's office overlooking the Indian Ocean and was televised nationally.
Rajapaksa was re-elected in January in a landslide victory, defeating ex-army chief Sarath Fonseka, who was arrested and imprisoned following the vote.
Sri Lanka's main opposition parties boycotted the ceremony. Opposition United National Party's secretary Tissa Attanayake said the ceremony was "an utter waste of public funds.
"Instead of having this kind of extravaganza, the government should have taken more meaningful steps to bring down the cost of living and give relief to the people," Attanayake said.
The Marxist People's Liberation Front, which backed Fonseka's election, boycotted the ceremony, saying the election results were unacceptable.
"This presidential election was corrupt, and we don't accept its results," said party spokesman Vijitha Herath.
Once allies, Rajapaksa and Fonseka were both considered heroes by the Sinhalese majority for crushing the Tamil rebels last year, ending a quarter-century civil war that killed 80,000 to 100,000 people.
But they fell out months after the war ended and the general quit the army after accusing Rajapaksa of sidelining him, suspecting a military coup. Their relationship further deteriorated after Fonseka challenged Rajapaksa in the presidential election.
Weeks after losing the election, Fonseka was arrested and convicted of fraud. He was sentenced to 30 months imprisonment at hard labour. Another court had stripped him of his rank and military honours for planning a political career while in uniform.
Fonseka has described the cases against him as a political vendetta, and said they were launched to persecute him for daring to challenge Rajapaksa in the presidential election.
Despite opposition protest, Rajapaksa is still very popular among the country's Sinhalese majority for ending the 25-year civil war. But critics say he has exploited that goodwill to consolidate power with the aim of setting up a family dynasty. One brother is the speaker of parliament; one is a senior minister, and another is defence secretary. His son is a lawmaker.
In September, Rajapaksa's ruling coalition passed an amendment to the constitution to eliminate term limits for the presidency. Critics said the move could lead to a dictatorship.
The amendment also tightened Rajapaksa's hold on power by giving him total control over the judiciary, police, public service and the elections office.
Rajapaksa, in his address to the nation, said he has fulfilled his responsibilities by crushing terrorism and uniting the country. He vowed not to let another bloodbath to occur and pledged to revive an economy battered by the conflict.
The ceremony was attended by some regional leaders and special envoys, including Maldivian President Mohammed Nasheed, Bhutan Prime Minister Lyonchhen Jigmi Thinley and special Chinese envoy Sang Giuowei.
© CTV
Friday, November 19, 2010
Sri Lanka: Angry unions threaten strikes
By Nabeela Hussain | Daily Mirror
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The National Trade Union Centre (NTUC) and the Trade Union Confederation (TUC) said they would resort to strike action while the United National Party (UNP) -- affiliated Jathika Sevaka Sangamaya also said it would follow suit.
“The salary increment of Rs.2,500 is not what we asked for but something the government promised,” TUC President Saman Rathnapriya said. He said the promise of Rs.2,500 was insufficient but would be the first step towards providing a much needed bigger salary increment.
The NTUC said a salary increment of Rs.9,000 was expected from the government. “We have asked the government to give us a salary increment and we will strike if we do not receive it,” NTUC General Secretary Samantha Koralearachchi said.
He said they had the support of trade unions that came under its NTUC umbrella with another 20 unions in various sectors were supporting it.
“The government is speaking about a development budget, but how can there be development when the people have to strain under the cost of living?” he questioned.
Mr. Koralearachchi said the NTUC had carried out awareness programmes and protest campaigns at grassroots level. “We are ready to take the next big step,” he said.
© Daily Mirror
Thursday, November 18, 2010
‘Quiet diplomacy’ does not work with Sri Lanka – Journalist Tissainayagam
Video Courtesy of Reporters Sans Frontières
Tamil Net
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Mr. Tissainayagam’s first interview since he was released, was conducted by the international media watchdog, Reporters Without Borders (RSF).
Speaking about press freedom today in Sri Lanka, Mr. Tissainayagam said, “the situation is very dire. … Dissent is what the government fears.”
There is a lack of physical security for journalists, he said, referring to those who have been killed, disappeared and incarcerated.
“There are also legal aspects,” he said, referring to the Emergency Regulations, which allows the government to detain and imprison reporters.
Consequently, there is “extensive self-censorship amongst reporters and editors, who fear to say what they feel and believe,” he said.
“I think one of the most important things is to keep up the pressure on the government,” Mr. Tissainayagam said.
“I can speak of my own case, where I was sentenced to 20 years hard labour for what I’ve written. I know that my freedom, my release, was linked to the GSP+ issue sometime ago.”
“The European Union could use that as a bargaining chip for my release, which eventually forced the Sri Lanka government to first give me bail and then finally a presidential pardon.”
Mr. Tissainayagam went on to say:
“I think it’s very important that economic aid is linked to press freedom in Sri Lanka. … That is the way pressure could be put on Sri Lanka.
“Certainly I can say in my own case it did make a difference.”
“I believe that publicity does help a lot, contrary to what the government says.”
“[They say] don’t talk about it, if there is quiet diplomacy, we will be more receptive to your demands
“But I don’t believe that is true. I believe that the more shaming that is done, the more pressure that is put is put publicly, the more the government is willing to act”
“… If media organisations can continue to do that, it will be very helpful, it will be very helpful on the ground”.
© Tamil Net
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Sri Lanka's powerful president in for the long-haul
By Amal Jayasinghe | Agence France-Presse
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Rajapakse, who turned 65 Thursday, begins his fresh, six-year mandate from an unprecedented position of strength following a constitutional revamp two months ago that ramped up his executive powers.
With his personal popularity running high, family members in key government positions, the opposition divided and his only serious political rival in prison, the president's control over the island republic seems complete.
Brushing off concerns voiced by countries like the United States that his powers pose a threat to Sri Lanka's democracy, Rajapakse insists they are necessary to rebuild the country following final victory last year in the decades-old civil war with Tamil Tiger rebels.
Vowing to make Sri Lanka the "wonder of Asia," he has set in motion or proposed a series of ambitious infrastructure plans, including a 1.5-billion-dollar port in the southern town of Hambantota that he opened on Thursday.
"When I came to power I promised an honourable peace and a new Sri Lanka. I have kept my promise and built a new country," Rajapakse said at the televised ceremony.
While pursuing development, he has shrugged off attempts by the West to link aid and investment to human rights and turned to countries like Iran, Libya and China for help.
Refusing to "beg for aid," he has already opted to forego trade concessions rather than subject Sri Lanka to human rights scrutiny by the European Union.
"We will not be held back by threatened economic sanctions or withdrawn trade concessions by those who seek strategic interference in the national affairs of Sri Lanka," he said recently.
Rajapakse has rejected allegations that the army may have been responsible for substantial civilian deaths during its final offensive against the Tamil Tigers and has dismissed calls for a probe into possible war crimes.
Despite US reservations, he secured a 2.6-billion-dollar IMF loan shortly after the war ended last year and raised a further billion dollars through a bond issue in September.
The central bank expects Sri Lanka's economy to grow 8.0 percent in 2010, up from 3.5 percent last year, and Rajapakse has promised to double GDP per capita income to 4,000 dollars by the end of his second term in 2016.
Political analyst Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu said Rajapakse's focus on economic recovery would leave the issue of reconciliation with the island's Tamil minority on the backburner.
"Any talk about political reform is considered irrelevant at best and subversive at worst," said Saravanamuttu -- an opinion echoed by the Brussels-based International Crisis Group (ICG).
"There is no sign the government has any interest in doing any of the things necessary for reconciliation between and within communities damaged by so many years of war," said ICG's Sri Lanka Project Director Alan Keenan.
Saravanamuttu also identified a potential downside to the level of control enjoyed by Rajapakse and his family.
"If things go wrong they have no one else to blame. The family is the state," he said.
Apart from being president and commander-in-chief, Rajapakse is the minister of finance, ports and aviation and highways.
His elder brother Chamal is the speaker of parliament, younger brother Basil the economic development minister and another brother, Gotabhaya, the powerful defence secretary.
Rajapakse's main political rival, former army chief Sarath Fonseka, is currently serving a 30-month jail sentence after a court martial found him guilty of military procurement offences.
Fonseka, who also has several criminal cases pending against him, was arrested shortly after his failed effort to unseat Rajapakse in presidential elections in January.
With no visible political threat on the horizon, Rajapakse is able to look even beyond his second mandate thanks to the constitutional changes pushed through in September that also scrapped a two-term limit on the presidency.
© AFP
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Sri Lanka: Fishermen protest against sea plane project
Sri Lanka Mirror
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Over 1,000 fishermen and villagers had participated in the protest. Hundreds of fishing boats had also entered the lagoon to prevent the digging up of the lagoon.
The protest had created a tense situation in the area and the protesters had called on the government to shelve the sea plane project.
Convener of the Movement for the Protection of Negombo lagoon, Herman Kumara the media that they will not leave the lagoon until the excavation machinery including backhoe machines are removed from the area.
According to the Movement, the Negombo Lagoon is one of the richest resources in Asia, as it is a Ramsar Wetland in Sri Lanka. After considering the protest, authorities have agreed to suspend work on the project.
Gampaha district MP Dr. Sudarshani Fernandopulle said the agitation ended after she had mediated.
Economic development minister Basil Rajapaksa was unaware that such a demonstration was to take place, she said, adding that he wanted to resolve the matter through discussion.
Dr. Fernandopulle, who is the SLFP electoral organizer for the area, said even she was not aware of the problem.
© Sri Lanka Mirror
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Sri Lanka commissions new port with first ship entry
Lanka Business Online
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The 361 million US dollar port will initially be used to supply bunkers to the main east-west shipping route passing Sri Lanka.
The government is also promoting port related industries including, refineries, vehicle assembly, fertilizer packaging and entrepot trade at the port.
"I call upon and invite investors both local and foreign to help make this area into a trade zone like it was in the ancient past," President Mahinda Rajapaksa said.
The new port has been named the 'Ruhunu Magampura Mahinda Rajapaksa' port. Magampura is an ancient name for Hambantota.
President Rajapaksa's elder brother Chamal, speaker of Sri Lanka's parliament wished his brother a happy birthday in a nationally broadcast ceremony and requested his sibling to set aside a part of the customs revenue at the port for places of worship in the area.
Rajapksa said in the second century, under then King Gajaba, there had been a port in the area called Godpabbatha which had traded with China and Arabia.
A stone inscription had been found in nearby Godawaya Temple which indicated that a part of the revenues of the old port had been given to the temple.
"I am requesting the President to set aside a part of the revenue of the port for places of religious worship in Hambantota, Moneragala and inscribe it in stone," Speaker Rajapaksa said.
President Rajapaksa is due to take oaths for his second term tomorrow, after winning elections in January.
© LBO
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Desperate wait of condemned Sri Lanka maid's family
By Charles Haviland | BBC News
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The Saudi Supreme Court recently confirmed the sentence originally passed on Rizana Nafeek three years ago, when she was convicted of murdering a four-month-old baby she was caring for in 2005.
She could be executed at any time, but she denies murder. It appears she was under-age when the alleged crime was committed.
Her mother, Rafeena, tells us at the family's tiny village home, where they keep one cow, that Rizana Nafeek went to Saudi Arabia to earn money to educate her three younger siblings.
In 2005, war was returning to this part of Sri Lanka between the military and Tamil Tiger rebels. Rizana's father, Sulthan, could no longer go to the jungle to collect wood, which had been his job.
Tragedy struck
In Saudi Arabia, their daughter got domestic employment but was also given childcare duties, something her parents say she was not expecting.
Weeks after her arrival, tragedy struck. The baby in her care, Naif al-Quthaibi, died. A Saudi court convicted her of murder and sentenced her to death.
She says that Naif choked during a feeding session and she was unable to save him.
Rizana Nafeek's conviction was based on a confession which she later retracted, saying it was made under duress.
Human rights groups, including Amnesty International, say she had no lawyer before or during her trial.
There is also strong evidence that she was a minor when the alleged crime was committed.
The BBC visited her old school, the Imam Shafi Vidyalaya, and saw a register which says she was born in 1988. That matches her birth certificate.
Her passport says she was born in 1982, but her family and neighbours say this was falsified by an unscrupulous Sri Lankan job agent.
If the 1988 date is correct, she was only 17 and therefore a juvenile when the alleged crime took place.
Clemency
In that case, if it executed her, Saudi Arabia would breach the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which it has ratified
"As a Muslim, I know this case is a matter of Islamic law," says Mohamed Jihad, a teacher at the school.
"This law is followed by tens of millions of people and I do not criticise it. But I'm confused about some aspects of the investigation.
"There were serious translation problems and that's one reason Rizana confessed to the crime."
Rafeena Nafeek is appealing for clemency for her daughter. That can be granted either by the Saudi King, or by the baby's family.
"We will thank the family [of Naif al-Quthaibi] if they allow our daughter's release," she says.
"We will pray for them. If they pardon our daughter we will pray for all their children and ask forgiveness from Allah."
Her husband, Sulthan Nafeek, says that since the death sentence was confirmed in late October he is in no mental condition to resume his work.
"Please release my girl," he asks.
Their 17-year-old son has given up school to find odd jobs to sustain the family.
They say it is as if they are dying, waiting for her to go free.
A convoy of ox carts clatters nearby.
It is a sign of the poverty prevailing here - this is a place which young girls like Rizana Nafeek will continue to leave, not knowing what dangers may face them overseas.
The family's case, like that of many other Sri Lankan domestic workers abroad, has been taken up by a member of parliament, Ranjan Ramanayake.
He makes a similar plea on the family's behalf. He also says the government should prosecute job agencies which make huge profits from sending people abroad, often on false pretences.
Her own family can only assert her innocence and plead for mercy.
© BBC News
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Sri Lanka's jailed ex-army chief in hospital
Agence France-Presse
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The former general was unwell due to poor conditions in his cell, Democratic National Alliance lawmaker Tiran Alles said.
Fonseka, 59, who fell out with President Mahinda Rajapakse after the army's defeat of the Tamil Tigers rebels last year, unsuccessfully tried to unseat the president in a January election.
Fonseka was arrested two weeks after his defeat. However, he won a seat in parliamentary elections in April, allowing him to attend the legislature.
He has rejected a government offer to seek clemency and is serving a jail term in Colombo after being convicted of military procurement offences.
The ex-army chief has said the government is seeking revenge for his decision to stand against the president.
© AFP
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