Any health system would have difficulties responding to the needs of over 260,000 people who recently came out of a war zone. And so, facilities in the Sri Lankan IDP camps are overstretched. People sometimes need to wait days before they can see a doctor for treatment and at night non-medical people decide who gets referred to a hospital and who does not. The suffering continues.
For the past three months, Ati* has been living in a camp in Menik farm with her husband and three children. Two weeks ago, her five year old son had a fever and was barely responding. She carried him to the clinic in the camp at 5am and queued to see a doctor until 6pm. Like many others that day, she did not get to see a doctor and returned to her tent with her sick child and no treatment. She went back the next day and again failed to see a doctor after waiting for another 13 hours. It wasn't until the third day that she finally managed to see a doctor who gave her some antibiotics.
300 patients a day
Even if the services are gradually expanding in the camps with Ministry of Health clinics in all the camps and the medical staff doing what they can, the needs are vast and the facilities are overstretched. Some doctors are seeing 200 to 300 patients a day, there is little capacity to carry out tests or follow up patients and only the most urgent cases get transferred to hospitals outside the camps. Maruthani,* a 24 year old woman, arrived in Menik Farm at the end of May and is badly disfigured since a fragment of bomb shell cut her lips, cheeks and chin during the conflict. Her mouth is always open, her tongue is badly affected, she can barely drink and cannot speak. She is in need of reconstructive surgery, something impossible to get inside the camp. When her wounds became infected, she went, in pain, to the clinic in the camp. There they were unable to do anything for her and she was not transferred to a hospital outside the camp because she was not considered to be an emergency case. She spends her days lying in the sand outside her tent, waiting for the day to pass.
Some emergency cases in the camps are referred by the Ministry of Health staff to the MSF hospital outside Menik Farm where MSF medical teams are mostly treating patients for conflict related trauma, respiratory tract infections and skin diseases. The problem comes at night.
“In many camps if someone gets sick at night they have to rely on the soldier at the gate of the camp to take the decision on whether they get referred to a hospital or not”, explains Karline Kleijer, MSF emergency coordinator. “This works for those who are obviously ill, fitting or with a bleeding wound, but when it is a dehydrated child with a fever, the average soldier will not see that they are in urgent need of medical attention because they are not easy things to diagnose.”
Breakfast at night
Another concern for those in the camps is access to clean water and food. In most camps people do not cook for themselves but rely on community kitchens and rations distributed daily by the government or NGOs.
“Sometimes, especially in the newer camps, the food doesn't get delivered until late in the evening and the first meal of the day is at ten o'clock at night”, says an MSF aid worker. Every day MSF distributes high energy porridge to 23,000 children under five, pregnant and lactating women and people over 60 in 11 of the camps. “It is difficult for our staff to turn people away when they do not fit into our target group."
Outside of the camps, hundreds of people are still hospitalised receiving treatment for injuries they incurred during the conflict. Working with Ministry of Health staff in Pompaimadhu hospital, MSF is treating 180 patients with spinal cord injuries, fractures that did not heal and infected wounds. The MSF surgeon does an average of 16 to 20 surgeries a week and physiotherapy is a big component of the programme.
“To see someone walk again thanks to the physiotherapy is amazing” says MSF surgeon Tim Pruchnic.
Traumatised
Traumatised by what they experienced during the conflict, many of the patients in hospital are struggling to cope with their grief and worry about their future and the fate of their loved ones.
“A young mother admitted in Pompaimadhu has lost her husband, her parents, her sister, her sister's husband and children”, remembered an MSF worker. “She is alone now in Pompaimadhu hospital recovering from her injuries, she is the sole survivor of her family and she is pregnant. She feels very lonely and is still in shock, it has only been two and a half months since she lost everything and everyone. She worries about how she will cope as a single mother. As long as she stays in Pompaimadhu she can get help, but when she is discharged to the camps she will no longer get any support.”
In the camps, people are dealing with the trauma experienced in the conflict and it is difficult to rebuild any semblance of a normal life. There are very few job opportunities inside the camps, the people are not allowed to leave the camps and parents worry about their children's education. People have difficulties to search for relatives, make plans or take control of their own future. With nowhere to go there is little to do other than walk from one distribution to another. The uncertainty of how long they have to remain in the camps is difficult to live with. There is therefore a huge need for psychological support for people living in the camps and currently none is provided.
Ready to start
In addition to the high energy porridge the MSF teams cook and distribute in the camps, MSF has the capacity to scale up activities and provide medical support to the Ministry of Health staff inside the camps.
“We have two whiteboards in our office,” explained Karline. “One with a list of planned activities for the coming weeks: supplementary feeding, surgery, etc. And another is a list of activities waiting for approval, including mental health, basic health care and physiotherapy in the camps… We are ready to start!”
MSF continues to pursue discussions with the authorities in Colombo.
*name has been changed
http://www.msf.org/msfinternational/invoke.cfm?objectid=12EEE5AE-15C5-F00A-259ECDF0EB7BAAFF&component=toolkit.article&method=full_html
Thursday, August 13, 2009
AAAS Satellite Image Analysis Points to New Graves, Shelling, and Human Displacement in Sri Lanka
Beside a green lagoon on Sri Lanka's northeastern coast, on a sandy spit of land less than 8 miles long, violence reportedly erupted 9-10 May as military soldiers clashed with rebel Tamil Tigers.Now, a detailed AAAS assessment of high-resolution satellite images seems to confirm descriptions of intense fighting within Sri Lanka's "no-fire zone"—revealing a landscape scarred by freshly dug graves and artillery explosions.
At one gravesite, for example, an estimated 342 new graves appeared in satellite images after violence erupted in May, said Lars Bromley of the AAAS Science and Human Rights Program. Thousands of refugee shelters vanished, while dozens of permanent structures were damaged and the region was riddled by shelling, said Bromley, director of the Geospatial Technologies and Human Rights project at AAAS.
"The narrow peninsula that makes up the civilian safety zone in Sri Lanka clearly has undergone very dramatic physical changes," Bromley confirmed. "By comparing before-and-after satellite images, we were able to see a significant movement of the region's human population, suggesting widespread displacement, based on changes to structures. We also identified many crater-like features consistent with shelling, a major gravesite expansion, and numerous suspected mortar sites."
By 6 May 2009, numberous probable internally
displaced persons structures are present in this
image, along with a graveyard (outlined in red),
containing an estimated 195 burials.
Shortly after the clash between the Sri Lankan military and rebels with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), the New York Times filed this report: "A government doctor said at least 378 civilians—and perhaps as many as 1,000—had been killed and more than 1,100 wounded on Saturday and Sunday during intensive shelling of the combat zone on Sri Lanka's northeastern coast."
The Defense Ministry of Sri Lanka issued a statement contending that rebels were "bombarding their own civilians." Other sources have accused the government of shelling the civilian-populated region, which was declared a no-fire zone on 12 February. Journalists meanwhile reported being banned or ejected from the region.
By 10 May 2009, the graveyard in this image,
outlined in red, has expanded substantially,
outlined in red, has expanded substantially,
compared with the earlier, 6 May image above.
Bromley compared six images, spanning dates from 9 May 2005 through 24 May 2009, captured by multiple satellites, including DigitalGlobe's QuickBird and WorldView satellites; and GeoEye's Ikonos and GeoEye-1 satellites.
The AAAS analysis, requested by Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International USA, was conducted as part of broader AAAS research funded by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.
When compared with a 6 May satellite image, a 10 May image reveals "the obvious removal of thousands of likely [internally displaced persons, or IDP] structures," the AAAS report states. "Overall, the area appears to have been swept relatively clean."
By 24 May 2009, an area across the street from the
original graveyard in this image has been cleared
and is also being used for burials. AAAS analysis
suggested that 342 new graves were dug at this site
in Sri Lanka's "no-fire zone" following the 9-10 May
episode of renewed fighting.
Assistant Secretary Blake and Chargé d'Affaires Moore Discuss the Humanitarian Situation and Prospects for Political Reconciliation in Sri Lanka with Tamil Diaspora Groups
Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Robert Blake and U.S. Chargé d’Affaires in Sri Lanka James Moore met with 16 representatives of U.S.-based organizations representing members of the Tamil diaspora to discuss the humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka and prospects for political reconciliation on August 11.
Assistant Secretary Blake and Chargé Moore welcomed the opportunity to listen to the concerns and perspectives of the American Tamil diaspora community and to share the steps the United States is taking to address the humanitarian crisis. The United States has provided $56 million in humanitarian assistance in 2009. While the Government of Sri Lanka has made some progress easing camp congestion, registering IDPs, and expanding access by humanitarian organizations, much remains to be done, Assistant Secretary Blake and Chargé Moore said. The United States is urging the safe and speedy return of IDPs, continued access for international humanitarian organizations, and the registration and provision of national identification cards to IDPs, to help promote freedom of movement.
Assistant Secretary Blake and Chargé Moore underscored the importance of political reconciliation. The U.S. has stressed to the government that to achieve a lasting peace, it must promote justice and political reconciliation for all parties, dialogue with all parties, including Tamils inside and outside Sri Lanka on new mechanisms for devolving power, and improve human rights. Assistant Secretary Blake and Chargé Moore recommended that the Government of Sri Lanka and the American Tamil diaspora community seek opportunities to engage one another on political reconciliation and the reconstruction of Sri Lanka.
Assistant Secretary Blake and Chargé Moore concluded by saying that they would like to continue the dialogue with the diaspora community and urged participants to continue to share feedback.
The discussion took place at the State Department with Chargé Moore through a digital video conference at the U.S. Embassy in Colombo.
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2009/aug/127195.htm
Assistant Secretary Blake and Chargé Moore welcomed the opportunity to listen to the concerns and perspectives of the American Tamil diaspora community and to share the steps the United States is taking to address the humanitarian crisis. The United States has provided $56 million in humanitarian assistance in 2009. While the Government of Sri Lanka has made some progress easing camp congestion, registering IDPs, and expanding access by humanitarian organizations, much remains to be done, Assistant Secretary Blake and Chargé Moore said. The United States is urging the safe and speedy return of IDPs, continued access for international humanitarian organizations, and the registration and provision of national identification cards to IDPs, to help promote freedom of movement.
Assistant Secretary Blake and Chargé Moore underscored the importance of political reconciliation. The U.S. has stressed to the government that to achieve a lasting peace, it must promote justice and political reconciliation for all parties, dialogue with all parties, including Tamils inside and outside Sri Lanka on new mechanisms for devolving power, and improve human rights. Assistant Secretary Blake and Chargé Moore recommended that the Government of Sri Lanka and the American Tamil diaspora community seek opportunities to engage one another on political reconciliation and the reconstruction of Sri Lanka.
Assistant Secretary Blake and Chargé Moore concluded by saying that they would like to continue the dialogue with the diaspora community and urged participants to continue to share feedback.
The discussion took place at the State Department with Chargé Moore through a digital video conference at the U.S. Embassy in Colombo.
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2009/aug/127195.htm
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Chinese identify Tamils conducive in breaking up India
The Chinese article by Zhan Lue, that appeared on Saturday, was timed for the 13th round of Sino-Indian border talks held in New Delhi, Friday and Saturday. After holding talks with M K Narayanan and meeting Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh, the visiting delegation declared the importance of Sino-Indian partnership, stressing that it involves 40 percent of the world’s population. The delegation also said that they discussed South and Northeast Asia.On the outcome of the talks, The Hindu reported that China and India have agreed to set up a hotline communication between the leaders of the country, a facility that exists for India at the moment only with Russia.
Writing in South Asia Analysis Group, Sunday, promptly responding to the Chinese article, Rajan said, “[i]t has generally been seen that China is speaking in two voices – its diplomatic interlocutors have always shown understanding during their dealings with their Indian counterparts, but its selected media is pouring venom on India in their reporting.”According to Rajan, the punch line in the Chinese article has been that “to split India, China can bring into its fold countries like Pakistan, Nepal and Bhutan, support ULFA in attaining its goal for Assam’s independence, back aspirations of Indian nationalities like Tamils and Nagas, encourage Bangladesh to give a push to the independence of West Bengal, and lastly recover the 90,000 sq km. territory in Southern Tibet.”
It is rumoured in the diplomatic circles that during the war against Eezham Tamils, huge amounts of unaccounted Chinese money was spent especially in Tamil Nadu by Colombo’s agents in Chennai to buy or check media and politicians.
The biggest question is why the Indian Establishment is precipitating a situation for China to eye on Tamils, ask Tamil circles.
Sri Lankan State Terror extends boundaries: BTF
The Sri Lankan Government has once again exposed its arrogance as a ‘democratic state’ apparently unbound by international law and order, extending their practice of illegal abductions, kidnap, disappearances and violations of human rights with impunity, this time across international borders, says British Tamil Forum in its press release yesterday. The military establishment’s disrespect and disregard to international law and order in Sri Lanka is now being permitted internationally, it seems.
The press release further said: Recent news reports surrounding the alleged arrest of Mr Selvarasa Pathmanathan has once again bought to the foreground the Sri Lankan Government’s ability to whitewash international norms. The anomalies surrounding his kidnap and detention give rise to serious concerns over Sri Lanka’s seemingly superseding legal jurisdiction which is not restricted to the island of Sri Lanka.
The illegal abduction and subsequent extrajudicial transfer of Mr Pathmanathan to Sri Lanka should be challenged by all those who believe in democracy, and are party to Geneva conventions. Extraordinary Rendition is illegal in accordance with Article 3 of the United Nations Convention Against Torture, which clearly prohibits extradition of any persons to a state where there are substantial grounds for believing that he would be in danger of being subjected to torture.
Sri Lanka’s Defence website boasts Minister Keheliya Rambukwella’s proclamations that “Sri Lanka is capable of defeating LTTE terrorism wherever it emerges”, further stating that the arrest of Mr Pathmanathan was only made possible with the unreserved, and adequate support of the “international friends” of Sri Lanka.
By its eerie silence, the international community, institutions like the Commonwealth and the UN are, by default, accepting daylight abductions as being internationally accepted practice and allowing for rogue states to extend their belligerent practices across borders.
International laws, treaties, governance and conventions will all have to be rewritten if this sets a new precedent. Sri Lankan regime has been effective in eliciting the support of the international community to conduct its Genocidal agenda against the Tamil people. Whilst the international community obliged then, under the pretext of eliminating terrorism, Sri Lanka’s lack of willingness to attend to international calls to stop the ongoing incarceration of over 300,000 civilians in ‘Nazistyle’ detention camps have largely gone unchallenged.
The silence of international institutions have only signalled acceptance of this piecemeal approach adopted by the Sri Lankan regime. This paves the way for other countries to be selective of the international laws they wish to adhere to and exploit the international conventions and UN charters to which they have signed to.
Even international media, which normally takes the higher moral ground, has been largely desolate on this issue, raising little concern of the circumstances surrounding this illegal act by a defiant state acting outside its legal jurisdiction. Mr Pathmanathan was instrumental in “silencing the guns” of the armed struggle and promoting democratic and political means in progressing forward the Tamil liberation struggle, despite many pundits, including governments and reputable international institutions, predicting guerrilla warfare.
By allowing removal of a moderate leader from the equation and by maintaining silent, thus supporting Sri Lankan State terrorism, the international community seem to gesture a dangerous path for the radical elements. If Mr Pathmanathan has breached any laws of the land where he was domicile, or breached any international law, then the due legal process should have been followed by governments and government agencies involved. That is why extradition treaties are in place. Concerned citizens of the country of domicile of Mr Pathmanathan have the right to demand for a public enquiry into breaches of laws of the land.
Recent allegations of UK’s complicity in torture and rendition gave rise to a statement from the Foreign Secretary David Miliband stating that the UK "firmly opposed" torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment. Widespread dismay at UK’s possible involvement in “War on Terror” human rights abuses has clearly shown UK public opinion on such illegal practices.
UK Prime Minister’s office argues that suspension from the Commonwealth has only been carried out in instances where there has been a failure of democracy in member states, on which grounds Sri Lanka does not warrant such a deferral. If rules, regulations and laws are to be effective, no one should be above the law. Perpetrators of international law cannot go unpunished on the grounds of having no precedents.
Any other state guilty of such persistent refusal to observe the will of the ‘international community’ would have been subject to warnings of economic and/or military sanctions. If the international community continues to be a silent bystander, inaction is likely to promote violence and anarchy, not just in Sri Lanka, but allow free reign for similar states to practice state terrorism internationally.
In light of these concerning developments, British Tamils demand:
UK Government to, along with other governments, demand from the Sri Lankan Government that Mr Pathmanathan must be produced immediately in a court of law and charges made against him as soon as possible
The ICRC must be given access to Mr Pathmanathan immediately and Article 3 Convention against torture must be followed to protect Mr Pathmanathan’s human rights and safeguard his wellbeing
Mr Pathmanathan must be given access to legal representation according to international laws Any breach of international law by governments, government institutions or agencies involved in this illegal abduction and extraordinary rendition should be investigated and action taken to establish law and order
UK government, along with US and other administrations with firm belief in international law and order, should speak out against such international acts of crime by a state
Foreign and Commonwealth Office must review its stance on supporting suspension of member states from the Commonwealth, whether breach of law without precedents can go unpunished
Media that values human rights and respects law and order should promote action against such acts of crime by a state
The press release further said: Recent news reports surrounding the alleged arrest of Mr Selvarasa Pathmanathan has once again bought to the foreground the Sri Lankan Government’s ability to whitewash international norms. The anomalies surrounding his kidnap and detention give rise to serious concerns over Sri Lanka’s seemingly superseding legal jurisdiction which is not restricted to the island of Sri Lanka.
The illegal abduction and subsequent extrajudicial transfer of Mr Pathmanathan to Sri Lanka should be challenged by all those who believe in democracy, and are party to Geneva conventions. Extraordinary Rendition is illegal in accordance with Article 3 of the United Nations Convention Against Torture, which clearly prohibits extradition of any persons to a state where there are substantial grounds for believing that he would be in danger of being subjected to torture.
Sri Lanka’s Defence website boasts Minister Keheliya Rambukwella’s proclamations that “Sri Lanka is capable of defeating LTTE terrorism wherever it emerges”, further stating that the arrest of Mr Pathmanathan was only made possible with the unreserved, and adequate support of the “international friends” of Sri Lanka.
By its eerie silence, the international community, institutions like the Commonwealth and the UN are, by default, accepting daylight abductions as being internationally accepted practice and allowing for rogue states to extend their belligerent practices across borders.
International laws, treaties, governance and conventions will all have to be rewritten if this sets a new precedent. Sri Lankan regime has been effective in eliciting the support of the international community to conduct its Genocidal agenda against the Tamil people. Whilst the international community obliged then, under the pretext of eliminating terrorism, Sri Lanka’s lack of willingness to attend to international calls to stop the ongoing incarceration of over 300,000 civilians in ‘Nazistyle’ detention camps have largely gone unchallenged.
The silence of international institutions have only signalled acceptance of this piecemeal approach adopted by the Sri Lankan regime. This paves the way for other countries to be selective of the international laws they wish to adhere to and exploit the international conventions and UN charters to which they have signed to.
Even international media, which normally takes the higher moral ground, has been largely desolate on this issue, raising little concern of the circumstances surrounding this illegal act by a defiant state acting outside its legal jurisdiction. Mr Pathmanathan was instrumental in “silencing the guns” of the armed struggle and promoting democratic and political means in progressing forward the Tamil liberation struggle, despite many pundits, including governments and reputable international institutions, predicting guerrilla warfare.
By allowing removal of a moderate leader from the equation and by maintaining silent, thus supporting Sri Lankan State terrorism, the international community seem to gesture a dangerous path for the radical elements. If Mr Pathmanathan has breached any laws of the land where he was domicile, or breached any international law, then the due legal process should have been followed by governments and government agencies involved. That is why extradition treaties are in place. Concerned citizens of the country of domicile of Mr Pathmanathan have the right to demand for a public enquiry into breaches of laws of the land.
Recent allegations of UK’s complicity in torture and rendition gave rise to a statement from the Foreign Secretary David Miliband stating that the UK "firmly opposed" torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment. Widespread dismay at UK’s possible involvement in “War on Terror” human rights abuses has clearly shown UK public opinion on such illegal practices.
UK Prime Minister’s office argues that suspension from the Commonwealth has only been carried out in instances where there has been a failure of democracy in member states, on which grounds Sri Lanka does not warrant such a deferral. If rules, regulations and laws are to be effective, no one should be above the law. Perpetrators of international law cannot go unpunished on the grounds of having no precedents.
Any other state guilty of such persistent refusal to observe the will of the ‘international community’ would have been subject to warnings of economic and/or military sanctions. If the international community continues to be a silent bystander, inaction is likely to promote violence and anarchy, not just in Sri Lanka, but allow free reign for similar states to practice state terrorism internationally.
In light of these concerning developments, British Tamils demand:
UK Government to, along with other governments, demand from the Sri Lankan Government that Mr Pathmanathan must be produced immediately in a court of law and charges made against him as soon as possible
The ICRC must be given access to Mr Pathmanathan immediately and Article 3 Convention against torture must be followed to protect Mr Pathmanathan’s human rights and safeguard his wellbeing
Mr Pathmanathan must be given access to legal representation according to international laws Any breach of international law by governments, government institutions or agencies involved in this illegal abduction and extraordinary rendition should be investigated and action taken to establish law and order
UK government, along with US and other administrations with firm belief in international law and order, should speak out against such international acts of crime by a state
Foreign and Commonwealth Office must review its stance on supporting suspension of member states from the Commonwealth, whether breach of law without precedents can go unpunished
Media that values human rights and respects law and order should promote action against such acts of crime by a state
KP arrest 'violated international law': Sam Zarifi
KP was reportedly arrested in Malaysia and brought to Sri Lanka. Amnesty International has accused Malaysia of violating international law by handing over new Tamil Tiger leader to Sri Lanka.
Amnesty International's Asia Pacific Director Sam Zarifi commenting on the recent arrest of new LTTE leader, Selvarasa Pathmanathan in Malaysia, told BBC Sandeshaya that if any country arrests LTTE members the detainee should face charges in the country that they had been arrested.
"International law prohibits sending someone, including a criminal suspect, back to a country where they face real possibility of torture and ill-treatment and Sri Lanka does have a poor track record of torturing and poorly treating detainees," Mr. Zarifi said.
"So there are some real questions about how KP was taken to Sri Lanka."
Malaysian authorities have neither confirmed nor denied reports that he was arrested in the country.
The Amnesty International also calls on Sri Lanka produce and charge, if appropriate, nearly 10,000 former LTTE cadres currently held in detention camps.
Not only the new LTTE leader, says Sam Zarifi, but Minister Karuna (Vinayagamurthy Muralitharan) should also face a fair trial for his alleged human rights violations.
"We want to see proper justice with proper due process for KP, for any of the LTTE members detained, for Karuna as well as for any member of the government accused of human rights violations," he told BBCSinhala.com.
Minister Samarasinghe, however, says that in regard to Minister Karuna not only Sri Lanka but also international community has failed to take action.
Karuna Amman, who served a short prison sentence in UK, was appointed a parliamentarian and later a minister by President Mahinda Rajapaksa.(Courtesy: BBC)
Amnesty International's Asia Pacific Director Sam Zarifi commenting on the recent arrest of new LTTE leader, Selvarasa Pathmanathan in Malaysia, told BBC Sandeshaya that if any country arrests LTTE members the detainee should face charges in the country that they had been arrested.
"International law prohibits sending someone, including a criminal suspect, back to a country where they face real possibility of torture and ill-treatment and Sri Lanka does have a poor track record of torturing and poorly treating detainees," Mr. Zarifi said.
"So there are some real questions about how KP was taken to Sri Lanka."
Malaysian authorities have neither confirmed nor denied reports that he was arrested in the country.
The Amnesty International also calls on Sri Lanka produce and charge, if appropriate, nearly 10,000 former LTTE cadres currently held in detention camps.
Not only the new LTTE leader, says Sam Zarifi, but Minister Karuna (Vinayagamurthy Muralitharan) should also face a fair trial for his alleged human rights violations.
"We want to see proper justice with proper due process for KP, for any of the LTTE members detained, for Karuna as well as for any member of the government accused of human rights violations," he told BBCSinhala.com.
Minister Samarasinghe, however, says that in regard to Minister Karuna not only Sri Lanka but also international community has failed to take action.
Karuna Amman, who served a short prison sentence in UK, was appointed a parliamentarian and later a minister by President Mahinda Rajapaksa.(Courtesy: BBC)
Lankan minister questions the right of Blake to speak on behalf of Tamils
The Sri Lankan government yesterday questioned the right of US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Robert Blake to speak on behalf of the displaced Tamils in the North. Robert O' Blake was quoted in the international media saying that US has been disappointed by the recent statements by the president (Rajapakse) that he is not going to be in a position to take any measures on the devolution of power until after a presidential election.
Blake said: "The government needs to find a way to move more quickly than January 2010, because the risk, of course, is that people will become disaffected and that will give new impetus to terrorism."Sri Lankan Minister Keheliya Rambukwella has told local media 'It is irrelevant, as it is the right of the Sri Lankan people to decide on what makes them happy as a nation'...I am sad to note that a senior diplomat of the caliber of Robert Blake would comment on this.'
Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Robert O Blake, in an interview with rediff.com has expressed US's deep disappointment with Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse for relegating the devolution of power in the Tamil majority areas, in the country's northern province, to the back-burner.
Blake told rediff.com "We have been disappointed to hear recent statements by the president (Rajapakse) that he is not going to be in a position to take any measures on the devolution of power until after a presidential election." He added "something needs to take place more quickly than that and we certainly are encouraging the government to do so."
Asked what the latest US position on Sri Lanka was, Blake said, "We have encouraged progress on two particular fronts."
"First, on the humanitarian front, there are still more than 250,000 internally displaced persons who are residing in camps under detention conditions, and so we have encouraged the Sri Lankan government to allow them freedom of movement, and more importantly to allow them to be resettled as quickly as possible," he explained.
Blake pointed out that the Sri Lankan government "has pledged to resettle the majority of the IDPs by the end of this year, which would certainly be a very welcome step." "So, we just encourage rapid progress towards that goal, but also steps (should) be taken so that the international community, the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross and others have access to the camps, so that the IDPs can be assured of receiving treatment and everything that goes on there is up to international standards," he said.
"Secondly," Blake added, "We hope that our friends in Sri Lanka will make progress towards political reconciliation because really that's the only way that there's going to be a definitive end to terrorism. And that means figuring out ways to have a dialogue with the Tamil community."
This includes "the wide Tamil community inside, but also outside Sri Lanka, about exactly what those measures should entail," he said. He emphasised that this "needs to take place sooner rather than later."
Earlier, on Monday Blake expressed similar comments on Sri Lanka in an interview with 'Associated Press.'
Further he told AP that Sri Lanka's failure to share power with minority Tamils following the end of a bloody 25-year civil war in May could lead to renewed violence.
"The government needs to find a way to move more quickly than January 2010, because the risk, of course, is that people will become disaffected and that will give new impetus to terrorism," he said.
He said the government must make Tamils feel like they are part of the political process after a civil war that killed between 80,000 and 100,000 people.
Blake also said that Sri Lanka should allow more freedom of movement for the nearly 300,000 Tamils displaced by the war and confined to government camps. Some aid groups fear the camps are actually military-run internment centers designed to indefinitely hold the displaced.
Sri Lanka's failure to share power with Tamils could lead to renewed violence: Robert Blake
"Sri Lanka's failure to share power with minority Tamils following the end of a bloody 25-year civil war in May could lead to renewed violence," says Robert Blake, the top US diplomat for South Asia.
In an interview Monday with the 'Associated Press,' Assistant Secretary of State Robert Blake expressed disappointment that President Mahinda Rajapaksa has indicated he will not pursue political reconciliation until after presidential elections are held, probably in January.
"The government needs to find a way to move more quickly than January 2010, because the risk, of course, is that people will become disaffected and that will give new impetus to terrorism," Blake told AP.
He said the government must make Tamils feel like they are part of the political process after a civil war that killed between 80,000 and 100,000 people.
Blake also said that Sri Lanka should allow more freedom of movement for the nearly 300,000 Tamils displaced by the war and confined to government camps. Some aid groups fear the camps are actually military-run internment centers designed to indefinitely hold the displaced.
Blake while noting some progress on the matter, including Sri Lanka allowing about 10,000 displaced people to leave the camps said, the people in the camps were being "held against their will."
"They're not allowed to leave," Blake told AP. "It's important for them to have this freedom of movement."
The United States said Monday that it was donating $15 million in food aid to help Sri Lanka resettle some of the Tamils displaced by the war. The USAID, U.S. Agency for International Development said the aid will provide those returning to their homes with a six-month ration of essential foods.
Commenting on that Blake said, Washington will not put conditions on humanitarian aid, but he said, "longer term reconstruction assistance really will be dependent on the progress that they make" on resettling displaced people and in power sharing efforts.
In an interview Monday with the 'Associated Press,' Assistant Secretary of State Robert Blake expressed disappointment that President Mahinda Rajapaksa has indicated he will not pursue political reconciliation until after presidential elections are held, probably in January.
"The government needs to find a way to move more quickly than January 2010, because the risk, of course, is that people will become disaffected and that will give new impetus to terrorism," Blake told AP.
He said the government must make Tamils feel like they are part of the political process after a civil war that killed between 80,000 and 100,000 people.
Blake also said that Sri Lanka should allow more freedom of movement for the nearly 300,000 Tamils displaced by the war and confined to government camps. Some aid groups fear the camps are actually military-run internment centers designed to indefinitely hold the displaced.
Blake while noting some progress on the matter, including Sri Lanka allowing about 10,000 displaced people to leave the camps said, the people in the camps were being "held against their will."
"They're not allowed to leave," Blake told AP. "It's important for them to have this freedom of movement."
The United States said Monday that it was donating $15 million in food aid to help Sri Lanka resettle some of the Tamils displaced by the war. The USAID, U.S. Agency for International Development said the aid will provide those returning to their homes with a six-month ration of essential foods.
Commenting on that Blake said, Washington will not put conditions on humanitarian aid, but he said, "longer term reconstruction assistance really will be dependent on the progress that they make" on resettling displaced people and in power sharing efforts.
Sri Lanka careering back to where it was: Financial Times
After the government of Sri Lanka finally and violently crushed the 25-year-old insurrection by Tamil rebels last May, there were hopes this sparkling island in the Indian Ocean would finally emerge from its dark history into the light. That is already looking forlorn, says Financial Times in its editorial yesterday under the caption 'Dark triumphalism clouds Sri Lanka.'
"Put simply, while the conflict has ended, Sri Lanka is careering back to where it was when the conflict began. Its precarious identity as a mix of ethnic and linguistic, cultural and religious influences is in danger of being swept away by a triumphalist wave of Sinhalese chauvinism," said the editorial comment.
The editorial further said: True, partial local elections on Saturday returned some Tamil nationalists in northern towns on the fringe of the former fief of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. But the real purpose of the poll seems to have been to test the popularity of President Mahinda Rajapaksa before he calls an early general election to secure a second six-year term, in the afterglow of military victory. Mr Rajapaksa’s machine steamrollered through the southern province of Uva. That will, no doubt, have added to his sense of invulnerability.
What really happened in the elections is hard to know; foreign journalists were banned from the north, just as all journalists were during the final stages of the war.
The government has stepped up its intimidation of dissidents, lawyers and human rights workers as well as journalists. Five doctors who were the sources for the outside world on the final civilian bloodbath in the Tigers’ last redoubt have somehow been persuaded to recant in public, downgrading the number of civilian deaths to a tenth of UN estimates.
Meanwhile, 280,000 Tamils are being held in camps largely sealed off from aid workers. The notion of devolution to deal with Tamil grievances has been taken off the table. The government no longer wishes to discuss minority rights, only individual rights within the new national identity it intends to forge. US and British officials fear this may involve the forced dispersal of Tamils across the island so they can no longer cluster.
Even before last month’s $2.5bn reconstruction loan package from the International Monetary Fund, Mr Rajapaksa’s ability to find new sources of finance, especially from China, had made him relatively immune to international pressure.
His victory seems to have convinced him force is the answer. Yet unless the Sinhala majority shows magnanimity and gives the Tamils control over their lives, their cause will surely reignite from the embers of this war.
"Put simply, while the conflict has ended, Sri Lanka is careering back to where it was when the conflict began. Its precarious identity as a mix of ethnic and linguistic, cultural and religious influences is in danger of being swept away by a triumphalist wave of Sinhalese chauvinism," said the editorial comment.
The editorial further said: True, partial local elections on Saturday returned some Tamil nationalists in northern towns on the fringe of the former fief of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. But the real purpose of the poll seems to have been to test the popularity of President Mahinda Rajapaksa before he calls an early general election to secure a second six-year term, in the afterglow of military victory. Mr Rajapaksa’s machine steamrollered through the southern province of Uva. That will, no doubt, have added to his sense of invulnerability.
What really happened in the elections is hard to know; foreign journalists were banned from the north, just as all journalists were during the final stages of the war.
The government has stepped up its intimidation of dissidents, lawyers and human rights workers as well as journalists. Five doctors who were the sources for the outside world on the final civilian bloodbath in the Tigers’ last redoubt have somehow been persuaded to recant in public, downgrading the number of civilian deaths to a tenth of UN estimates.
Meanwhile, 280,000 Tamils are being held in camps largely sealed off from aid workers. The notion of devolution to deal with Tamil grievances has been taken off the table. The government no longer wishes to discuss minority rights, only individual rights within the new national identity it intends to forge. US and British officials fear this may involve the forced dispersal of Tamils across the island so they can no longer cluster.
Even before last month’s $2.5bn reconstruction loan package from the International Monetary Fund, Mr Rajapaksa’s ability to find new sources of finance, especially from China, had made him relatively immune to international pressure.
His victory seems to have convinced him force is the answer. Yet unless the Sinhala majority shows magnanimity and gives the Tamils control over their lives, their cause will surely reignite from the embers of this war.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Malaysian PM says no facts on KP arrest
Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak, Monday, refused to confirm whether new LTTE leader Kumaran Pathmanathan (KP) was detained on Malaysian soil. He told reporters he did not have the facts to comment on the matter.
'I do not know. I do not have the facts,' AFP quoted him as telling reporters.
The defeated rebels have demanded answers from Malaysia on what they describe as the 'abduction' last week of their new leader, Selvarasa Pathmanathan.
Officials in Colombo have declined to say how Pathmanathan was detained, but the Thai government said he was arrested in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday and transferred to Sri Lanka through Bangkok.
However, Najib refused to confirm whether he was arrested here, or address rumours that Sri Lankan military personnel were involved in Pathmanathan's capture, AFP reported.
'I do not know. I do not have the facts,' AFP quoted him as telling reporters.
The defeated rebels have demanded answers from Malaysia on what they describe as the 'abduction' last week of their new leader, Selvarasa Pathmanathan.
Officials in Colombo have declined to say how Pathmanathan was detained, but the Thai government said he was arrested in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday and transferred to Sri Lanka through Bangkok.
However, Najib refused to confirm whether he was arrested here, or address rumours that Sri Lankan military personnel were involved in Pathmanathan's capture, AFP reported.
US urges Sri Lanka to seek reconciliation
By FOSTER KLUG
Associated Press
The top U.S. diplomat for South Asia says Sri Lanka's failure to share power with minority Tamils following the end of a bloody 25-year civil war in May could lead to renewed violence.
In an interview Monday with The Associated Press, Assistant Secretary of State Robert Blake also urged Nepal to stop squabbling and get to work on consolidating a peace process that ended a decade of fighting between Maoist guerrillas and government troops in 2006. Infighting, he said, could lead to dangerous instability.
On Sri Lanka, Blake expressed disappointment that President Mahinda Rajapaksa has indicated he will not pursue political reconciliation until after presidential elections are held, probably in January.
"The government needs to find a way to move more quickly than January 2010," Blake said from his office in the State Department. "Because the risk, of course, is that people will become disaffected and that will give new impetus to terrorism."
He said the government must make Tamils feel like they are part of the political process after a civil war that killed between 80,000 and 100,000 people. In that war, Tamil Tiger rebels fought for an independent homeland for ethnic minority Tamils.
Blake also said that Sri Lanka should allow more freedom of movement for the nearly 300,000 Tamils displaced by the war and confined to government camps. Some aid groups fear the camps are actually military-run internment centers designed to indefinitely hold the displaced.
Blake noted some progress on the matter, including Sri Lanka allowing about 10,000 displaced people to leave the camps and its pledge to let another 40,000 leave this month and to have the majority released by the end of the year. But, he said, the people in the camps were being "held against their will."
"They're not allowed to leave," Blake said. "It's important for them to have this freedom of movement."
The United States said Monday that it was donating $15 million in food aid to help Sri Lanka resettle some of the Tamils displaced by the war. The U.S. Agency for International Development said the aid will provide those returning to their homes with a six-month ration of essential foods.
Washington, Blake said, will not put conditions on humanitarian aid. But, he said, "longer term reconstruction assistance really will be dependent on the progress that they make" on resettling displaced people and in power sharing efforts.
On Nepal, Blake expressed worry that there has not been more progress toward implementing a 2006 peace agreement, specifically on the drafting of a new constitution and on integrating the Maoist and Nepalese armies.
"There's a sense of drift, and that drift can be very dangerous if the people of Nepal perceive that their elected leaders are not taking seriously their responsibilities. And so there's a risk of instability under those circumstances," Blake said.
He called on the Maoists and other parties to work together and stop squabbling, to "put national interests above narrow, partisan interests and really get down to business on these important issues."
As part of the peace process, thousands of ex-Maoist fighters in 2006 laid down their weapons. The fighters were supposed to be integrated into the national security forces, but little has been done to move toward that.
"Nepal has come so far," Blake said. "It would really be a shame to jeopardize the progress that has been made."
http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_content.php?id=1028177&lang=eng_news
Associated Press
The top U.S. diplomat for South Asia says Sri Lanka's failure to share power with minority Tamils following the end of a bloody 25-year civil war in May could lead to renewed violence.
In an interview Monday with The Associated Press, Assistant Secretary of State Robert Blake also urged Nepal to stop squabbling and get to work on consolidating a peace process that ended a decade of fighting between Maoist guerrillas and government troops in 2006. Infighting, he said, could lead to dangerous instability.
On Sri Lanka, Blake expressed disappointment that President Mahinda Rajapaksa has indicated he will not pursue political reconciliation until after presidential elections are held, probably in January.
"The government needs to find a way to move more quickly than January 2010," Blake said from his office in the State Department. "Because the risk, of course, is that people will become disaffected and that will give new impetus to terrorism."
He said the government must make Tamils feel like they are part of the political process after a civil war that killed between 80,000 and 100,000 people. In that war, Tamil Tiger rebels fought for an independent homeland for ethnic minority Tamils.
Blake also said that Sri Lanka should allow more freedom of movement for the nearly 300,000 Tamils displaced by the war and confined to government camps. Some aid groups fear the camps are actually military-run internment centers designed to indefinitely hold the displaced.
Blake noted some progress on the matter, including Sri Lanka allowing about 10,000 displaced people to leave the camps and its pledge to let another 40,000 leave this month and to have the majority released by the end of the year. But, he said, the people in the camps were being "held against their will."
"They're not allowed to leave," Blake said. "It's important for them to have this freedom of movement."
The United States said Monday that it was donating $15 million in food aid to help Sri Lanka resettle some of the Tamils displaced by the war. The U.S. Agency for International Development said the aid will provide those returning to their homes with a six-month ration of essential foods.
Washington, Blake said, will not put conditions on humanitarian aid. But, he said, "longer term reconstruction assistance really will be dependent on the progress that they make" on resettling displaced people and in power sharing efforts.
On Nepal, Blake expressed worry that there has not been more progress toward implementing a 2006 peace agreement, specifically on the drafting of a new constitution and on integrating the Maoist and Nepalese armies.
"There's a sense of drift, and that drift can be very dangerous if the people of Nepal perceive that their elected leaders are not taking seriously their responsibilities. And so there's a risk of instability under those circumstances," Blake said.
He called on the Maoists and other parties to work together and stop squabbling, to "put national interests above narrow, partisan interests and really get down to business on these important issues."
As part of the peace process, thousands of ex-Maoist fighters in 2006 laid down their weapons. The fighters were supposed to be integrated into the national security forces, but little has been done to move toward that.
"Nepal has come so far," Blake said. "It would really be a shame to jeopardize the progress that has been made."
http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_content.php?id=1028177&lang=eng_news
At UN, No Answers on Sri Lanka Killings or Burma Bombs, Honduras and Niger Elections
By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, August 10 -- Even with the UN Spokesperson's office now reducing its public question taking from five down to three days a week, still it refuses or is unable to answer simply queries about what the UN is doing, and its follow through if any on topics on which it has already spoken, ranging from Sudan, Niger and Somalia to Sri Lanka and Honduras (that is, Africa, Asia and Latin America).
On Monday August 3, Inner City Press asked Spokesperson Michele Montas about reports of fighting between rebels and the government in Sudan, where the UN has two billion dollar peacekeeping missions, and about the total rejection in Somalia of an initiative of the UN's envoy to the country:
Inner City Press: there are these reports of the JEM [Justice and Equality Movement] rebels in Sudan engaging the Sudanese army in [inaudible]. Is that something that either of the two UN missions in Sudan can confirm?
Spokesperson Montas: No, I can try to get the answer for you.
Inner City Press: And I wanted to ask you, the Somali Parliament had voted down about 334 out of the 347… this Law of the Sea filing organized by [Ahmedou] Ould-Abdallah between Somalia and Kenya, funded by Norway. They voted it down, you know, and totally rejected. I wondered if either Ould-Abdallah has a comment and also whether this affects the filing that was made here at the UN for Somalia by Kenya for their undersea rights.
Spokesperson Montas: This I would have to ask the Treaty Department for you, if that changes anything. I don’t have an answer myself today right now.
On the JEM fighting, the Spokesperson's Office never provided an answer, even six days later. The UN's force commander for Darfur also dodged the question, saying the despite the billions of dollars, the UN can't see such fighting. On Ould Abdallah, after Inner City Press further pursued it, the answer was that the question should be posed to the states involved: that is, Somalia and Kenya and presumably Norway. But it was the deal Ould Abdallah put together that was turned down, by the Somali parliament. On whose behalf is he speaking?
On Wednesday, August 5, Inner City Press asked Ms. Montas about a mass killing in Sri Lanka on which the UN has previously spoken, but on which it is now mute, and for the second time about requests to the UN system for aid for Honduras camping with Mel Zelaya in Nicaragua:
Inner City Press: There are these reports that the camps set up for Hondurans just across the border in Nicaragua where Mr. Zelaya is, that Nicaragua has asked for UN for support to these camps. Have you received any information on this? Has a request been made and has any UN assistance or monitoring mission sent there or taken place?
Spokesperson: Not that I know of, but of course we can check with DPA or the refugee agency whether there was anything done on that account. As far as I know, no, so far.
Inner City Press: Can I also ask, the Human Rights Watch has asked the Secretary-General to set up an inquiry into the killing of 17 Action Contre la Faim aid workers three years ago and also other human rights abuses. They say that the Government hasn’t done anything. The request is specifically to the Secretary-General. Is he aware of that call? And given that he visited the country and said that he’d be monitoring it, what is, you know, what is his response?
Spokesperson: I don’t have any specifics on that. Of course we can try to find out whether there was a specific request that was made officially to the Secretary-General. I can try to find out for you.
While the UN in the four days that follow provided no answer on Honduras, diplomats from the region tell Inner City Press that assistance is being provided. On the Sri Lankan government's killings and self-exoneration, the UN's silence had become deafening. The UN's top Humanitarian has repeatedly said it's not clear to him that the government has stopped investigating. It's clear to Human Rights Watch, and to even pro-government journalists in Colombo.
UNITED NATIONS, August 10 -- Even with the UN Spokesperson's office now reducing its public question taking from five down to three days a week, still it refuses or is unable to answer simply queries about what the UN is doing, and its follow through if any on topics on which it has already spoken, ranging from Sudan, Niger and Somalia to Sri Lanka and Honduras (that is, Africa, Asia and Latin America).
On Monday August 3, Inner City Press asked Spokesperson Michele Montas about reports of fighting between rebels and the government in Sudan, where the UN has two billion dollar peacekeeping missions, and about the total rejection in Somalia of an initiative of the UN's envoy to the country:
Inner City Press: there are these reports of the JEM [Justice and Equality Movement] rebels in Sudan engaging the Sudanese army in [inaudible]. Is that something that either of the two UN missions in Sudan can confirm?
Spokesperson Montas: No, I can try to get the answer for you.
Inner City Press: And I wanted to ask you, the Somali Parliament had voted down about 334 out of the 347… this Law of the Sea filing organized by [Ahmedou] Ould-Abdallah between Somalia and Kenya, funded by Norway. They voted it down, you know, and totally rejected. I wondered if either Ould-Abdallah has a comment and also whether this affects the filing that was made here at the UN for Somalia by Kenya for their undersea rights.
Spokesperson Montas: This I would have to ask the Treaty Department for you, if that changes anything. I don’t have an answer myself today right now.
On the JEM fighting, the Spokesperson's Office never provided an answer, even six days later. The UN's force commander for Darfur also dodged the question, saying the despite the billions of dollars, the UN can't see such fighting. On Ould Abdallah, after Inner City Press further pursued it, the answer was that the question should be posed to the states involved: that is, Somalia and Kenya and presumably Norway. But it was the deal Ould Abdallah put together that was turned down, by the Somali parliament. On whose behalf is he speaking?
On Wednesday, August 5, Inner City Press asked Ms. Montas about a mass killing in Sri Lanka on which the UN has previously spoken, but on which it is now mute, and for the second time about requests to the UN system for aid for Honduras camping with Mel Zelaya in Nicaragua:
Inner City Press: There are these reports that the camps set up for Hondurans just across the border in Nicaragua where Mr. Zelaya is, that Nicaragua has asked for UN for support to these camps. Have you received any information on this? Has a request been made and has any UN assistance or monitoring mission sent there or taken place?
Spokesperson: Not that I know of, but of course we can check with DPA or the refugee agency whether there was anything done on that account. As far as I know, no, so far.
Inner City Press: Can I also ask, the Human Rights Watch has asked the Secretary-General to set up an inquiry into the killing of 17 Action Contre la Faim aid workers three years ago and also other human rights abuses. They say that the Government hasn’t done anything. The request is specifically to the Secretary-General. Is he aware of that call? And given that he visited the country and said that he’d be monitoring it, what is, you know, what is his response?
Spokesperson: I don’t have any specifics on that. Of course we can try to find out whether there was a specific request that was made officially to the Secretary-General. I can try to find out for you.
While the UN in the four days that follow provided no answer on Honduras, diplomats from the region tell Inner City Press that assistance is being provided. On the Sri Lankan government's killings and self-exoneration, the UN's silence had become deafening. The UN's top Humanitarian has repeatedly said it's not clear to him that the government has stopped investigating. It's clear to Human Rights Watch, and to even pro-government journalists in Colombo.
UN's Ban with doctorate, but answers not provided by OSSG
The UN did, we note, provide an answer to a question on August 5, about Sudan, and even inserted the response into its transcript:
Spokesperson: Montas: Yes, Matthew.
Inner City Press: in the trial of Lubna Hussein, the UNMIS [United Nations Mission in the Sudan] worker that the… both protesters and one of her lawyers were apparently beaten up in front of, or beaten by the police in front of the court. I’m wondering what, even if UNMIS or the UN is monitoring that, if they have any comment on that, and also if there is yet an answer on whether, was she both a private journalist and UNMIS employee at the same time as was reported, or there was some…?
Spokesperson: She was an UNMIS employee. As you know, she said that she would not be claiming immunity and she wanted to have the case tried in court. Of course, we respect what she wants. However, there is an agreement signed by the UN, the peacekeeping mission there and the Government. And we’re still waiting for answers to know whether or not the immunity still holds. And that’s what we have to find out. We don’t have an answer yet. As you know, the trial has been postponed.
[Later, the correspondent was further informed that the United Nations has informed the Sudanese authorities that, as a United Nations staff member, Lubna Ahmed al-Hussein is covered by immunity from legal process. There is an agreed procedure between the host Government and the United Nations for dealing with cases in which the Government believes that a staff member has committed a criminal offence.
In such cases, the Government is required to report the matter to the United Nations, which in turn will conduct any necessary investigation and, upon the Government's request, decide whether to waive immunity. In the present case, the United Nations has not received any request for the waiver of the staff member’s immunity. Immunity is afforded not only to protect the staff member, but the interests of the United Nations in a broader sense. It is, therefore, not up to a staff member to waive his or her immunity. That is the sole prerogative of the United Nations.]
What the noble sounding answer doesn't address is the UN's failure to invoke immunity this year for two of its staff members in Sri Lanka who were seized by the government and, they say, tortured and asked to point out more people for the government to torture.
Even on the Sudan, when on August 7 Inner City Press directed a question about Lubna's case to a UN Police officer present at the noon briefing, UNPOL chief Hughes stepped in and refused to let her answer, as he did on Inner City Press' question about peacekeepers repatriated from the UN Mission in Haiti under charges of sexual exploitation and abuse. Video here.
On August 7, Inner City Press asked Ms. Montas' deputy Marie Okabe about Niger and Myanmar, without answer:
Inner City Pres: it’s reported that the President of Niger has won his contested referendum to extend his term in office. Does the Secretariat now have any comment or response to that?
Deputy Spokesperson Okabe: I have nothing beyond the comment that we already had issued on the concerns of these developments earlier.
Inner City Press: Also, Myanmar has announced that they have arrested 15 people who they say were going to set off a bomb while the Secretary-General was in Myanmar. Has that been communicated to the Secretariat? Does he think he was a target?
Deputy Spokesperson: I am not aware of any such reports. I’ve only seen them in the press reports.
Inner City Press: So Myanmar hasn’t communicated to the UN…?
Deputy Spokesperson: I haven’t seen anything.
And this litany of non answers is without regard to the UN's two week refusal to answer Inner City Press' questions about Congo envoy Alan Doss' documented pressure to get his daughter at UNDP, leading to the pepper spraying and now prosecution of the UNDP worker whose job was taken, click here for that.. When will things improve?
* * *
UN Nepotism from Congo to NY Criminal Court, UNDP Biter Case Set for August 10
By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, August 7 -- When the UN's top envoy to the Congo Alan Doss wrote in April to ask for leeway to get his daughter Rebecca hired at the UN Development Program, it set off a chain of events leading to the firing and pepper spraying of the person who held the Doss-sought post, and now starting on August 10 his criminal trial for fighting back, allegedly with his teeth. Click here for Inner City Press' exclusive three stories to date on this matter.
Nicola Baroncini, who until June 22 was the assistant to UNDP's Deputy Director for Asia and the Pacific, told Inner City Press on Friday that he intends to ask for a trial on the changes against him, and to demand the presence of various UN witnesses. These should, he said, including the Special Representative of the Secretary General in the Congo, Alan Doss, whose April 20, 2009 email, first published by Inner City Press, asked for "leeway" in awarding his daughter the position Mr. Baroncini had been filling.
On August 7, UNDP told Inner City Press that "Ms. Rebecca Doss began working at UNDP on July 1st 2009. The process through which she was hired is currently being investigated by UNDP’s Office of Audit and Investigation. Until that work is completed we will not have any further comments."
But, as first published by Inner City Press, on April 20, 2009 Alan Doss wrote
"Dear Ligia, This is just to inform that I have advised UNDP in writing that I will transfer to DPKO effective 1 July 2009. I have also spoken to Martin and advised him that I cannot transfer before that date because the new DPKO contractual arrangements only come into effect on the 1 July. He informed me that the ‘deadline’ for the ALD contracts is 15 May so the period of overlap would only be 6 weeks (assuming Rebecca’s ALD would come into force on the 14th May at the latest). I have asked for some flexibility, which would allow a very long serving and faithful UNDP staff member a little lee-way before he rides off into the sunset.Becky is very excited about the prospect of going to work for you so I hope that it will work out. With my warm regards and thanks,
Alan."
It was improper for UNDP to process Rebecca Doss' "application," declare her on the short list, and offer her the position while her USG father was with UNDP. Beyond that, the contact by a UN Under Secretary General was improper.
Sources now say that Doss has obtained his daughter other jobs in the past, and they note that Secretary General Ban Ki-moon may have something of a conflict in ruling on Doss' behavior, given the hiring of Ban's son in law Siddarth Chatterjee first by the SRSG in Iraq, Steffan de Mistura, then by the head of the UN Office of Project Services in Copenhagen, Jan Mattsson. Attention is turning to the UN system posts of Ban's daughter, Chatterjee's wife.
Since Inner City Press' third story on the matter one week ago, Ban's spokespeople have repeated referred questions to UNDP, which has told Inner City Press that "the hiring is being reviewed." On August 7, Ban's Deputy Spokesperson Marie Okabe specified that UNDP's Office of Audit and Investigation is looking at it. But UNDP no longer has jurisdiction over Alan Doss; Ms. Okabe on August 7 answered Inner City Press' question from a week ago, that Doss transferred from UNDP to the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations on July 1.
On August 7, Inner City Press asked the head of DPKO, Alain Le Roy, what he thought of the chief of the Congo peacekeeping mission bending rules to get his daughter hired by the UN. Mr. Le Roy, too, said that UNDP must answer, while noting that he has read Inner City Press' story. Others have as well, and questions are multiplying. Video of August 7 noon briefing here.
Alan Doss, at right, with Alain Le Roy, requests for hiring leeway not shown: Rule of Law?
Back on August 3, Inner City Press asked Ban's spokesperson Michele Montas:
Inner City Press: Michele, on Friday I had asked Farhan a question about Alan Doss and when he became a DPKO [Department of Peacekeeping Operations] staffer and not a UNDP [United Nations Development Programme] staffer. He told me UNDP would answer. I still don’t have an answer. Since it seems to be a Secretariat question, it involves, it’s an e-mail that Mr Doss sent [inaudible]… that job --
Spokesperson: No, I think it’s a UNDP question.
Question: But isn’t it, I mean, the date on which he became DPKO is actually relevant to that inquiry and it seems like that is something that the Secretariat would know, since he --
Spokesperson: Well, at this point I don’t have anything new for you on this, and we have been saying that UNDP should handle that.
Question: But I sent them an e-mail as soon as we finished on Friday, but I don’t have… I guess I am just pleading with you maybe to put a squeeze on?
Spokesperson: Yes, okay, I will ask whether UNDP can answer you.
Question: And I know that the Secretary-General met with Helen Clark this morning. Is there any readout? What did they discuss?
Spokesperson: No, just internal matters.
Question: Including this most recent issue of [inaudible]… not just the biting incident, but the job search?
Spokesperson: I don’t think such minor issues come up in discussions of that sort.
Question: [inaudible] the envoy of Ban Ki-moon actually writes in and says “give my relative a job”; this doesn’t seem to me to be that minor. The biting might be kind of comical, but I mean, I don’t know if you’ve followed that issue, but I’ve just wondered…
Spokesperson: Yes, of course I have read about it, but…
Inner City Press: You don’t think it arose?
Spokesperson: I don’t think so. Thank you all so very much.
Helen Clark has yet to hold a press conference at the UN, despite holding the post for more than 100 days. On August 5 Inner City Press asked:
Inner City Press: In the Council today they’re talking about peacekeeping and leadership. I just wanted to know, on the question that arose about Alan Doss and when he became a DPKO [Department of Peacekeeping Operations] employee. You’ve said, Farhan said Friday UNDP [United Nations Development Programme] would answer it. You said Monday that they’d answer it. But, still they haven’t answered. So, that’s why I am asking. It seems like it’s a straight factual question and that the information is in this building. Do you have an answer to that?
Spokesperson: All I can tell you is that UNDP is reviewing the issue, that’s all I have really. I don’t have a definite answer for you. I know that UNDP is reviewing the issue, that’s all I can say at this point.
Question: But doesn’t DPKO know? I mean, the e-mail that was released said that he asked, he said that 1 July he was going to transfer to DPKO from UNDP, but he wanted them to hire his daughter prior to that and sort of play with the rules. So, it’s just factual, while they review that, that’s fine. But it seems like DPKO or your office should be able to know when someone…
Spokesperson: Well, we’re trying to ascertain the facts, that’s what I am saying, Matthew. I am not evading your question, I just don’t have the facts yet. And if I have them, I will give them to you as soon as I have them. In this specific case, as I said, I was told by UNDP that they are reviewing the case. That’s all I was told today. I asked the question.
Question: I mean, the guy who sort of raised this complaint that the job was improperly given has like a criminal trial date on 10 August, you know, that’s going to be released. He says that there is some connection between these two.
Spokesperson: Well, you know, I have to say about that incident, you know the one that you have mentioned several times here. There was a serious nature to the security incident that took place on 22 June in the DC-2 building. And the incident resulted -- and I found that out yesterday -- resulted in the injury of one of our UN officers, whom I might add was transported to the hospital because of the severity of his wound. So, I was not aware of that fact when I spoke to you yesterday. Now I know that the man was hospitalized. He has since had to do several tests for specific diseases as a result of the wound, which was extremely stressful for everyone involved. He was out on sick leave after the incident, based on the hospital’s request. So this is what I have. It was much more serious than was originally reported to us. And so I just wanted to underline that fact.
Inner City Press: [inaudible] I had asked Farhan, maybe now that you know this you can tell. The dispute seems to be whether security used pepper spray on the individual prior to what appears to be a biting or vice versa. Do you have any information on that?
Spokesperson: No, I don’t have the details on whether pepper spray was used or not. It was a violent incident and the individual was violent, as I can testify. The person was bitten.
The court return date is Monday, August 10. Watch this site.
Inner City Press: Michele, on Friday I had asked Farhan a question about Alan Doss and when he became a DPKO [Department of Peacekeeping Operations] staffer and not a UNDP [United Nations Development Programme] staffer. He told me UNDP would answer. I still don’t have an answer. Since it seems to be a Secretariat question, it involves, it’s an e-mail that Mr Doss sent [inaudible]… that job --
Spokesperson: No, I think it’s a UNDP question.
Question: But isn’t it, I mean, the date on which he became DPKO is actually relevant to that inquiry and it seems like that is something that the Secretariat would know, since he --
Spokesperson: Well, at this point I don’t have anything new for you on this, and we have been saying that UNDP should handle that.
Question: But I sent them an e-mail as soon as we finished on Friday, but I don’t have… I guess I am just pleading with you maybe to put a squeeze on?
Spokesperson: Yes, okay, I will ask whether UNDP can answer you.
Question: And I know that the Secretary-General met with Helen Clark this morning. Is there any readout? What did they discuss?
Spokesperson: No, just internal matters.
Question: Including this most recent issue of [inaudible]… not just the biting incident, but the job search?
Spokesperson: I don’t think such minor issues come up in discussions of that sort.
Question: [inaudible] the envoy of Ban Ki-moon actually writes in and says “give my relative a job”; this doesn’t seem to me to be that minor. The biting might be kind of comical, but I mean, I don’t know if you’ve followed that issue, but I’ve just wondered…
Spokesperson: Yes, of course I have read about it, but…
Inner City Press: You don’t think it arose?
Spokesperson: I don’t think so. Thank you all so very much.
Helen Clark has yet to hold a press conference at the UN, despite holding the post for more than 100 days. On August 5 Inner City Press asked:
Inner City Press: In the Council today they’re talking about peacekeeping and leadership. I just wanted to know, on the question that arose about Alan Doss and when he became a DPKO [Department of Peacekeeping Operations] employee. You’ve said, Farhan said Friday UNDP [United Nations Development Programme] would answer it. You said Monday that they’d answer it. But, still they haven’t answered. So, that’s why I am asking. It seems like it’s a straight factual question and that the information is in this building. Do you have an answer to that?
Spokesperson: All I can tell you is that UNDP is reviewing the issue, that’s all I have really. I don’t have a definite answer for you. I know that UNDP is reviewing the issue, that’s all I can say at this point.
Question: But doesn’t DPKO know? I mean, the e-mail that was released said that he asked, he said that 1 July he was going to transfer to DPKO from UNDP, but he wanted them to hire his daughter prior to that and sort of play with the rules. So, it’s just factual, while they review that, that’s fine. But it seems like DPKO or your office should be able to know when someone…
Spokesperson: Well, we’re trying to ascertain the facts, that’s what I am saying, Matthew. I am not evading your question, I just don’t have the facts yet. And if I have them, I will give them to you as soon as I have them. In this specific case, as I said, I was told by UNDP that they are reviewing the case. That’s all I was told today. I asked the question.
Question: I mean, the guy who sort of raised this complaint that the job was improperly given has like a criminal trial date on 10 August, you know, that’s going to be released. He says that there is some connection between these two.
Spokesperson: Well, you know, I have to say about that incident, you know the one that you have mentioned several times here. There was a serious nature to the security incident that took place on 22 June in the DC-2 building. And the incident resulted -- and I found that out yesterday -- resulted in the injury of one of our UN officers, whom I might add was transported to the hospital because of the severity of his wound. So, I was not aware of that fact when I spoke to you yesterday. Now I know that the man was hospitalized. He has since had to do several tests for specific diseases as a result of the wound, which was extremely stressful for everyone involved. He was out on sick leave after the incident, based on the hospital’s request. So this is what I have. It was much more serious than was originally reported to us. And so I just wanted to underline that fact.
Inner City Press: [inaudible] I had asked Farhan, maybe now that you know this you can tell. The dispute seems to be whether security used pepper spray on the individual prior to what appears to be a biting or vice versa. Do you have any information on that?
Spokesperson: No, I don’t have the details on whether pepper spray was used or not. It was a violent incident and the individual was violent, as I can testify. The person was bitten.
The court return date is Monday, August 10. Watch this site.
Sri Lanka on way back to Tamil rebellion - FT
Sri Lanka is careering back to where it was when the conflict began, with Tamil grievances being ignored amid a triumphalist wave of Sinhalese chauvinism, the Financial Times warned in its editorial Tuesday. Rather than share power with the Tamils, US and British officials fear the Sinhala state is seeking to scatter them, the paper said. “Unless the Sinhala majority shows magnanimity and gives the Tamils control over their lives, their cause will surely reignite from the embers of this war,” the paper said.
The FT’s editorial, titled ‘Dark triumphalism clouds Sri Lanka’ follows:
After the government of Sri Lanka finally and violently crushed the 25-year-old insurrection by Tamil rebels last May, there were hopes this sparkling island in the Indian Ocean would finally emerge from its dark history into the light. That 
PEARL, a rights activist group in US launch campaign against Microsoft investment in SL
PEARL, the US based right activist group, pointing MSNBC's coverage of the conditions within the military supervised internment camps in Vavuniya that said that "no one is allowed to leave the camps and few are permitted entrance," and that the camps are "at best...at the edge of all kinds of internal principles...but more likely...illegal," urged Microsoft to reconsider investments in Sri Lanka.
PEARL in its message to Microsoft told, "the human rights community and Tamils all over the world are deeply concerned about the ultimate use of funds given to government of Sri Lanka. While technology transfer is important, blanket support should not be given to governments who do not respect the rule of law and basic human rights. We urge you to hear the cries of voiceless Tamils, and avoid doing business with regimes as egregious as Sri Lanka's."
While praising the charitable activities of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in the areas of global health, the youth campaign referred to the Gates Foundation goal of increasing "access to information technology in impoverished countries," and said, "although this is yet another admirable pursuit, the business you have decided to carry out in Sri Lanka is deeply concerning to human rights activists."
The message added, "Sri Lanka has been enmeshed in a human rights and humanitarian crisis for decades; in the first 6 months of this year, CNN reported that over 20,000 Tamil civilians were killed as the government pursued an intense military offensive. Currently, over 280,000 Tamil refugees are trapped in internment camps in the north, without full access to aid agencies, journalists or human rights monitors. Despite this situation, several articles quote your enthusiasm for negotiations with President Rajapaksa and his government to further economic growth in the country. Unfortunately, any profits made from these technological innovations will likely be exploited by the government for the continuation of its internment camps."
The message to Microsoft also noted that "the Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers, which includes Amnesty International USA, depicted the military-controlled internment camps as having 80,000 children, many of whom are being abducted for ransom, possibly for government supported armed groups."
PEARL in its message to Microsoft told, "the human rights community and Tamils all over the world are deeply concerned about the ultimate use of funds given to government of Sri Lanka. While technology transfer is important, blanket support should not be given to governments who do not respect the rule of law and basic human rights. We urge you to hear the cries of voiceless Tamils, and avoid doing business with regimes as egregious as Sri Lanka's."
While praising the charitable activities of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in the areas of global health, the youth campaign referred to the Gates Foundation goal of increasing "access to information technology in impoverished countries," and said, "although this is yet another admirable pursuit, the business you have decided to carry out in Sri Lanka is deeply concerning to human rights activists."
The message added, "Sri Lanka has been enmeshed in a human rights and humanitarian crisis for decades; in the first 6 months of this year, CNN reported that over 20,000 Tamil civilians were killed as the government pursued an intense military offensive. Currently, over 280,000 Tamil refugees are trapped in internment camps in the north, without full access to aid agencies, journalists or human rights monitors. Despite this situation, several articles quote your enthusiasm for negotiations with President Rajapaksa and his government to further economic growth in the country. Unfortunately, any profits made from these technological innovations will likely be exploited by the government for the continuation of its internment camps."
The message to Microsoft also noted that "the Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers, which includes Amnesty International USA, depicted the military-controlled internment camps as having 80,000 children, many of whom are being abducted for ransom, possibly for government supported armed groups."
Close 'loopholes' allowing war criminals into UK, Straw told
Alan Travis
The Guardian,
Article history
Proposals from the justice secretary, Jack Straw, to change the law to enable the prosecution of overseas war criminals and torturers living in Britain for crimes dating back to 1991 fail to go far enough, according to a committee of MPs and peers.
A report from parliament's joint human rights committee published today says the 1991 cut-off date and a requirement that only residents in the UK should face prosecution will leave an "impunity gap" which will allow international war criminals to visit and stay in Britain without fear of prosecution.
The cross-party group of MPs and peers say they "fail to understand the justification" for using 1991 as the cut-off date for prosecution, saying it means that the 1994 Rwandan massacres are covered but not the 1970s Cambodian genocide.
They urge Straw to adopt a date as far back as possible for each offence, with 1948 for genocide and 1949 for war crimes committed during internal armed conflicts.
Andrew Dismore, chairman of the parliament's human rights committee, said: "The UK must not be a safe haven for evil. The message to those who have perpetrated the most heinous crime imaginable must be clear: they are not welcome here – not to visit, not to live, not to holiday, shop or get medical treatment.
"The UK should close these loopholes in the law. We also need to re-establish the specialist war crimes unit. Victims of torture must be able to pursue compensation … We should lead the world in bringing international criminals to justice."
The Aegis Trust, which campaigns against genocide, has said there are significant numbers of suspected war criminals and perpetrators of genocide who are living in the UK or who have visited this country. They include suspects from Rwanda, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Iraq, Zimbabwe, Sudan, Congo, Afghanistan and the former Yugoslavia.
The committee heard evidence that between 2004 and 2008 the UK border agency refused entry or refugee status to 138 individuals and referred 22 cases to the police. A further 1,863 individuals have been investigated by the immigration authorities for genocide, war crimes or crimes against humanity.
The decision to limit the possible prosecution of war criminals to those legally resident in Britain rather than those who are simply visiting or passing through was taken by Straw on the grounds that it was neither attractive or practical to go further.
Sir Ken Macdonald, the former director of public prosecutions, also voiced concerns, saying that if the proposal was amended to include those who were present on British soil there was a high likelihood of further prosecutions.
The change in the law to enable the prosecution of war criminals is included in the coroners and justice bill, currently going through parliament.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/aug/11/war-criminals-legislation-jack-straw
The Guardian,
Article history
Proposals from the justice secretary, Jack Straw, to change the law to enable the prosecution of overseas war criminals and torturers living in Britain for crimes dating back to 1991 fail to go far enough, according to a committee of MPs and peers.
A report from parliament's joint human rights committee published today says the 1991 cut-off date and a requirement that only residents in the UK should face prosecution will leave an "impunity gap" which will allow international war criminals to visit and stay in Britain without fear of prosecution.
The cross-party group of MPs and peers say they "fail to understand the justification" for using 1991 as the cut-off date for prosecution, saying it means that the 1994 Rwandan massacres are covered but not the 1970s Cambodian genocide.
They urge Straw to adopt a date as far back as possible for each offence, with 1948 for genocide and 1949 for war crimes committed during internal armed conflicts.
Andrew Dismore, chairman of the parliament's human rights committee, said: "The UK must not be a safe haven for evil. The message to those who have perpetrated the most heinous crime imaginable must be clear: they are not welcome here – not to visit, not to live, not to holiday, shop or get medical treatment.
"The UK should close these loopholes in the law. We also need to re-establish the specialist war crimes unit. Victims of torture must be able to pursue compensation … We should lead the world in bringing international criminals to justice."
The Aegis Trust, which campaigns against genocide, has said there are significant numbers of suspected war criminals and perpetrators of genocide who are living in the UK or who have visited this country. They include suspects from Rwanda, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Iraq, Zimbabwe, Sudan, Congo, Afghanistan and the former Yugoslavia.
The committee heard evidence that between 2004 and 2008 the UK border agency refused entry or refugee status to 138 individuals and referred 22 cases to the police. A further 1,863 individuals have been investigated by the immigration authorities for genocide, war crimes or crimes against humanity.
The decision to limit the possible prosecution of war criminals to those legally resident in Britain rather than those who are simply visiting or passing through was taken by Straw on the grounds that it was neither attractive or practical to go further.
Sir Ken Macdonald, the former director of public prosecutions, also voiced concerns, saying that if the proposal was amended to include those who were present on British soil there was a high likelihood of further prosecutions.
The change in the law to enable the prosecution of war criminals is included in the coroners and justice bill, currently going through parliament.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/aug/11/war-criminals-legislation-jack-straw
Unlock the Camps in Sri Lanka: Amnesty International
Hundreds of thousands of people displaced by the recent war in North East Sri Lanka and living in camps are being denied basic human rights including freedom of movement, said Amnesty International as Secretary General Irene Khan today launched the Unlock the Camps campaign at the start the organization's International Council Meeting, a gathering of international delegates in Turkey.
Two months after the end of the fighting, the Sri Lankan authorities are still not addressing properly the needs of the newly displaced. The camps are overcrowded and unsanitary. In addition, these are effectively detention camps. They are run by the military and the camp residents are prevented from leaving them; they are denied basic legal safeguards. The government's claim that it needs to hold people to carry out screening is not a justifiable reason to detain civilians including entire families, the elderly and children, for an indefinite period.
Displaced people have even been prevented from talking to aid workers. With no independent monitors able to freely visit the camps, many people are unprotected and at risk from enforced disappearances, abductions, arbitrary arrest and sexual violence.
According to government figures, the fighting between the Sri Lankan army and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) displaced over 409,000 people. At least 280,000 are displaced from areas previously under LTTE control. A dramatic influx of people fleeing the fighting and crossing to government controlled areas took place from March 2009. The displaced people, including at least 50,000 children, are being accommodated in 41 camps spread over four districts. The majority of the displaced are in Vavuniya District where Manik Farm is the biggest camp.
When United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon visited some of the camps in May, he said: "I have travelled around the world and visited similar places, but this is by far the most appalling scene I have seen."
While some progress had been made on providing basic needs, much still needs to be done on the right to health, food, water, family reunion and access to relatives.
Amnesty International has also called on the government of Sri Lanka to end restrictions on liberty and freedom of movement; ensure that camps are of a truly civilian nature and administered by civilian authorities, rather than under military supervisions; and give immediate and full access to national and international organizations and observers, including aid agencies, in order to monitor the situation and provide a safeguard against human rights violations.
The Sri Lankan government said on 21 May that the displaced will be resettled in 180 days. But very few have so far been allowed to return to their homes or to join friends or family elsewhere, and people remaining in the camps are not at liberty to leave camp premises. Amnesty International is calling on the Sri Lanka government to end its policy of forcibly confining people to camps, which amounts to arbitrary detention. The Sri Lankan government must allow persons who require temporary shelter in these facilities to come and go freely.
With assistance and support from the international community and the involvement of displaced people themselves, the Sri Lankan government must set up clear benchmarks and timelines to ensure that displaced people can safely return home or find other durable solutions (such as relocation) as soon as possible.
As part of the Unlock the Camps campaign Amnesty International is posting a video on Facebook, calling on the Sri Lankan government to allow freedom of movement and on the Government of India to monitor the aid pledged to the Sri Lankan government and to press for the immediate transfer of the management of the displaced people camps from the military to the civilian authorities.
Two months after the end of the fighting, the Sri Lankan authorities are still not addressing properly the needs of the newly displaced. The camps are overcrowded and unsanitary. In addition, these are effectively detention camps. They are run by the military and the camp residents are prevented from leaving them; they are denied basic legal safeguards. The government's claim that it needs to hold people to carry out screening is not a justifiable reason to detain civilians including entire families, the elderly and children, for an indefinite period.
Displaced people have even been prevented from talking to aid workers. With no independent monitors able to freely visit the camps, many people are unprotected and at risk from enforced disappearances, abductions, arbitrary arrest and sexual violence.
According to government figures, the fighting between the Sri Lankan army and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) displaced over 409,000 people. At least 280,000 are displaced from areas previously under LTTE control. A dramatic influx of people fleeing the fighting and crossing to government controlled areas took place from March 2009. The displaced people, including at least 50,000 children, are being accommodated in 41 camps spread over four districts. The majority of the displaced are in Vavuniya District where Manik Farm is the biggest camp.
When United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon visited some of the camps in May, he said: "I have travelled around the world and visited similar places, but this is by far the most appalling scene I have seen."
While some progress had been made on providing basic needs, much still needs to be done on the right to health, food, water, family reunion and access to relatives.
Amnesty International has also called on the government of Sri Lanka to end restrictions on liberty and freedom of movement; ensure that camps are of a truly civilian nature and administered by civilian authorities, rather than under military supervisions; and give immediate and full access to national and international organizations and observers, including aid agencies, in order to monitor the situation and provide a safeguard against human rights violations.
The Sri Lankan government said on 21 May that the displaced will be resettled in 180 days. But very few have so far been allowed to return to their homes or to join friends or family elsewhere, and people remaining in the camps are not at liberty to leave camp premises. Amnesty International is calling on the Sri Lanka government to end its policy of forcibly confining people to camps, which amounts to arbitrary detention. The Sri Lankan government must allow persons who require temporary shelter in these facilities to come and go freely.
With assistance and support from the international community and the involvement of displaced people themselves, the Sri Lankan government must set up clear benchmarks and timelines to ensure that displaced people can safely return home or find other durable solutions (such as relocation) as soon as possible.
As part of the Unlock the Camps campaign Amnesty International is posting a video on Facebook, calling on the Sri Lankan government to allow freedom of movement and on the Government of India to monitor the aid pledged to the Sri Lankan government and to press for the immediate transfer of the management of the displaced people camps from the military to the civilian authorities.
Tamils to Endure Three Years of Barbed-Wire Incarceration
By Satheesan Kumaaran
Tamils and human rights activists are panicked and shocked at Colombo’s decision to keep the Tamils in internment camps in Vavuniya and even more so with New Delhi’s direct support to keep the Tamils in the camps for the next three years. Sri Lanka once again hoodwinks the international community, including the UN, with the false promise to resettle the Tamils, who are now held in camps behind barbed-wires with tight security provided by the Sri Lankan army, from Vanni. Sri Lanka’s original agenda before the Tamils reached Vavuniya from the LTTE’s former held areas was to keep them in the camps for at least three years.
However, when the plight of the civilians in the camps reached a high peak in the international community, Sri Lanka played teeter-totter and changed its tune saying that it will resettle up to 90% of the people, at least 80% within 180 days. This promise was given to the UN Secretary General in May 2009, but now things are changing. Colombo is going back to its original agenda and India is echoing Colombo’s agenda to keep the Tamils in the camps for the next three years.
Political analysts argue that Colombo and New Delhi plan to keep the Tamils in the camps for the next three years so that the deep wound caused to the Tamils will be healed by then. Further, Colombo could bring a permanent solution to the Tamil national question with minimal powers, possibly something closer to the powers granted to urban council in the North using the Tamils as human shields to get their plan executed.
The Three Year Agenda Benefits New Delhi and Colombo
New Delhi wants to calm the sentiments of people in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu and union territory of Puducherry because people are sick and tired of New Delhi’s inability to protect Eelam Tamils when they were dying at the hands of the Sri Lankan armed forces at the end of Eelam War - IV. So, keeping the Eelam issue silent for three years will bring calm in India. By then, Indian Congress Party gets its work done and then starts playing again in the guise of helping Tamils in Sri Lanka, which they think that will bring a positive political outcome and will help the Congress sweep the next parliamentary elections in India. Then they could go to the people in the south saying that New Delhi, under United Progressive Alliance (UPA) led by Congress, did everything good for the betterment of Tamils in Sri Lanka.
Further, New Delhi does not want the LTTE to emerge once again as a strong military force because the LTTE would then create political problems for New Delhi. So, New Delhi calculates that keeping the Tamils in the camps for the next three years under heavy security will prevent the LTTE reorganization because they think that many LTTE’s hardcore cadres are in the camps already and they will forget everything by three years and return to a normal life abandoning their associations with LTTE. They assume the LTTE would not be able to rise up again if they do not receive support from the people within the next three years. So, keeping the Tamils under tight security whether it is in Jaffna, Mannar, Vavuniya, Batticaloa, Trincomalee, or Amparai under army occupation will not provide another chance for the LTTE re-emerge.
Colombo calculates that Mahinda can win the next presidential elections to be held early next year with the slogan that they conquered the LTTE. Also, Colombo realizes that it could get monetary aid from foreign governments claiming that they need funds to feed the displaced civilians in Vavuniya. Further, it could seek more aid to develop the Tamil areas, but in fact after receiving the funds they would not do so. A classic example is the misappropriated funding provided by the global governments when the tsunami hit Sri Lanka’s North-East in 2004. Politicians in Colombo did not even allow NGOs to help the tsunami-damaged people in the North. Also, medicine meant for the North-Eastern people donated by foreign governments and INGOs were stored in the South and never sent the affected people on time. However, reliable sources revealed that after the validity of the medications expired, they were sold privately at higher prices to dealers and sold them in the market in the Northeast.
Despite all the misappropriations, Colombo, with the support of New Delhi, has been acting vigorously to keep the Tamils in the camps for the next three years, and New Delhi has offered manoeuvres to the Tamils in the camps. India also has the power to bring the global community on its knee because India is emerging as an economic powerhouse and it is closely working with its old enemies like China and Pakistan. So the political, economic, and military pyramid has made the old enemies as new allies with India. As a result, India has influence in the world arena now as never before.
Keeping the global community in the interest of New Delhi would not be a problem. But, New Delhi is an opportunistic and hypocritical player because if the Tamils, numbering around 75 million, come out strongly against New Delhi and if they demand New Delhi not support Colombo forever, and especially if Tamil Nadu does not agree with the home grown solution to be offered by Colombo in the future to end the conflict, New Delhi will have no choice but to withdraw support from Colombo.
New Delhi will support Colombo unless Tamil Nadu boils over. Also, the Diaspora Tamils have the greater role in educating the global governments about Tamils’ grievances. Tamils’ activities in India and elsewhere should parallel and the rights of Eelam Tamils who are in the hands of Indian and the Diaspora Tamils.
Dropping dhal in 80s and now demining intervention
Unless Tamils do not rise up, New Delhi will support Colombo on various sinister forms. Since 2003, India has deployed thousands of India’s former military officials in the guise of de-mining. But, New Delhi and Colombo remain mum about the exact number of Indian soldiers in Tamil homeland.
Before intervening in 1987, India dropped dhal (paruppu) to the Tamils from the air without the consent of the Sri Lankan government to show Colombo that India would not be a silent spectator in the affairs of Tamils because Tamils were starving as the military operations between the LTTE and the Sri Lankan armed forces intensified. And when the Sri Lankan military was becoming defeated military, President J. R. Jayawardana sought India’s intervention.
Already India showed its intention by dropping dhal to the Tamils from the air without Sri Lankan government permission. The cunning President Jayawardana managed to manipulate the young and inexperienced politician Rajiv to fall on his knee in order to save Sri Lanka’s military defeat. So, J. R. Jayawardana and then Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi signed an accord and sent the military as ‘Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF)’ to the Tamil homeland.
Eventually, the Tamils realized the real Indian motives. India’s ploy was not to save the Tamils. Rather, the IPKF was sent to save Colombo and to weaken the Eelam demand. So, they demanded the LTTE lay down their arms and eventually they did, successfully with conditions, including full protection to the LTTE cadres and Tamil civilians. However, IPKF failed to provide protection to the defenceless Tamils and the LTTE. As a result, the LTTE leader ordered the LTTE cadres to continue fighting the IPKF.
Things changed after the withdrawal of IPKF from Eelam in 1990. India lost its former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi who was the man sent by the IPKF to Sri Lanka.
Now, the LTTE is a banned organization in India and LTTE leader V. Pirapaharan and LTTE’s intelligence wing leader Pottu Amman are wanted by Indian judicial courts as they are the first and second accused in the Rajiv assassination. So, India was not able to intervene directly as they did in 1990s, but like dropping dhal in 1987, they sent hundreds or even thousands of their military to the Tamil areas after the LTTE and Sri Lankan government entered into ceasefire agreement in 2002. The Indian ex-soldiers, under the guise of removing landmines, were sent to Jaffna, Mannar, Vavuniya, Batticaloa, Trincomalee and Amparai. But, India maintains that the de-miners were privately owned and they were deployed by invitation from Colombo. Now, they have deployed many more to Vanni. India never revealed its de-mining intervention earlier, but now they openly declared that they sent de-mining experts along with mobile hospitals consisting of military doctors and other healthcare workers.
So, India has already intervened in Sri Lanka. The question is whether India will change sides helping the Tamils obtain their freedom by embracing the LTTE now that the LTTE has changed its strategy towards obtaining Tamil Eelam through political and diplomatic means as per LTTE leader Pirapaharan who asked his cadres to silence their guns in May 2009. So, if India does not want to endure the Tamil conflict, it should lift the ban on the LTTE and invite the LTTE for dialogue in India. Or the question is whether India will not change sides helping Colombo in its agenda of restraining the Tamils for more than three years in the camps and thereby weakening the Eelam struggle.
In any event, India will have no choice but to make wise decisions and India must choose whether to support the Tamils or Colombo. And the Tamils will know soon. The wheel is in the hands of Tamils and the Tamils in India will have to keep India in favour of Eelam Tamils while the Diaspora Tamils have the responsibility to keep the global community in support of Eelam Tamils. So, the global support through Tamils’ marches will liberate Eelam Tamils making Colombo and New Delhi’s agenda of restraining the Tamils for the next three years impossible and will liberate the 285,000 Tamils from the camps. Free Tamil Eelam will have to be done simultaneously with the support of global governments, which would only end the conflict in the Indian Ocean island, which has existed for decades and will continue to exist unless the Tamils’ grievances are fulfilled.
Tamils and human rights activists are panicked and shocked at Colombo’s decision to keep the Tamils in internment camps in Vavuniya and even more so with New Delhi’s direct support to keep the Tamils in the camps for the next three years. Sri Lanka once again hoodwinks the international community, including the UN, with the false promise to resettle the Tamils, who are now held in camps behind barbed-wires with tight security provided by the Sri Lankan army, from Vanni. Sri Lanka’s original agenda before the Tamils reached Vavuniya from the LTTE’s former held areas was to keep them in the camps for at least three years.
However, when the plight of the civilians in the camps reached a high peak in the international community, Sri Lanka played teeter-totter and changed its tune saying that it will resettle up to 90% of the people, at least 80% within 180 days. This promise was given to the UN Secretary General in May 2009, but now things are changing. Colombo is going back to its original agenda and India is echoing Colombo’s agenda to keep the Tamils in the camps for the next three years.
Political analysts argue that Colombo and New Delhi plan to keep the Tamils in the camps for the next three years so that the deep wound caused to the Tamils will be healed by then. Further, Colombo could bring a permanent solution to the Tamil national question with minimal powers, possibly something closer to the powers granted to urban council in the North using the Tamils as human shields to get their plan executed.
The Three Year Agenda Benefits New Delhi and Colombo
New Delhi wants to calm the sentiments of people in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu and union territory of Puducherry because people are sick and tired of New Delhi’s inability to protect Eelam Tamils when they were dying at the hands of the Sri Lankan armed forces at the end of Eelam War - IV. So, keeping the Eelam issue silent for three years will bring calm in India. By then, Indian Congress Party gets its work done and then starts playing again in the guise of helping Tamils in Sri Lanka, which they think that will bring a positive political outcome and will help the Congress sweep the next parliamentary elections in India. Then they could go to the people in the south saying that New Delhi, under United Progressive Alliance (UPA) led by Congress, did everything good for the betterment of Tamils in Sri Lanka.
Further, New Delhi does not want the LTTE to emerge once again as a strong military force because the LTTE would then create political problems for New Delhi. So, New Delhi calculates that keeping the Tamils in the camps for the next three years under heavy security will prevent the LTTE reorganization because they think that many LTTE’s hardcore cadres are in the camps already and they will forget everything by three years and return to a normal life abandoning their associations with LTTE. They assume the LTTE would not be able to rise up again if they do not receive support from the people within the next three years. So, keeping the Tamils under tight security whether it is in Jaffna, Mannar, Vavuniya, Batticaloa, Trincomalee, or Amparai under army occupation will not provide another chance for the LTTE re-emerge.
Colombo calculates that Mahinda can win the next presidential elections to be held early next year with the slogan that they conquered the LTTE. Also, Colombo realizes that it could get monetary aid from foreign governments claiming that they need funds to feed the displaced civilians in Vavuniya. Further, it could seek more aid to develop the Tamil areas, but in fact after receiving the funds they would not do so. A classic example is the misappropriated funding provided by the global governments when the tsunami hit Sri Lanka’s North-East in 2004. Politicians in Colombo did not even allow NGOs to help the tsunami-damaged people in the North. Also, medicine meant for the North-Eastern people donated by foreign governments and INGOs were stored in the South and never sent the affected people on time. However, reliable sources revealed that after the validity of the medications expired, they were sold privately at higher prices to dealers and sold them in the market in the Northeast.
Despite all the misappropriations, Colombo, with the support of New Delhi, has been acting vigorously to keep the Tamils in the camps for the next three years, and New Delhi has offered manoeuvres to the Tamils in the camps. India also has the power to bring the global community on its knee because India is emerging as an economic powerhouse and it is closely working with its old enemies like China and Pakistan. So the political, economic, and military pyramid has made the old enemies as new allies with India. As a result, India has influence in the world arena now as never before.
Keeping the global community in the interest of New Delhi would not be a problem. But, New Delhi is an opportunistic and hypocritical player because if the Tamils, numbering around 75 million, come out strongly against New Delhi and if they demand New Delhi not support Colombo forever, and especially if Tamil Nadu does not agree with the home grown solution to be offered by Colombo in the future to end the conflict, New Delhi will have no choice but to withdraw support from Colombo.
New Delhi will support Colombo unless Tamil Nadu boils over. Also, the Diaspora Tamils have the greater role in educating the global governments about Tamils’ grievances. Tamils’ activities in India and elsewhere should parallel and the rights of Eelam Tamils who are in the hands of Indian and the Diaspora Tamils.
Dropping dhal in 80s and now demining intervention
Unless Tamils do not rise up, New Delhi will support Colombo on various sinister forms. Since 2003, India has deployed thousands of India’s former military officials in the guise of de-mining. But, New Delhi and Colombo remain mum about the exact number of Indian soldiers in Tamil homeland.
Before intervening in 1987, India dropped dhal (paruppu) to the Tamils from the air without the consent of the Sri Lankan government to show Colombo that India would not be a silent spectator in the affairs of Tamils because Tamils were starving as the military operations between the LTTE and the Sri Lankan armed forces intensified. And when the Sri Lankan military was becoming defeated military, President J. R. Jayawardana sought India’s intervention.
Already India showed its intention by dropping dhal to the Tamils from the air without Sri Lankan government permission. The cunning President Jayawardana managed to manipulate the young and inexperienced politician Rajiv to fall on his knee in order to save Sri Lanka’s military defeat. So, J. R. Jayawardana and then Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi signed an accord and sent the military as ‘Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF)’ to the Tamil homeland.
Eventually, the Tamils realized the real Indian motives. India’s ploy was not to save the Tamils. Rather, the IPKF was sent to save Colombo and to weaken the Eelam demand. So, they demanded the LTTE lay down their arms and eventually they did, successfully with conditions, including full protection to the LTTE cadres and Tamil civilians. However, IPKF failed to provide protection to the defenceless Tamils and the LTTE. As a result, the LTTE leader ordered the LTTE cadres to continue fighting the IPKF.
Things changed after the withdrawal of IPKF from Eelam in 1990. India lost its former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi who was the man sent by the IPKF to Sri Lanka.
Now, the LTTE is a banned organization in India and LTTE leader V. Pirapaharan and LTTE’s intelligence wing leader Pottu Amman are wanted by Indian judicial courts as they are the first and second accused in the Rajiv assassination. So, India was not able to intervene directly as they did in 1990s, but like dropping dhal in 1987, they sent hundreds or even thousands of their military to the Tamil areas after the LTTE and Sri Lankan government entered into ceasefire agreement in 2002. The Indian ex-soldiers, under the guise of removing landmines, were sent to Jaffna, Mannar, Vavuniya, Batticaloa, Trincomalee and Amparai. But, India maintains that the de-miners were privately owned and they were deployed by invitation from Colombo. Now, they have deployed many more to Vanni. India never revealed its de-mining intervention earlier, but now they openly declared that they sent de-mining experts along with mobile hospitals consisting of military doctors and other healthcare workers.
So, India has already intervened in Sri Lanka. The question is whether India will change sides helping the Tamils obtain their freedom by embracing the LTTE now that the LTTE has changed its strategy towards obtaining Tamil Eelam through political and diplomatic means as per LTTE leader Pirapaharan who asked his cadres to silence their guns in May 2009. So, if India does not want to endure the Tamil conflict, it should lift the ban on the LTTE and invite the LTTE for dialogue in India. Or the question is whether India will not change sides helping Colombo in its agenda of restraining the Tamils for more than three years in the camps and thereby weakening the Eelam struggle.
In any event, India will have no choice but to make wise decisions and India must choose whether to support the Tamils or Colombo. And the Tamils will know soon. The wheel is in the hands of Tamils and the Tamils in India will have to keep India in favour of Eelam Tamils while the Diaspora Tamils have the responsibility to keep the global community in support of Eelam Tamils. So, the global support through Tamils’ marches will liberate Eelam Tamils making Colombo and New Delhi’s agenda of restraining the Tamils for the next three years impossible and will liberate the 285,000 Tamils from the camps. Free Tamil Eelam will have to be done simultaneously with the support of global governments, which would only end the conflict in the Indian Ocean island, which has existed for decades and will continue to exist unless the Tamils’ grievances are fulfilled.
India take control of coastal surveillance in Sri Lanka via Barnas International Private Limited
India Government in a bid to strengthen its power base in Indian Ocean, won a coastal surveillance project in Sri Lanka via Barnas International Private Limited, security analysts said. Barnas International Private Limited, which has bagged a 30 million Sri Lankan rupee contract to provide surveillance solutions in the Sri Lankan capital, will also take up similar projects in the island's northern regions that had recently been wrested from the LTTE, company sources here told to an indian media.
Under the project, the entire Sri Lankan coast will come under a specially- designed surveillance system with sophisticated thermal-imaging cameras and a software that can detect the nature of the moving object. "Thermal-imaging cameras, unlike conventional ones, are so powerful that they can pick up images from distances nearly 20 km into the sea. A specially-designed software will analyse the nature of the images and sound out an alarm in the central control centre when a boat or ship approaches the coast," Barnas vice-president Sivaji Rao, who is taking care of the Sri Lankan operations, told to an indian media.He said the Sri Lankan government had realised the difficulty of monitoring the entire coast manually and gone in for an unmanned surveillance system.Sivaji Rao said the Sri Lankan government was worried about the security situation and had embarked on the project of enhancing its surveillance systems on a war footing."Apart from providing coastal security, all sensitive areas will be brought under strict surveillance under the project. We are not using conventional cameras and digital video recorders here but are using highly sophisticated and specially-designed equipment and software.All the cameras involved will be internet-enabled and can be monitored by senior officials even when they are on the move through cell phones and laptops," Sivaji Rao added.The company will also be taking up similar projects in the war-ravaged northern parts.
http://www.tamilsydney.com/content/view/2361/37/
Under the project, the entire Sri Lankan coast will come under a specially- designed surveillance system with sophisticated thermal-imaging cameras and a software that can detect the nature of the moving object. "Thermal-imaging cameras, unlike conventional ones, are so powerful that they can pick up images from distances nearly 20 km into the sea. A specially-designed software will analyse the nature of the images and sound out an alarm in the central control centre when a boat or ship approaches the coast," Barnas vice-president Sivaji Rao, who is taking care of the Sri Lankan operations, told to an indian media.He said the Sri Lankan government had realised the difficulty of monitoring the entire coast manually and gone in for an unmanned surveillance system.Sivaji Rao said the Sri Lankan government was worried about the security situation and had embarked on the project of enhancing its surveillance systems on a war footing."Apart from providing coastal security, all sensitive areas will be brought under strict surveillance under the project. We are not using conventional cameras and digital video recorders here but are using highly sophisticated and specially-designed equipment and software.All the cameras involved will be internet-enabled and can be monitored by senior officials even when they are on the move through cell phones and laptops," Sivaji Rao added.The company will also be taking up similar projects in the war-ravaged northern parts.
http://www.tamilsydney.com/content/view/2361/37/
Sri Lanka’s State Terrorism Spreads to Foreign Soil - Extraordinary Rendition?
The Australasian Federation of Tamil Associations (AFTA), the umbrella organisation of peak Tamil Associations in Australia and New Zealand condemns in the strongest terms, the manner in which Mr. Selvarasas Pathmanathan has been seized in Malaysia and taken to Sri Lanka for interrogation by the Sri Lankan security agents. AFTA considers the abduction and transfer of Mr. Pathmanathan to Colombo as an act of Extraordinary Rendition. Tamil Diaspora is gravely concerned that if this dastardly act goes unchecked, no Tamil would be safe in any part of the world.
According to international news agencies Mr. Pathmanathan spearheaded a move to direct the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) movement, to continue its struggle for self-determination of Tamils through democratic and diplomatic means. His recent efforts in taking steps to form a Provisional Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (PTGTE), through a democratic process amongst the Tamil Diaspora were welcomed by AFTA.
The Thai government spokesman has stated that Mr. Pathmanathan is married to a Thai national and lived in the north of the country. Mr. Pathmanathan is believed to be a Thai national as well. Although Sri Lankan authorities initially claimed that Mr. Pathmanathan was arrested in Thailand and taken to Sri Lanka for interrogation, Thailand's prime minister said on Friday 7th August that he had been seized but denied that it happened in Thailand. All the independent media reports indicate that Mr. Pathmanathan was seized in Malaysia in an illegal manner by the Sri Lankan military intelligence with possible support of some sections of the Malaysian law enforcement agencies.
Extraordinary Rendition is illegal and should be challenged by people who believe in democracy and rule of law and signatories to the relevant Geneva Conventions. Even states which are not a party to conventions against Torture are bound by international norms to stamp out torture and not facilitate such acts. Article 3 of the United Nations Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment prohibits Extraordinary Rendition. Article 3(1) prohibits parties from returning, extraditing or refouling any person to a state where there are substantial grounds for believing that he would be in danger of being subjected to torture. The Committee against Torture has held that this danger must be assessed not just for the initial receiving state, but also to states to which the person may be subsequently expelled, returned or extradited. It further states that for the purpose of determining whether there are such grounds, the competent authorities shall take into account all relevant considerations including, where applicable, the existence in the State concerned of a consistent pattern of gross, flagrant or mass violations of human rights.
It is alarming to note that such an act could be permitted despite the International Community including Malaysia and Thailand being fully aware of the abductions, torture and indiscriminate killing of Tamils are common place in Sri Lanka.Reuters news agency quoted Sri Lankan defence spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella as saying, "We are quite capable of demolishing LTTE activities anywhere in the world. We have the capacity and assistance". Reuters quoting three senior military sources has said that, three senior Sri Lankan military sources speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters that three teams were deployed to Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and Indonesia to hunt down and kill Pathmanathan, not capture him. "We didn't want him to be brought down here. But the circumstances didn't allow us to do that," one military intelligence officer told Reuters on condition of anonymity.AFTA is of the opinion that if these statements by Sri Lankan military sources are true no Tamils from Sri Lanka, irrespective of their current nationality are safe on the streets of the country of residence.AFTA feels that Sri Lanka has abducted Mr. Pathmanathan to deny a source of evidence of “war crimes” committed by Sri Lankan government officials, including the former DFAT official Dr. Palitha Kohona, who was involved in the surrender arrangements of the LTTE political wing leaders. These leaders were shot and killed by the Sri Lankan army while surrendering unarmed and carrying a white flag on the order of Government officials. Mr. Pathmanathan only negotiated the modalities for the surrender and he had played recently some of the recordings of these conversations to the international media.
AFTA appeals to • the ICRC to demand immediate access to Mr. Pathmanathan to ensure his safety and his well being including supply of essential medication. ICRC also should facilitate the availability of a lawyer to represent him to assist in the investigation by the Sri Lankan authorities and protect this key witness who is vital for future independent international “war crimes” investigations.• all the States who are against Extraordinary Rendition, including Australia and New Zealand, to condemn the illegal seizure of Mr. Pathmanathan, irrespective of any crime if committed by him, and the subsequent transfer of him to Colombo.• the Malaysian government to break its silence about the alleged involvement of any of its law enforcement agencies in this matter.• Thai Government to secure the release of its national; and• The human rights organisations such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch to seek a just resolution to this matter AFTA also appeals to the independent media to use investigative journalism to expose blatant disregard displayed by the parties involved in violating international norms.
Media Enquiries
:Sydney: Dr. Victor Rajakulendran 0402 484 209Melbourne
: Mr. Siva Sivakumar 0404 894 591Canberra
: Dr. Raga Ragavan 0402 387 920Auckland
: Dr. Siva Vasanthan 021 023 51 007Wellington
: Mr. Mani Maniparathy 027 448 0340
http://www.tamilsydney.com/content/view/2362/37/
According to international news agencies Mr. Pathmanathan spearheaded a move to direct the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) movement, to continue its struggle for self-determination of Tamils through democratic and diplomatic means. His recent efforts in taking steps to form a Provisional Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (PTGTE), through a democratic process amongst the Tamil Diaspora were welcomed by AFTA.
The Thai government spokesman has stated that Mr. Pathmanathan is married to a Thai national and lived in the north of the country. Mr. Pathmanathan is believed to be a Thai national as well. Although Sri Lankan authorities initially claimed that Mr. Pathmanathan was arrested in Thailand and taken to Sri Lanka for interrogation, Thailand's prime minister said on Friday 7th August that he had been seized but denied that it happened in Thailand. All the independent media reports indicate that Mr. Pathmanathan was seized in Malaysia in an illegal manner by the Sri Lankan military intelligence with possible support of some sections of the Malaysian law enforcement agencies.
Extraordinary Rendition is illegal and should be challenged by people who believe in democracy and rule of law and signatories to the relevant Geneva Conventions. Even states which are not a party to conventions against Torture are bound by international norms to stamp out torture and not facilitate such acts. Article 3 of the United Nations Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment prohibits Extraordinary Rendition. Article 3(1) prohibits parties from returning, extraditing or refouling any person to a state where there are substantial grounds for believing that he would be in danger of being subjected to torture. The Committee against Torture has held that this danger must be assessed not just for the initial receiving state, but also to states to which the person may be subsequently expelled, returned or extradited. It further states that for the purpose of determining whether there are such grounds, the competent authorities shall take into account all relevant considerations including, where applicable, the existence in the State concerned of a consistent pattern of gross, flagrant or mass violations of human rights.
It is alarming to note that such an act could be permitted despite the International Community including Malaysia and Thailand being fully aware of the abductions, torture and indiscriminate killing of Tamils are common place in Sri Lanka.Reuters news agency quoted Sri Lankan defence spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella as saying, "We are quite capable of demolishing LTTE activities anywhere in the world. We have the capacity and assistance". Reuters quoting three senior military sources has said that, three senior Sri Lankan military sources speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters that three teams were deployed to Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and Indonesia to hunt down and kill Pathmanathan, not capture him. "We didn't want him to be brought down here. But the circumstances didn't allow us to do that," one military intelligence officer told Reuters on condition of anonymity.AFTA is of the opinion that if these statements by Sri Lankan military sources are true no Tamils from Sri Lanka, irrespective of their current nationality are safe on the streets of the country of residence.AFTA feels that Sri Lanka has abducted Mr. Pathmanathan to deny a source of evidence of “war crimes” committed by Sri Lankan government officials, including the former DFAT official Dr. Palitha Kohona, who was involved in the surrender arrangements of the LTTE political wing leaders. These leaders were shot and killed by the Sri Lankan army while surrendering unarmed and carrying a white flag on the order of Government officials. Mr. Pathmanathan only negotiated the modalities for the surrender and he had played recently some of the recordings of these conversations to the international media.
AFTA appeals to • the ICRC to demand immediate access to Mr. Pathmanathan to ensure his safety and his well being including supply of essential medication. ICRC also should facilitate the availability of a lawyer to represent him to assist in the investigation by the Sri Lankan authorities and protect this key witness who is vital for future independent international “war crimes” investigations.• all the States who are against Extraordinary Rendition, including Australia and New Zealand, to condemn the illegal seizure of Mr. Pathmanathan, irrespective of any crime if committed by him, and the subsequent transfer of him to Colombo.• the Malaysian government to break its silence about the alleged involvement of any of its law enforcement agencies in this matter.• Thai Government to secure the release of its national; and• The human rights organisations such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch to seek a just resolution to this matter AFTA also appeals to the independent media to use investigative journalism to expose blatant disregard displayed by the parties involved in violating international norms.
Media Enquiries
:Sydney: Dr. Victor Rajakulendran 0402 484 209Melbourne
: Mr. Siva Sivakumar 0404 894 591Canberra
: Dr. Raga Ragavan 0402 387 920Auckland
: Dr. Siva Vasanthan 021 023 51 007Wellington
: Mr. Mani Maniparathy 027 448 0340
http://www.tamilsydney.com/content/view/2362/37/
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
Posts
