MP Mervyn Silva 'chief' patron of drug kingpins

28 September 2011

Leaked US embassy cables, state that MP Mervyn Silva was believed to be giving patronage to drug traffickers in 2009, along side his son, Malika Silva.

"According to a former Sri Lankan security services official, drug kingpins in Sri Lanka have political patrons in the government, chief among them Dr. Mervyn Silva, a Member of Parliament and the Minister of Labor."
"His son, Malika Silva, is suspected of trafficking the drug “ecstasy” in Colombo nightclubs."

A further cable drew attention to the wider culture of impunity within the Sri Lankan state, highlighting its failure to investigate or prosecution those accused of corruption whilst in public office.

"A government commission established to investigate bribery and corruptioncharges against public officials that resumed operations in 2004 continued through 2009, although with little activity."

"There are unconfirmed reports of links between drug traffickers and individual corrupt officials." 
"However, since late 2007, there have been no arrests of government officials on bribery or corruption charges related to drugs." 

According to the cables, in 2009, Sri Lanka experienced an increase in the consumption of heroin, cannabis and ecstasy.
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Tamils continue struggle for self-determination after Sri Lanka's killing fields

BY KRISNA SARAVANAMUTTU 

| SEPTEMBER 27, 2011

The war in Sri Lanka spanned over three decades and reached its bloody conclusion in May 2009. Both the UN Panel of Experts on Sri Lanka and a U.K. film entitled Sri Lanka's Killing Fields agreed that the Sri Lankan Armed Forces committed war crimes and crimes against humanity. Thousands of men, women and children were killed throughout northern Sri Lanka during the last phase of the war.     more>>>

NRK has ignored calls from the Sri Lankan Embassy to cancel transmitting a contentious programme.

The Foreigner  Wednesday, 28th September, 2011

NRK has ignored calls from the Sri Lankan Embassy to cancel transmitting a contentious programme.

Last night’s compelling, and controversial documentary on NRK2 revealed the reality of Sri Lanka’s bloody war with society. It was originally broadcast on the UK’s Channel 4 Dispatches series back in June 2011.

The programme was heavily criticised by Sri Lankan authorities, who initially attempted to halt the Norwegian channel from showing the extremist group Tamil Tigers’ cruel intentions.

In an official statement before the show, with an expected six-figure audience, embassy staff wrote: “We urge NRK 2 not to air the UK Channel 4 program and give coverage to content which is unsubstantiated and without any guarantee of authenticity.”

“At a time when a great deal of efforts are underway for reconciliation, rehabilitation and reconstruction in Sri Lanka, this type of sinister and unsubstantiated visual material could inflame the passions of those elements concerned only about carving out a mono-ethnic enclave against the wishes of Sri Lankan nationals treading on democratic pluralistic ideals.”

Whilst it is unknown if there were any complaints about last night’s broadcast, British television complaints commissioner Ofcom announced 37 people criticised the programme’s distressing content.

The Tamil Tigers hit the Norwegian headlines earlier this year, when police arrested a 34-year-old man in February on suspicion of murdering three people, including an officer

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Lankan embassy in Oslo angry

 Wednesday, September 28, 2011
The Sri Lankan Ambassador in Oslo, Norway Rodney M. Perera, has protested the decision by a leading Norwegian television station to air the British Channel 4 documentary titled “Sri Lanka’s Killing Fields” yesterday.

In a letter sent to TV NRK, the Ambassador said that the program content is completely biased and contains unsubstantiated allegations against the government of Sri Lanka.

The Ambassador said that at a time when a great deal of efforts are underway for reconciliation, rehabilitation and reconstruction in Sri Lanka, this type of sinister and unsubstantiated visual material could inflame the passions of those elements concerned only about carving out a mono-ethnic enclave against the wishes of Sri Lankan nationals treading on democratic pluralistic ideals.

“The obvious bias of the program is further illustrated by the fact that a major portion of the dubious video footage has been acquired from LTTE-related sources,” the Ambassador said in the letter, a copy of which was made available to the media by TV NRK.

The Ambassador warned that the safety and security of not only the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Oslo and its staff, but that of all persons of  Sri Lankan origin residing in Norway, could be compromised by these types of telecasts.

However at the same time he also urged NRK to consider telecasting the video titled “Lies Agreed Upon,” a documentary released by the Ministry of Defence which looks to counter the Channel 4 video.

Donors 'ignoring' resettled IDPs

28 September, 2011
By Charles Haviland
BBC News, Colombo

SLRC says it feared the donors was getting sidetracked by human rights concerns

The Sri Lankan Red Cross society has spoken out about the difficulties of ordinary people living in the country’s former war zone.

It says hundreds of thousands of civilians, mostly returning displaced people, still lack the basics of life and that international donors are not doing enough to help them.

The organisation said it feared the international community was getting sidetracked by human rights concerns, but a major donor has denied that this is the case.    Full Story>>>

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UK not monitoring safety of Tamils deported to Sri Lanka

Ian Cobain
guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 28 September 2011

Admission comes hours before up to 50 people denied asylum were due to be flown back despite warnings they risk torture or even death

Internally displaced Tamils at a camp Sri Lanka, where those forcibly removed from the UK face risk of maltreatment, say charities. Photograph: Eranga Jayawardena/AP

The government has conceded that it is doing nothing to establish what is happening to scores of Tamils who are being forcibly removed from the UK despite concerns for their safety in Sri Lanka.

Full Story>>>
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Protest over Governor's order to demolish 'Old Park' in Jaffna

Times Online     WEDNESDAY, 28 SEPTEMBER 2011

An order by the Governor for the northern province Major General (retd)  G.A.Chandrasiri to demolish an ancient building with archeological value  in Jaffna has sparked off a dispute.

Municipal workers started demolishing the building when representations were made to the Government Agent for Jaffna Emelda Sukumar who in turn informed the Archeology department officials and got the work stopped.

This building known as Old Park was built during the period of 1796 when Jaffna was taken over by the British.

The first GA for Jaffna Percival Akland Dyke donated the Old Park for the people of Jaffna later.

Earlier this month the this month the Archeology Department  declared the Old Park as an archeological site.

Popular writer Leornard woolf also lived in this building when he worked as a cadet officer at  the Jaffna GA’s office  during the period of 1904-1905.

By N.Parameswaran

Government of Sri Lanka Must Take Credible Steps to Address Allegations of Human Rights

U.S. Department of State 

 Mark C. Toner

Deputy Spokesperson
Daily Press Briefing

Washington, DC

September 26, 2011

MR. TONER: He wants to go to Sri Lanka now.QUESTION: Going to Sri Lanka, the UN Secretary General has referred his UN panel report to UN Human Rights and to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights for further action. But also there has been a --
MR. TONER: Sorry. Rewind. I missed the first part. Who referred it to the UN?
QUESTION: Mr. Ban Ki-moon has referred his report on UN panel report of Sri Lanka --
MR. TONER: Okay.
QUESTION: -- which created all the – to UN Human Rights Council and also to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights for further action. In all this UN General Assembly, this was not – didn’t get so much. But also there is a court case has been filed in a New York court against the visiting president of Sri Lanka Rajapaksa. So what is the latest update from the U.S.? Are you still pressurizing? Are you – what is the latest from the State Department?
MR. TONER: Again, I’m – our longstanding policy has been – position, rather, has been that the Government of Sri Lanka needs to take steps to credibly address some of these allegations. We urge it to do so. I’ll try to get an update on where the UN action stands at this point, but I don’t have anything beyond that at this point.
QUESTION: Anything on the --
MR. TONER: And nothing on the court case, and I doubt I could comment anyway, since it’s an ongoing legal matter.Yeah. Go ahead.

Sept. 26, 2011: U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing by Deputy Spokesperson Mark Toner

September 26, 201

1

SRI LANKA: Authorities fail to investigate death threats made against another journalist

27 September 2011
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SRI LANKA: Authorities fail to investigate death threats made against another journalist

ISSUES: Freedom of expression; impunity; police negligence; rule of law
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Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that Mr. Krishan Jeewaka Jayaruk of Matara District is the regional news reporter of the Sinhala medium 'Lankadeepa' and English medium 'Daily Mirror' news papers, both are the of the most widely circulated newspapers in the island. On 1 September 2011 he received death threats from one of the leading politicians of the ruling party. Though Jayaruk made a complaint to the Headquarters Police Station of Matara regarding the incident the police failed to make an investigation. Despite requests made by several media organisations the law enforcement agencies turn a blind eye thereby ensuring impunity to the perpetrators. The victim, his relatives and the society as a whole are witnesses to the inaction of the police. This case is yet another illustration of the exceptional danger faced by journalists and members of the media. 
Read More...
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Torture charity calls on UK to halt deportation flight to Sri Lanka

Ian Cobain
guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 27 September 2011 
Tamils at risk of being detained and tortured as result of UK Border Agency action, claims Freedom from Torture

Sri Lanka's president, Mahinda Rajapaksa, who has been linked to war crimes in the fight against the Tamil Tigers. Photograph: Reuters

Britain is being urged to halt plans to deport a planeload of Tamils to Sri Lanka on Wednesday amid fears they will be at risk of being detained and tortured on arrival.

Sri Lanka's president, Mahinda Rajapaksa, who has been linked to war crimes in the fight against the Tamil Tigers. Photograph: Reuters

 Full Story>>>

Minister Baird Meets Sri Lankan Minister of External Affairs in New York City

September 22, 2011
New York City

Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird meets with G.L. Peiris, Minister of External Affairs of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, at the 66th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York City on September 22, 2011.
This was the two ministers' first formal bilateral meeting. They discussed a broad range of subjects, including the Commonwealth, democracy, human rights and the rule of law.
Minister Baird urged Sri Lanka to advance a process of reconciliation and expressed concerns over lack of accountability and a growing trend toward authoritarianism in that country.
He also reiterated Prime Minister Stephen Harper's concerns about Sri Lanka hosting the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in 2013.
Minister Baird supports calls for an independent investigation into credible allegations of violations of international humanitarian law and human rights committed by both sides of the conflict in Sri Lanka.
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September 20, 2011
New York City
Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird attends the 66th UN General Assembly in New York City from September 20 to 27, 2011.
As a founding United Nations member and one of its leading contributors, Canada continues to believe in the UN's potential to contribute to peace, security and prosperity. Canada will help ensure the UN remains relevant and effective in confronting major global issues.

Address by the Honourable John Baird, Minister of Foreign Affairs, to the United Nations General Assembly

Sri Lankan justice plays out in foreign courtrooms

27 September 2011 

Three cases around the world reflect a new trend in international justice – while Sri Lanka shows no intention of properly dealing with accusations its military committed atrocities in the closing months of the civil war in 2009, cases have opened in the Netherlands, Switzerland and the U.S. against both the Tamil Tigers and the Sri Lankan military.

By Richard Walker in The Hague

Tweet

On Monday two ethnic Tamils filed a case in New York against a Sri Lankan general now serving as a UN diplomat. They claim Major General Shavendra Silva was commanding officer of the army’s 58th Division which helped crush the Tamil Tiger rebels in 2009 – and in so doing killed thousands of civilians through the shelling of no-fire zones and hospitals. The case is using the US’s universal jurisdiction to prosecute war crimes outside of its territory.

More >
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Tamils slam renovation plans for Dutch fort

• TUESDAY 27 SEPTEMBER

Tamils in the north of Sri Lanka have slammed proposals by President Mahinda Rajapakse to rebuild the former Dutch military fort in Jaffna in the north  of the island, which is Tamil territory. They say the current renovation plans, which are partly paid for by the Dutch government, do not acknowledge the rights of the Tamil people.

The Jaffna fort was built in the 17th century by Portuguese merchants and missionaries in the area. A few decades later the Portuguese lost the fort to the Dutch East India Company (VOC) after a siege. The Dutch rebuilt it and occupied it until the late 18th century, when the British rulers took over.        Full Story>>>

Rajapakse returns: sordid attempts to buy over 4 opposition candidates begin

(Lanka-e-News -27.Sep.2011, 11.00P.M.) President Mahinda Rajapakse who led a mega delegation to New York returned to Sri Lanka hastily ,after hearing that a litigation suit has been filed in US courts against a Sri Lanka Diplomat despite the diplomatic immunity that attaches to him.

As the campaign of the UPFA to win the Colombo Municipal elections is floundering , already unscrupulous measures are under way ,to buy over four candidates contesting under the UNP list. The President is already busy in this direction ,sources within the UPFA say.

It is learnt that two UNP ers from Colombo list and two from the Dehiwala – Galkissa list are being offered Rs. 25 lakhs each , as well as jobs in Korea are being promised to their close relatives to rope in the UNP candidates into the UPFA.Meanwhile the election campaign of UPFA Mayoral candidate Milinda Moragoda had proved a flop last week. Gotabaya Rajapakse who has incurred the maximum displeasure of a majority of the people in the demolition of common man’s abodes and displacing them being depended upon by Milinda in his election campaign had evoked peels of laughter among all. They say this is the most ridiculous part of Milinda’s campaign, and he has thereby become the butt of a big stupid joke. The UPFA supporters are thoroughly disillusioned with getting Gotabaya into the campaign , for they are of the view that Gotabaya is a well noted ‘gorakaya’ who does not know to talk to people without ever flying into a demonic rage.
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Mahinda Rajapaksa- Let his conscience be his own judge

by Subramanaim Masilamany

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to,the Sri Lanka Guardian)

(September 26, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Sir, you may instigate racism, fanaticism and terrorism to scare your people, but the truth of the matter is Sri Lanka is better off in the hands of Tamils.

In the International Lions club, we frequently use this phrase, “Let your conscience be your own judge” to draw the attention of our members to root their decision in the righteousness of their conscience; for a man of conscience seldom errs.

Do not drag Palestinians into this moral content of

your behaviour. Palestinians can learn one thing

from we Tamils, you do what you can do with what

you have. There are great opportunities for them to

prove to the world that they have something to offer

 to the world.

I am asking Mahinda Rajapaksa that can you account for four direct murders accredited to your account, 5653 number of missing or dead persons under your watch, 40,000 Tamil innocent killed and accounted for, 150,000 people missing and unaccounted for, and killer of Lasantha Wickrematunge not brought to justice and Pregeeth Ehnilgoda not found. When you cannot provide answers to any one of them the moral justice points finger at your complicity. It has to be, or you do not have even a meagrely functional law enforcement and judiciary. Basically you say we have a barbaric culture of right of the might and blood in your hands and flesh in your teeth. You have not even made an attempt to refute the claims.

 Read More

Channel 4 Documentary ‘Sri Lanka’s Killing Fields’ to be screened in Canadian Parliament

Human Rights Watch is screening the Channel 4 documentary “Sri Lanka’s Killing Fields” in Canadian Parliament on Wednesday, September 28, 2011 at 6 p.m. The event will be hosted by Patrick Brown, Member of Parliament for Barrie and will include a discussion with Elaine Pearson, Deputy Asia Director at Human Rights Watch.

First aired on British television in June, “Sri Lanka’s Killing Fields” captures, through live footage and extensive interviews with witnesses, the atrocities committed against civilians during the Sri Lankan Armed Forces’ final campaign to defeat the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in early 2009.

The film was recently screened by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch to wide acclaim at the United Nations in New York and Geneva, and has fueled renewed calls for an international response to these crimes.Courtesy:  TamilCanadianPublished on:     Sep 27, 2011 1:47:34 GMT
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Gota using Shavendra as guinea pig and his case for his own – Mahinda returns hastily when case is filed in NY

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Gota using Shavendra as guinea pig and his case for his own – Mahinda returns hastily when case is filed in NY(Lanka-e-News -26.Sep.2011, 11.50P.M.) Gotabaya Rajapakse is anxiously awaiting the case filed by US district court against SL Deputy High Commissioner to the UN , Shavendra Silva. He is looking forward to using this case to serve his own ends , according to reports reaching Lanka e news.
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Tuesday, September 27, 2011

U.N. review on response in Eelam War IV

COLOMBO, September 27, 2011
Signalling more trouble for Sri Lanka, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has initiated a review of the U.N.'s actions regarding the implementation of its humanitarian and protection mandates during the Eelam War IV and its immediate aftermath.      Full Story>>>