IDP Camps in Sri Lanka Part 1 of 3 by Dr Yolanda Foster Amnesty International

WikiLeaks: Sangha Sabha to discuss ‘Fonseka arrest’ was postponed after the monks received bomb threats

Colombo Telegraph

NOVEMBER 29, 2011 

IN JOURNALISM TRUTH IS A PROCESS

By Colombo Telegraph -

“The Fonseka arrest has led to a rift between the Rajapaksa leadership and four mahanayakas (chief monks) of the largest Buddhist sects. The arrest sparked the monks to raise broader issues of democratic governance and to call a Sangha Sabha (council of clergy) to discuss the situation. But the council was indefinitely postponed after the monks received bomb threats. Government apologists retaliated by promising that 500 temples would be split off from the main Buddhist sects and re-aligned with a lesser-known sect from Rajapaksas’ home region in the south.” the US Embassy Colombo informed Washington.

The council was indefinitely postponed after the monks received bomb threats. Government apologists retaliated by promising that 500 temples would be split off from the main Buddhist sects and re-aligned with a lesser-known sect from Rajapaksas’ home region in the south

A leaked US unclassified diplomatic cable recounts the reaction of the Buddhist monks after the arrest of the opposition presidential candidate Sarath Fonseka followed by the presidential election 2010. The Colombo Telegraph found the cable from WikiLeaks database. The cable was written on February 26, 2010 by the US Ambassador to Colombo Patricia A. Butenis.

“On February 14, Mahanayake of Asgiriya Rev. Udagama Sri Buddharakkitha, Mahanayaka of Malwatte Rev. Thibbotuwawe Sri Sumangala, Mahanayake of Ramanna Nikaya Rev. Weveldeniye Medhalankara, and Mahanayake of Amarapura Nikaya Rev. Divuldena Ganissara in a joint statement said the arrest of Fonseka was unjustified and unacceptable” the Ambassador wrote. Placing a note she said “In the recorded history of over two thousand years of Buddhism in Sri Lanka, there have been very few such councils of monks. A Sangha Sabha was summoned only when the king exceeded his limits, and the monks felt duty-bound to ask for governance.”

US Ambassador wrote “ The mahanayaka of the Malwatta Chapter went further to criticize attacks on journalists and the current state of democracy in the country.” “Statements by the monks criticizing the Fonseka arrest and warning that democracy on the island was at risk reportedly enraged the Rajapaksas. Two days before the Sangha Sabha was to open, Buddhist contacts from the provinces informed us that temples had been told that bombs would be hurled at buses transporting monks to the council. On February 16, the mahanayake of Malwatte announced the assembly had been indefinitely postponed due to security concerns.”

Placing a comment Butenis wrote “Contacts have told us that the monks’ rebellion against the Rajapaksas was unprecedented insofar as monks disregarded their traditional cast differences to come together against what they saw as abuses by the Rajapaksas.”

Read the cable below for further details;

Only Colombo can resolve Tamil problems: Malaysian MPs

-How Ratwatte was killed slowly but surely by the regime

(Lanka-e-News -29.Nov.2011,5.00P.M.) Another powerful senior SLFP stalwart General Anuruddha Ratwatte who was a victim of the MaRa regime’s reprehensible and repugnant condom theory passed away yesterday (27). He was the younger brother of the late Sirmavo Ratwatte Dias Bandaranaike , the first female Prime Minister of Sri Lanka and in the world, and uncle of the former President of Sri Lanka (SL) Chandrika Bandaranaike , world’s first female President. He died at the age of 73 . The regime chief attended the funeral yesterday , just a few moments before the ceremonies began, to ward off mounting criticisms . The Senior SLFP seniors who were present on the occasion began leveling grave criticisms against the regime chief who is a SLFPer himself for his unwelcome and unsavory conduct. ‘ The chief who attended the funeral of UNP er Rupa Karunatileke and spent a lot of time there ; he attended the ‘Bana’ sermons when UNP er Aluvihara died , and stayed for hours on end at that funeral house , but arrived at SLFP Ratwatte’s funeral at the last moment and waited only for a few minutes’, they lamented. More >>

Tamils Call For War Crimes Tribunal

-How Ratwatte was killed slowly but surely by the regime

(Lanka-e-News -29.Nov.2011,5.00P.M.) Another powerful senior SLFP stalwart General Anuruddha Ratwatte who was a victim of the MaRa regime’s reprehensible and repugnant condom theory passed away yesterday (27). He was the younger brother of the late Sirmavo Ratwatte Dias Bandaranaike , the first female Prime Minister of Sri Lanka and in the world, and uncle of the former President of Sri Lanka (SL) Chandrika Bandaranaike , world’s first female President. He died at the age of 73 . The regime chief attended the funeral yesterday , just a few moments before the ceremonies began, to ward off mounting criticisms . The Senior SLFP seniors who were present on the occasion began leveling grave criticisms against the regime chief who is a SLFPer himself for his unwelcome and unsavory conduct. ‘ The chief who attended the funeral of UNP er Rupa Karunatileke and spent a lot of time there ; he attended the ‘Bana’ sermons when UNP er Aluvihara died , and stayed for hours on end at that funeral house , but arrived at SLFP Ratwatte’s funeral at the last moment and waited only for a few minutes’, they lamented. More >>

US/SL tensions won't affect aid projects: Bednar

TUESDAY, 29 NOVEMBER 2011
United States Agency for International Development (USAID) said today that the political tensions between Sri Lanka and the United States Government would not have any bearing on the aid projects in the country.

When questioned whether the tensions between the two countries were taken into consideration in the allocation of aid USAID Sri Lanka and Maldives Mission Director James F. Bednar speaking to the media at USAID’s  50th anniversary celebrations said, “Not really, we are concerned with reconciliation and reinvigorating the country”.

USAID has a number of partnerships with private companies in the country. When questioned whether the recently passed expropriation bill was taken into consideration while operating in the country Mr. Bednar said, “There has been no effect thus far, but I don’t want to speculate on the future. We are interested in making the private sector profitable and having partnerships in all sectors. I don’t wish to comment on the impact this would have on the investment sector”.

From 2010 to 2011 USAID in Sri Lanka has increased its budget from 9.7 million to 14.7 million USD. (Dianne Silva)

Colonel Nagulan killed while in military custody

Monday, 28 November 2011

Sinnathambi Kanapathipillai Shivamurhty alias Colonel Nagulan, who was taken into custody by the military intelligence units during the latter part of 2009 from Trincomalee, has been killed by the military in a secret camp in Minneriya where he was being held, reliable sources told Lanka News Web.

After the LTTE was militarily defeated on May 18, 2009, Colonel Nagulan became the leader of one of the two remaining groups of the organization. A resident of Jaffna, Colonel Nagulan was the Commanding Officer of the Charles Anthony brigade.

The official Defence Ministry website, defence.lk reported 8.6.2007 that Colonel Nagulan who was appointed as the leader of the Batticaloa area after the LTTE lost control of Batticaloa in 2007 was killed during a confrontation with the Sri Lanka Army. The new report stated that an identity card belonging to Colonel Nagulan had been found near the body of a slain LTTE cadre. The report could be read on http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20070608.

The military intelligence units arrested Colonel Nagulan after tracking the signals of his satellite phone following information received by the other leader of the remaining LTTE group, Colonel Ram, who was arrested in 2009.

Colonel Nagulan’s arrest was kept quiet since any media publicity would have proven the Defence Ministry story of his death taking place in 2007 to be false.

The other reason to keep the arrest a secret was the close relationship Colonel Nagulan maintained with the Tamil Diaspora. Many attempts by the military intelligence units to gather information about the Tamil Diaspora from Colonel Nagulan had failed until his murder.

While Colonel Ram has become a puppet of the military, Colonel Nagulan had defied the military and had therefore been tortured for not revealing any information. The military intelligence units after realizing Colonel Nagulan was not going to serve any purpose had then killed him following orders received from a higher office.

Several other former LTTE leaders are held in the secret camp in Minneriya where Colonel Nagulan was held. Colonel Ram has been assigned the task of getting their support for the government. The intelligence unit of the Sri Lanka Army has therefore provided Colonel Ram with all the required facilities and had given him a mobile phone bearing number +94777140637 to keep in touch with the Tamil Diaspora.

All Party Parliamentary Group for Tamils (APPG-T) Statement on Tamil Remembrance Day

I join the thousands of British Tamils who are remembering the death of their loved ones today. Today, 27th of November, is an important day in the British Tamil calendar.

Remembrance events are taking place in various venues in London. I am very mindful of the long wait of the Tamil community's quest for justice - they cannot wait any longer. In the summer this year, our Foreign Minister said that all options remain open for the international community if the Government of Sri Lanka fails to address the accountability issues, cited in the UN special panel report, in a credible manner and in line with internationally acceptable standards... In the coming weeks I will be working with Labour and Liberal Democrat colleagues in Parliament to ensure our Government act on our Foreign Minister's words. Justice will prevail and everybody will be able to live freely in peace and harmony. My thoughts and prayers today are with all Tamils who are mourning the death of their loved ones. I will not rest until justice is done and the perpetrators of war crimes in Sri Lanka are held accountable for their actions.

 

Tamil prisoners on hunger strike

Tamil prisoners on hunger strike

Prisoners say they were stripped naked before taken out and assaulted At least 65 Tamil prisoners in Anuradhapura are on a hunger strike seeking proper protection. The prisoners have launched a protest after being assaulted by the prison officials on Sunday, former Jaffna district parliamentarian MK Sivajilingam told BBC Sandeshaya. Most of the prisoners subjected to assault were disabled during the war, he added. Mr Sivajilingam said jail guards have also destroyed a Hindu Temple built inside the prison with permission. Superintendant of Police (SP) Tusita Uduwara has held discussions with the prisoners but the prisoners demand a guarantee of their by higher authorities that such attacks would not occur in the future. Government response The authorities have prevented a team of lawyers and representatives of We Are Sri Lankans (WASL) organisation from entering the prison, they said. WASL's Udul Premaratne has told media that it was the first time the lawyers were prevented from visiting the prison to look into an incident. Prison Affairs Minister Chandrasiri Gajadheera said the incident has occurred as the authorities conducted a search after receiving information that there were plans to commemorate annual Heroes Day inside the premises. After the search, said the minister, 19 mobile telephones have been confiscated. He rejected the accusation that the prisoners were ordered to strip naked and taken out while it was raining for the search.

Prison officers brutally attack LTTE prisoners while questioning "is n’t today your great Lokka’s (chief’s) commemoration day?’

(Lanka-e-News -28.Nov.2011,11.50P.M.) A group of 35 prison officers of the Anuradhapura prison had arrived at about 2.30 p.m. where the LTTE suspects are held in custody , and mercilessly assaulted the suspects with complete impunity . 

The assailants have suddenly stormed into the wards where the suspects are and attacked yelling out ‘ Is it not today your great Lokka’s (chief) commemoration day’. The victims have also been forced out to the open ground despite the heavy rains. The 65 suspects had then been stripped naked , made to kneel down and brutally assaulted.

After assaulting the suspects for about half an hour in the rain, they have been taken them back to the wards and locked up. These officers have also set fire to the clothes and belongings of the victims . A majority of the prison officers had been under the influence of liquor when they were behaving most barbarically and ruthlessly .
Officers of other prisons who were bitterly resentful against this unlawful and uncivilized conduct had passed the information to ‘We are Sri Lankans’ Organization . Udul Premaratne of ‘We are Sri Lankans’ organization stated that his Organization and a team of Lawyers are scheduled to visit Anuradhapura prison to meet the prisoners who suffered from the attack .

The much hyped Expressway ‘miracle’ claims its first victims

(Lanka-e-News -28.Nov.2011,11.50P.M.) The much hyped Expressway dubbed as ‘Miraculous Gateway’ which was inaugurated yesterday (27) , and called as the best express Highway ,claimed its first victims this morning at about 7.15 when two persons sustained injuries owing to an accident on the expressway. According to the police there is a bend at the inappropriate place on the expressway. A number of drivers using the expressway told Lanka e news , as there were no lights on the expressway , which coupled with the glare of the lights of the oncoming vehicles and the rains ,aggravated their difficulties manifold when driving at high speed.

This expressway was inaugurated by President Rajapakse yesterday (27) with immense pomp and fanfare . By 4.00 p.m. yesterday , 4000 vehicles had traveled down the expressway bringing in a revenue of Rs. 10 lakhs, the Highway development Authority revealed.