In Sri Lanka 13,130 Missing IDPs

In Sri Lanka 13,130 Missing IDPs Reported But Downplayed By UN, Journalist Beaten - Inner City Press

By: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at the UN: News Analysis UNITED NATIONS, June 2 -- With the UN already under fire for withholding and downplaying the number of civilian casualties in Sri Lanka, another ongoing controversy has opened up concerning the number of internally displaced persons detained in the IDP camps in northern Sri Lanka. Between the May 27 and May 30 reports of the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, over 13,000 IDPs simply disappeared from the camps.    OCHA's May 30 report states that "276,785 persons crossed to the Government controlled areas from the conflict zone. This represents a decrease of 13,130 IDPs since the last report (Sitrep No.18) on 27 May 2009. The decrease is associated with double counting. Additional verification is required." But earlier, OCHA had praised the "improved, systematic registration being undertaken in the camps." UN sources in Colombo tell Inner City Press that senior UN officials above them, Sri Lankan nationals who are Sinhalese, are downplaying the 13,000 "missing" IDPs, which would otherwise be of much concern given the reports of disappearances from the camps, the seizing of teenage males for detention and females for other purposes, UK Channel 4 asserted with on camera interviews. These UN sources are surprised, since even Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is under fire for downplaying what has happened to the Tamils, that the UN would be so seemingly cavalier about 13,000 "missing" persons from almost entirely Tamil interment camps. Meanwhile, in further fall out, journalist Poddala Jayantha, secretary of the Sri Lanka Working Journalists' Association, was kidnapped near his home and severely beaten with sticks before being dumped in a suburb of Colombo. The government had accused him of being too sympathetic to the Tamil Tiger -- or just to the Tamils. The UN, too, has its different way of trying to crack down on journalists. http://www.innercitypress.com/untrip3may3srilanka060209.html

Answer for the basic rights

Waterless villagers ask water – Gota answers with assault and bullets –over hundreds injured 1 dead

(Lanka-e-News-01.July.2013, 6.00PM) Even as defense secretary Gotabaya Rajapakse was having discussions with the representatives of Rathupaswala protestors, this criminal defense secretary Gotabaya Rajapakse had acted most criminally by sending his paramilitary armed group to ruthlessly shoot and attack the people staging a peaceful protest with clubs , whereby one youth died , while 40 others were hospitalized , according to reports reaching Lanka e news . The youth had later succumbed to his gunshot injuries. The protestors were so cruelly attacked simply because they were demanding drinking water during the last several days since they cannot drink the acid polluted water that they were being supplied with .These poor thirsty protestors had been on the streets for several days to get this demand fulfilled . Gotabaya had summoned a group of representatives to meet him today at 2.30 p.m. to hold discussions. Despite this invitation and after the representatives have gone to meet him , the murderous paramilitary group of Gota and some others in civil and military uniform had been sent by him to the venue of the protestors ,blocked the road and brutally assaulted them with rods and clubs while also shooting at the protesting crowd . An officer of Gota who got on to the roof of a jeep had announced that if the crowds do not disperse within 5 minutes they shall be attacked. This Gota’s military low breed stray dog had also told the media not to videotape or take photos of the scene. The protestors have then pleaded ‘ Aney Sir , don’t do that , we are only asking for drinking water . We are faced with a huge problem without water for drinking’. These trigger happy Gota’s groups have ignored their pleas and have started attacking them ,tear gassing and shooting whereupon the protestors have started running helter skelter . Though the defense divisions say only rubber bullets were used , it has been confirmed following the death of the youth that he had succumbed to actual and lethal gunshot injuries. Moreover , many of those who sustained injuries are also victims of gunshots . About 5000 women and small children have panicked and run looking for places to hide. Gota’s ‘hunting low breed dogs’ had searched for them and continued to attack. 40 protestors who fell victims to the attack are admitted to the Gampaha hospital. A Lankadeepa journalist Ms. Deepa Adhikari had also been attacked , and she had been trapped in the melee unable to be taken to hospital based on Lankadeepa reports. . Four other journalists also were attacked. It is because of the environmental pollution created by the toxic wastes escaping from the Vinigross Industry belonging to Kulappuarachige Don Dhammika Perera , a government strongman , the source providing water to 10 divisions of the district had been contaminated , and rendered unfit for consumption which necessitated the residents to stage these protests. In these circumstances , any humane and democratic ruler would have deemed it his duty to do everything to quench the thirst of his subjects , at least by supplying this life sustaining commodity to the thirsty people with the use of Bowzers.. In Sri Lanka however , ruled by a group of lawless brutes and shameless beasts (who would even walk nude like the beasts if that will only contribute to their cruel power augmentation) , this humble human request of its thirsty people for life giving water has been rejected with all the disdainful and atrocious treatment , which no civilized reign would have ever meted out let alone imagined. Of course , the ‘cannibals and animals’ of Rajapakses succeeded in instilling fear into the suffering masses as always. Like during the days of Hitler , people were so alarmed and unsettled in the night that they feared even to take calls on their mobile phones. These Medamulana village crocodiles that shed tears for Uganda and funded its water supply project by releasing Sri Lankan people’s funds (not Medamulana’s personal funds) amounting to Rs. 20,000 million with liberality , deemed it fit to attack and kill its own people when they demanded pure water for drinking which had been contaminated by toxic wastes from the Industry of its closest crony businessman . It is a cruel irony that when the new army commander Daya Ratnayake was taking up his new post today , this brutality was unleashed by the armed forces ( no matter the higher up who gave this order ) on the innocent people who staged a peaceful protest based on most justifiable grounds. Does this augur well for his forces and himself when it augurs ill for the innocent citizens? A little soul searching by the army commnader will do a great deal of good to all. An international inquiry shall be conducted into this uncivilized and cruelty motivated actions .

Land grabbing in Sri lanka

Mysterious company with Chinese connections gets Maradana land

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Controversial state-owned Colombo land deals for mega projects are continuing with lesser known developers grabbing the contracts, opposition parliamentarians alleged.

UNP MP and Economist, Dr. Harsha de Silva revealed in parliament on Thursday details of a recent government decision to lease a valuable 29-acre property in Maradana belonging to the Railway Department to Chelina NEB Lanka (Pvt.) Ltd, a company with onlythree shareholders and a share capital of Rs. 30.

How can such a company develop this land worth over Rs.4.7 billion?” he questioned in parliament.

One of the directors of the company is Lolitha Abeysinghe who has high political connections, DNA MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake informed parliament.

Dr. De Silva noted that the value of the total investment for the first phase of development of the property amounted to US$ 1.3 billion. “How can such large investments happen without anyone knowing about it?” he asked.

According to the Cabinet Memorandum 13/0949/561/011, the land owned by the Railway Department is being handed over to the Chelina NEB Lanka on lease.

Chelina NEB is to commence the special project development and financial centre with assistance from Dubai’s national engineering bureau and China’s Syno Hydro Corporation Ltd, officials said.

The feasibility study has been carried out by PriceWaterhouse Coopers in 2010 and the Railway has already given its consent to hand over the land making way for a financial centre in the area, Investment Promotion Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena disclosed.
The project envisages the construction of 490 service apartments, 350 high end hotel rooms and 400 standard hotel rooms.

The cabinet has also been made aware that an office complex and a business centre would also be set up under the project.

The project proposal revealed that an investment of US$ 350 million would be made in the country within a 2-year period.

Sri Lanka not to abolish 13th Amendment completely

Wed, Jul 31, 2013, 07:45 pm SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.

July 31, Colombo: A Sri Lankan government Minister says the 13th Amendment 

to the Constitution would not be completely abolished but will be changed to

make it more meaningful.

Government Spokesperson, 
Median and Information Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said the 13th Amendment would not be completely abolished since the provincial council system is part of the country's society.
The Minister at an event in Kandy said the government will however proceed with the changes to the 13th Amendment.
"The 13th Amendment and provincial councils system were introduced to solve the conflict in the north, but that never happened," he said.
While observing that the 13th Amendment was forced on Sri Lanka by India through the Indo-Lanka Accord in 1987, Rambukwella said some changes have been made to the 13th Amendment in order to make it more meaningful.
India has meanwhile reiterated that it firmly supports the 13th Amendment to the Sri Lankan Constitution and there should be no dilution or abolition to the amendment.

UNHRC commissioner expected to see Sri Lanka's reconciliation process

Sun, Jul 28, 2013, 11:10 pm SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
July 28, Colombo: Sri Lanka expects the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navanetham Pillay to obtain a proper understanding of Sri Lanka's reconciliation process after her scheduled visit to Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka's Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva Ravinatha Aryasinha has said that Sri Lanka has directed proper development moves without any discrimination to any ethnic or religious groups and the High Commissioner will see firsthand the post-war progress in the country.
Ms. Pillay, who is strongly critical of Sri Lankan government's human rights record and constantly calls for an international investigation into alleged war crimes, is scheduled to visit Sri Lanka from August 25 - 31to observe the progress in implementation of Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission recommendations.

Following her scheduled visit to Sri Lanka, Ms. Pillay will submit her report on Sri Lanka to the 24th Session of the UNHRC to be held from September 9-27 in Geneva.

Protests against India as Sri Lanka completes 26 years after 13th Amendment

Mon, Jul 29, 2013, 07:46 pm SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
July 29, Colombo: As Sri Lanka completed 26 years after the 13th Amendment was introduced to the country's Constitution under the 1987 Indo-Lanka Accord paving the way for power devolution, the nationalist organizations held protests against India today in Colombo and Kandy.
A protest demonstration was held in front of the Indian High Commission of Colombo today in protest of India's role in introducing and promoting power devolution as a solution for the ethnic problem of the island.
The Collective of National Organizations has organized the protest.
Heavy traffic congestion was reported in Galle Road today as the protesters blocked the road in front of the Indian High Commission.
Meanwhile, another religious observation is now being held at the Temple of Tooth in Kandy invoking blessings for the abolition of the 13th Amendment.
All Lanka Buddhist Federation and Kandy Buddhist Organizations Collective have organized the event.
India meanwhile reiterated that it firmly supports the 13th Amendment to the Sri Lankan Constitution and there should be no dilution or abolition.

Government has deliberately failed to implement the LLRC recommendations

Major Tamil party of Sri Lanka rejects Presidential Commission to probe war disappearances 
Mon, Jul 29, 2013, 09:06 pm SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
July 29, Colombo: Sri Lanka's major Tamil political party, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) says it will not accept the proposed Presidential Commission to probe the disappeared during the period of the war.
TNA parliamentarian Suresh Premachandran said that neither the TNA nor the Tamils would accept any commission or any reports on disappearances unless an impartial group of members are appointed to the commission.
He explained that the Tamil people needed to know the members of the commission since the likelihood was that the government would appoint either military officers or political henchmen who can be controlled by the President.
He also queried as to why the urgency to appoint such a commission since the government had not shown any interest in implementing the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) recommendations for the past two years.
According to Premachandran, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navanetham Pillay is to visit Sri Lanka shortly and the Commonwealth Head of States are due to come to Sri Lanka in November.
"Since the government has deliberately failed to implement the LLRC recommendations over the past three years, they are now appointing commissions after commissions to show the world that they are implementing LLRC recommendations. Although the government can fool some, they cannot fool the Tamils or the International community," Premachandran said.