Ramanisblog

Tag: Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission

  • The LLRC Lie by Rajapakshe Sri Lanka Facts

    The Rajapakshe government has been running for cover over Human Rights abuses.

    Rajapaskhe, Killer of The Tamils
    Mahinda Rjapakshe,President of Sri Lanka.

    Now they have come out with a strategy that od repeating untruths tirelessly and make it Truth.

    On the second front they have Muttiah Muralitharan  talk that there were no killings in Sri Lanka nor were did the people disappear, David Cameron was misled( I have a post on this), with Video Clipping.

    Rajapakshe brazenly stated in the CHOGM Press conference that there were no Human Rights violations during the civil war and the Human Rights violations might have existed in the past, hunting LTTE‘ pathological killing spree.

    He also added that the LLRC is functioning well and its recommendations are being implemented vigorously.

    The facts.

    ‘Sri Lanka has achieved considerable progress in implementing the recommendations made by the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) and ready to defend its record at the next session in Geneva, Foreign Secretary Karunathilaka Amunugama said.”

    Resettlement Centers or Gulags?

    “Why can’t the Army go to the jungles instead of taking our lands and sending us to jungles?”

    “When will we be allowed to re-start cultivation of our lands?”

    “When can we have access to the sea we were fishing before and will we get back the boats and fishing equipment we left behind in our village when we were displaced?”

    “Why is there a check point at the entrance to this place?

    “Why are there soldiers and intelligence officers all around us, why can’t we still have the freedom other people in this county have?”

    “Why are visitors not allowed to come and freely talk to us and take photos?”

    “Why have we been sent to another camp? What is different here from Menik Farm?”

    “Why didn’t the authorities clean up the jungles before they sent us here?”

    “When can we have a Kovil and Church?”

    These were some of the questions that people who had fallen victim to the Sri Lankan Government’s latest resettlement program asked us when we visited them last Sunday 30th September 2012.

    The bitter end to Manic Farm

    Throughout August and September 2012, people from Puthukudiyiruppu and Maritimepattu Divisions in the Mullativu district, who had been living in Menik Farm were dumped in schools and roadsides to find their own way home[1]. “Home” was mainly shrub jungles, open air spaces under trees and destroyed houses with doors, windows, roofing, toilet equipment etc. looted. Some had to seek shelter in churches and schools, as their “home” was simply not habitable. Another group we met had been compelled to stay in a small church as the Army was occupying their land[2]. Clearly, the government which had waited for more than three years to send these people home, were now in a might hurry to send them home, without even clearing up jungles.

    As news spread of imminent closure of Menik Farm at any cost, people in the Keppapilavu became apprehensive as they had heard that their lands were occupied by the Army and Air Force and they would not be allowed to go back to their own lands. On 20th Sept., about 55 families (exact number was not clear) from Manic Farm were taken to Vattrappalai school and brought to a jungle area in Seeniyamottai on 21st Sept. Amidst this uncertainty of going back home, several residents of Keppapilavu staged a protest in front of the Mullativu Government Agent’s office on 22nd Sept. There were reports of intimidation and attacks on vehicles of some politicians who attended this event[3]. Several IDPs in Manic Farm had also told that they were prevented from going for the protest.  Those who did attend the protest sent out a public appeal asking to be allowed to go back home to their own lands[4]…

    http://groundviews.org/2013/01/30/implementing-llrc-recommendations-in-sri-lanka-progress/

    This is jus a sample.

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  • Sri Lankan Tamils Lives Returned To Normalcy?

    Update.04/07.2013.

    As  I wrote the original Post,I could not get adequate first hand report(reliable) on the rebuilding efforts in Sri Lanka, Post Civil War and LTTE.

    Today I came across an article in the Guardian, which states that the Rebuilding efforts are normal and raises questions over  the 13 th Amendment and the size of the Defence Foeces to be maintained in the Tamil Areas.

    Ifeel that this might take time because one hs to take into account the tragedy suffered by the Sri Lankans as well.

    Surprising, or is it intentional that no report of this nature is picked up by The Tamil Media and even on the internet one has to hunt for this information!

    Reconstruction

    A recent visit to Colombo and Jaffna enabled this writer to hear a range of voices and also see the reconstruction activities that have been undertaken by the Sri Lankan authorities in the latter city and area. The resettlement work and the reconstruction of physical infrastructure in the four years that have passed since the LTTE’s defeat have been good. While there is a civilian administration in place, the Governor is a retired army officer and this is a ground for complaint. It is true that Colombo would have had little option but to rely on the army in the immediate aftermath of the conflict for resettlement and development work. However, popular sentiment would now be addressed by reducing the army’s salience. The acquisition of land for the expansion of defence facilities is a major ground for complaint.
    One of the most contentious issues relates to the size of the defence force to be stationed in the Northern Province. Almost all sections of Tamil opinion are convinced that if the defence forces are placed in large numbers in extensive military facilities, their sole objective would be to coerce the Tamil population. The basis of this belief is that the threat of violent separatism has disappeared with the defeat of the LTTE. The Rajapaksa view, endorsed by many Sinhalese, is that this is not so. It strongly holds that the ambition of a separate Tamil state is widespread, especially in the influential Tamil diaspora. The diaspora is currently focused more on putting pressure on Colombo on human rights issues. However, in future it can promote violent activities and an empowered province in the north may provide them with a base.
    There is no easy resolution of these two fundamentally contradictory visions. In the 21st century, terrorist violence is an issue but the security of plural and multi-ethnic states is best guaranteed in satisfactorily addressing the reasonable aspirations of ethnic and religious minorities including their quest for identity, justice, democracy and development. On their part, minorities must shun violent approaches and understand the concerns of the majority communities. Historical memory, ancient grievances and the dubious lessons of battles lost and won in centuries past cannot guide leaders, particularly those who control the destinies of peoples and countries in this digital age.
    13th Amendment
    The 13th Amendment is the cornerstone of the position of the overwhelming majority of the Tamil political class. It has already been diluted by the decision of the Court regarding the inadmissibility of the merger of the Northern and the Eastern provinces. Any further weakening of the Amendment is unacceptable to them. The Indian position too is to support the implementation of the Amendment. Recently, the Union Minister for External Affairs, Salman Khurshid, urged his Sri Lankan counterpart that elections for the Northern Provincial Council need to be held within the time frame announced by President Rajapaksa and under the present provisions of the Constitution. While India is firmly committed to the territorial integrity of Sri Lanka, the entire country shares the concern expressed in Tamil Nadu for the rights and welfare of Sri Lanka’s Tamil community. Will President Rajapaksa take these views into account and if he does not, what can and will India do? The communication channels which have worked successfully to diffuse situations in the past now need to operate urgently.
    (Vivek Katju is a former Indian Ambassador to Afghanistan.)
    Source:

    I have been posting articles on the repression of the Tamils in Sri Lanka,The Genocide and lack of progress in the resettlement of the Tamils in Sri Lanka, post the civil war and LTEE era.

    Sri Lankan Tamils
    Displaced in Sri Lanka

    I still hold the same views on the culpability of the Rajapakshe Government in the massacre of the Tamils in Sri Lanka.

    Regarding developmental activities in Sri Lanka post Civil War, as I mentioned in my earlier posts, there is scant and vague information in the internet,

    The tales of atrocities continue.

    However, normally very credible Thuglak, a Tamil Fortnightly, run by Mr, Cho Ramaswamy, Satirist and Political Commentator, has been running a series of articles being reported by its Reporter, SJ Idhaya, who has visited Sri Lanka, which states that war normalcy has returned ,people are going about their normal activities and are relieved to be rid of the LTTE Threat.

    Excerpts.

    Killinochi,Pudukkudiruppu,Mullaiththeevu and Vavuniya have returned to normalcy.

    People used to dig holes in the houses, hide children to save them from being recruited by The LTTE.

    The women who were interviewed had admitted that they have joined the Sri LankanArmy and that there has been no force.

    The people are not threatened nor are they being mistreated by the Army.

    The reporter confirms that those interviewed were those who had no time to prepare their replies and most of the time the interviews were impromptu.

    The reporter affirms that the demand for Tamil Elam is the making of the Tamil Politicians for their vote-bank.

    For more on this read the Thuglak dtd 26 June 2013.

    I am providing a Link for Mr.Cho’s views on the subject.

    ‘I doubt these people realise that the US resolution does not condemn Sri Lanka as such. The resolution says that recommendations of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Com-mission (LLRC) appointed by Colombo, which was something like the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission, should be implemented. The US resolution also insists that there must be a settlement of the Tamil problem. I cannot understand what the champions of the Eelam cause see in it.”

    http://dbsjeyaraj.com/dbsj/archives/4795

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  • UNHRC Genocide Resolution Let Off Rajspakshe Swamy

    The much talked about Resolution by The UNHRC is, as anticipated, attracting lot of sound bites.

    A sane Group calls for India to vote for it censuring Sri Lanka , while another motley group including Salman Khurshid who hums and haws(probably the after effects of his NGO scam!), who cite India’s security concerns.

    Surprising fact is that Dr.Subramanian Swamyhas joined the motley group that wants the Resolution to be voted against.

    Swamy, at his initiative best’ met Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Robert Blake and impressed on him that the Resolution would help the revival of the LTTE and asked the Obama Administration to undertake bilateral consultations with Colombo to work out a consensus on the draft of the alleged human rights violations in Sri Lanka proposed to be tabled in UNHRC in Geneva.

    ‘India’s Janatha Party leader was apprising the media of his talks with Washington officials.

    Tamil Genocide 2009
    Tamil Genocide 2009

    “Under no circumstances the resolution has any indication that President Rajapaksa and others are guilty of war crimes. Whatever has to be done has to be done by the Government of Sri Lanka and not by international agencies. The demand for international agencies essentially comes from supporters of LTTE’.

    1.How does an enquiry would revive  LTTE?

    As I understand, so do most  about the Killing ways of the LTTE and it is its lust for blood had weakened the case of the Sri Lankan Tamils.

    2.How come the bilateral talks would not spur the activities of LTTE, if a motion could reawaken it?

    Read this observation of Sri Lankan analysis of the Resolution.

    ”

    The US sponsored resolution on issues related to Sri Lanka has now been taken up by the United Nations Human Rights Commission for discussion. Shenali Waduge reviews that the UNHRC Resolution against Sri Lanka is nothing about “accountability” “pace of implementation” or any of the gibberish international statements claims to project.

    If so, despite resolutions against Israel on “accountability” the UNHRC has done nothing against Israel. Instead Israel has broken ties with UNHRC completely. If every nation in the UN has equal status, or rather is supposed to have equal status, what’s all this bullying with regard to Sri Lanka?

     

    India, the US and many other nations joined government backed INGOs/NGOs, think tanks like International Crisis Group, human rights organisations like Amnesty International, and their local mouthpieces concluding that Sri Lanka faced an unwinnable war. Their solution was nothing better than the separation of Sri Lanka along the lines of Kosovo and now with the Liberation of Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) eliminated it is the 13th amendment being used en route to the eventual separation of Sri Lanka .

    The Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution outlaws slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime. It was passed by the Senate on April 8, 1864, by the House on Jan 31, 1865, and adopted on Dec 6, 1865. The Thirteenth Amendment completed the abolition of slavery in the United States, which had begun with President Abraham Lincoln issuing the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863. This resolution will be discussed on March 4, 2013.”

    3.If the Resolution does not, in one para the Sri Lankan states that this is gibberish and has nothing to censure’ why Does Sri Lanka oppose it?

    4.He states as no action against Israel has been taken after a motion,why pass a Resolution against Sri Lanka?

    He adds that all states ‘must be treated equally’?

    Swamy’s argument that support of the Resolution would spur LTTE activities is like stating that hanging of terrorists and jailing of rapists would spur terrorists and Rapists!

    The Text of The UNHRC Resolution on Sri Lanka.

    ”

    Promoting reconciliation and accountability in Sri Lanka

           The Human Rights Council,

           Guided by the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenants on Human Rights and other relevant instruments,

          Recalling Council resolutions 5/1 and 5/2 on institution building of the Human Rights Council,  

    Reaffirming that States must ensure that any measure taken to combat terrorism complies with their obligations under international law, in particular international human rights, refugee and humanitarian law, as applicable,

           Taking note of the report of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission of Sri Lanka and its findings and recommendations, and acknowledging its possible contribution to the process of national reconciliation in Sri Lanka,

           Welcoming the constructive recommendations contained in the Commission’s report, including the need to credibly investigate widespread allegations of extra-judicial killings and enforced disappearances, demilitarize the north of Sri Lanka, implement impartial land dispute resolution mechanisms, re-evaluate detention policies, strengthen formerly independent civil institutions, reach a political settlement on the devolution of power to the provinces, promote and protect the right of freedom of expression for all and enact rule of law reforms,

           Noting with concern that the report does not adequately address serious allegations of violations of international law,

    1.             Calls upon the Government of Sri Lanka to implement the constructive recommendations made in the report of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission and to take all necessary additional steps to fulfill its relevant legal obligations and commitment to initiate credible and independent actions to ensure justice, equity, accountability and reconciliation for all Sri Lankans;

    2.             Requests the Government of Sri Lanka to present, as expeditiously as possible, a comprehensive action plan detailing the steps that the Government has taken and will take to implement the recommendations made in the Commission’s report, and also to address alleged violations of international law;

    3.             Encourages the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and relevant special procedures mandate holders to provide, in consultation with, and with the concurrence of, the Government of Sri Lanka, advice and technical assistance on implementing the above-mentioned steps; and requests the Office of the High Commissioner to present a report on the provision of such assistance to the Human Rights Council at its twenty-second session.”

    Dr.Swamy in his maniacal aversion to Karunaidhi, must avoid echoing Sri Lanka’s senseless arguments.

    In this process every on e seems to forget the issue of Tamil Genocide.

    http://www.asiantribune.com/node/61912

    http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/opinion/2013/03/04/un-resolution-on-rajapakses-war-crimes/

    http://geneva.usmission.gov/2012/03/22/sri-lanka-resolution/

     

  • UNHRC Passed Resolution on Genocide of Tamils.Win for Sri Lanka.

    killing of Tamil's by Sri Lanka Army
    massacre of the Tamils

    The Resolution moved by the US apparently censuring the Sri Lankan Government by has been passed by 24 for,15 against with eight absentions( 47 members).

    India joined the countries in voting against Sri Lanka and immediately mollified Sri Lanka.

    “Soon after the voting, the Indian foreign ministry put out a detailed note which placed its contentious decision in perspective.

    The ministry stressed that ‘resolutions of this nature should fully respect the sovereign rights of states and contribute to Sri Lanka’s own efforts in this regard’. It pointed out that with thousands of years of cordial relations and deep rooted spiritual and cultural ties, India can’t cannot remain untouched by developments in the neighbouring country.

    ‘We will continue to remain engaged with Sri Lanka to take forward the process of reconciliation to secure for all its citizens a future marked by equality, dignity, justice and self-respect,’ the ministry said in New Delhi. Reminding Colombo to implement the recommendations of Sri Lanka’s Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) report, India said ‘there is a window of opportunity to forge a consensual way forward towards reconciliation through a political settlement respecting all ethnic and religious groups inhabiting the nation’.

    India stressed that the LLRC report recognises that ‘a political solution is imperative and that the government of Sri Lanka should provide the leadership to this political process’.

    http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.aspx?cp-documentid=5946614#page=2

    What are the implications?

    ” The fifth and final paragraph of the preamble of the US Resolution, immediately preceding its operative clauses, reads: “Noting with concern that the LLRC report does not adequately address serious allegations of violations of international law…”

    It is to be noted that this provides an alibi for the  Sri Lankan Government to question the other observations of the LLRC Report and may even shelve thr Report quoting this proviso!

    “(1). Calls on the Government of Sri Lanka to implement the constructive recommendations in the LLRC report and take all necessary additional steps to fulfill its relevant legal obligations and commitment to initiate credible and independent actions to ensure justice, equity, accountability and reconciliation for all Sri Lankans,

    (2) Requests that the Government of Sri Lanka present a comprehensive action plan as expeditiously as possible detailing the steps the Government has taken and will take to implement the LLRC recommendations and also to address alleged violations of international law.

    This tantamount to the perpetrators to rectify /address issues created by them.
    how illogical can one be? 

    ‘and also violations of International Law’-this gives room for Sri Lanka to drag LTTE into the picture and muddy the water further.

    “(3) “Encourages the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and relevant special procedures to provide, and the Government of Sri Lanka to accept, advice and technical assistance on implementing those steps and requests the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to present a report to the Council on the provision of such assistance at its twenty-second session.”

    That is to say the Government of Sri Lanka shall advise(supposed to accept and advice UNHRC Commissioner at the same time -how contradictory?) shall use the UNHRC High Commissioner  as an Agent of the Government of Sri Lanka.

    Instead of UNHRC dictating terms , it will be the Sri Lankan Government that shall dictate the UNHRC.

    I often hear my elder brother  say ‘if you have to scold some one, scold them in such a way that it does not hurt them’

    My reply ‘then what is the purpose of scolding?

    What a Farce of Censuring?

    http://groundviews.org/2012/03/16/the-big-lie-about-the-us-resolution/

    It is really strange that SrI Lankans do not  seem to realize the enormity of the Genocide and this can be seen from the Petition organised by the Sri Lankan Youth(?)

    “The United States draft resolution (A/HRC/19/L.2) on Sri Lanka was tabled at the 19th session of the UN Human Rights Councilin Geneva on 8 March 2012.This resolution, is being brought up to address the alleged “war crimes” supposed to have occurred during the humanitarian mission to save innocent civilians from the terror of the inhumane terrorist organization calling itself the “Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)”.

    The resolution;

    1. Calls upon the Government of Sri Lanka to implement the constructive Recommendations made in the report of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission and to take all necessary additional steps to fulfil its relevant legal obligations and commitment to initiate credible and independent actions to ensure justice, equity, accountability and reconciliation for all Sri Lankans;

    2. Requests the Government of Sri Lanka to present, as expeditiously as possible, a comprehensive action plan detailing the steps that the Government has taken and will take to implement the recommendations made in the Commission’s report, and also to address alleged violations of international law;

    3. Encourages the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and relevant special procedures mandate holders to provide, and the Government of Sri Lanka to accept, advice and technical assistance on implementing the above-mentioned steps, and requests the Office of the High Commissioner to present a report on the provision of such assistance to the Human Rights Council at its twenty-second session.

    The passing of this resolution will have the effect of;

    1) Breaching Article 2(7) of the Charter of the United Nations which states “Nothing contained in the present Charter shall authorize the United Nations to intervene in matters which are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of any state”

    2)Completely jeopardizing the core concepts of International Law and breaching Article 2(1) of the Charter of the United Nations, which ensure the sovereign equality of all its Members, since no such resolution has been brought up against the US (sponsor of the current resolution) for allegations of Human Rights Violations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

    3) Violating the sovereignty and integrity of Sri Lanka.

    4) Hindering the effort of the Sri Lankan government in its reconciliation efforts to ensure equality among all races and the post war development process.

    5) Taxing the resources of the United Nations since the government of Sri Lanka has already made substantial progress in implementing the recommendations of the LLRC report which makes it unnecessary for a process as recommended.

    Petition:
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