REFUGEES:A Sad lot of men, women & children, holed up inside a detention centre in the W.African state of Togo, with no money & nowhere to go.!!

www.sundaytimes.lk

Dumped in Togo with promises to sail to Canada

Lankans who paid Rs. 500,000 each for voyage duped by handlers, now face deportation by African authorities

By Leon Berenger

This is a sad lot of men, women and children, holed up inside a detention centre in the West African state of Togo, with no money and nowhere to go after they were duped and dumped with the familiar false promise of a passage to Canada.

This has been the plight of the group of Sri Lankans, mainly from the East for the past one month and some of them have contracted yellow fever that is fast spreading throughout that country and the region.
In this case of human trafficking, around 250 Sri Lankans were flown out in separate batches from Colombo and grouped together at five safe houses in Togo with the agents promising them an early departure for Canada across the Atlantic. Each paid an exorbitant sum to their agent.


But this was not to be, because one morning the Lankans found they were surrounded by police and immigration officials and later whisked off to detention centres where they now face charges for overstaying their visas.

Visitors are provided with a visa valid for one week on arrival in Togo. The human traffickers had made use of this facility to bring the Lankans over there giving them an assurance that they would be sent to a Canada via ship. But this was not to be. As their plight aggravated, the international humanitarian groups stepped in.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) assisted by the Canadian authorities have stepped into assist the Sri Lankans, but they have been urged to head back to Sri Lanka since nothing can be done, a senior official with External Affairs Ministry told the Sunday Times.

Since then, 37 of them have returned to Sri Lanka in separate batches to their homes in Batticaloa district but many are refusing to get back demanding justice as they have no money with them too.
Initial investigations revealed that each person had paid about Rs. 500,000 to the agent for the trip with the same fee being charged for the minors, of whom there were around 10 in the group, the official said.
He added that if the group continued to agitate and stayed on in Togo then the local authorities there will have no option but to deport them.

“Many of them have even destroyed their travel documents but still alternative papers could be made for their journey back,” the official added. One of the recent returnees, Nallathamby Vimalaraj, 37, a father of two from Chenkaladi in Batticaloa told the Sunday Times they flew out from Colombo on Septemeber 28.
“There were five people in the group. Our handler gave us our passports, tickets and other documents before we entered the airport. We were told that we would land at Togo on a tourist visa and flown from there to Canada,

“When we arrived at the Togo airport, a Togolese person and a Sri Lankan welcomed us and took possession of our passports. Later the Lankan left assuring us that the other man would look after matters and there was nothing to worry.

“However, there was much to worry in the following days and we soon found out that we were not alone, as there was another group of nearly 200 plus Sri Lankans and many of them had been there for several months, waiting to go to Canada.

“The conditions in the safe house were appalling with limited sanitary facilities and one meal a day. Many were suffering from malaria, too. There was no sign of the passage to Canada although by now we were told it would be by ship.

“The handlers told us that they had to collect more passengers since the ship had been chartered to carry an estimated 1,000 persons so we would have to wait till this target was met.“The weather changed from icy cold temperatures to sweltering heat but there were no facilities to adjust accordingly and therefore we had to suffer in silence.

The worst hit were the children including a 10-month-old toddler that was down with diarrhoea. “Shortly after that we were rounded up by the authorities and taken to an abandoned army camp where we stayed until arrangements were made for the return trip to Sri Lanka,” Mr. Nallathamby said.

(Additional reporting by Deva Athiran)

SUNDAYTIMES.LK
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The European Parliament has decided to push for a UN commission of inquiry into the crimes committed in Sri Lanka during the war.!!!

EU to push for UN probe

The European Parliament has decided to push for a UN commission of inquiry into the crimes committed in Sri Lanka during the war.

A resolution agreed upon by the European Parliament this week on its position at the next UN Human Rights Council session includes its stand on Sri Lanka.

On Sri Lanka, the European Parliament said it will stress on the need to further support efforts to strengthen the accountability process in Sri Lanka and continue to call for the establishment of a UN commission of inquiry into all crimes committed, as recommended by the UN Secretary General’s Panel of Experts on Sri Lanka.

The EU will also invite the Sri Lankan Government to send an invitation to the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression.

The UN Human Rights Council will convene in Geneva at the end of this month. The US has already said it will support a resolution on Sri Lanka. (ER)

THESUNDAYLEADER.LK

So why do they not implement the US-Senate Recommendation & Revoke US citizenships ? Instead of doing just that, without any shame...!!!

Mr. Blake Do You Want Mercenaries Or To Twist The Arms Of US Citizens?

By Uvindu Kurukulasuriya


Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, Basil Rajapaksa, Sarath Fonseka and Robert O. Blake

Blake is in Sri Lanka again. This time with US Under Secretary of State Maria Otero. Are they in Sri Lanka to inform the Rajapaksa brothers that their US citizenship was revoked or to ask for mercenaries to fight the Afghan war?
I am curious, because one can see the US hypocrisy regarding war crimes accountability issues through their own reports. If you read leaked US diplomatic cables together with other US official documents related to Sri Lanka you can clearly see that the US is changing their policy towards Sri Lanka from time to time. For instance from November 2 to 8, 2009, Senate Foreign Relations staff members Nilmini Gunaratne Rubin and Fatema Sumar visited Sri Lanka and held meetings with senior government officials, international organisations, political leaders, civil-society activists and journalists to discuss post war reconciliation, resettlement of internally displaced persons (IDPs), the humanitarian situation and media freedom. They also visited the South, East and the IDP camp at Manik Farm. Once they left the country the US Ambassador to Colombo Patricia A. Butenis wrote; “The StaffDel noted in their out brief with the Ambassador that the current SL environment was post-war and not post-conflict, with reconciliation still a challenging issue. They found ground reality in Sri Lanka “more nuanced” and “more complicated” than expected. They recommended that the U.S. think strategically and long-term and take a holistic approach in determining U.S. specific levers on key issues, and commented that by focusing only on human rights, we shoot ourselves in the foot.” After the Senate Foreign Relations staff members’ visit the “Committee on Foreign Relations United States Senate” published a report on December 7, 2009 called “Sri Lanka: Reaching U.S. Strategy After The War” dated December 7, 2009 for their one hundred and eleventh Congress first session.
Under the subject “Recommendations on Sri Lanka”, with some other recommendations, it said that the Obama administration should; tighten visa restrictions and revoke US citizenship of any persons who are shown to have committed war crimes in Sri Lanka, whether they acted on behalf of the LTTE or the Government of Sri Lanka (Recommendation 6).
Now the question is what have they done to implement that recommendation? Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, his brothers and opposition candidate General Fonseka are responsible for alleged war crimes against the Tamils, according to a cable sent by US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Patricia Butenis. The cable, dated January 15, 2010, updated the Secretary of State on war crimes accountability following the end of the country’s long and bloody conflict.
These brothers Gotabhaya and Basil are US Citizens. Sarath Fonseka is a US Green Card holder. So why do they not implement the Senate recommendations. Have they taken any steps to implement that recommendation?
Both Rajapaksa brothers have already accepted that the war had not been clean. Ambassador Butenis wrote; In response to the “incident’s report,” Basil Rajapaksa candidly remarked, “I am not saying we are clean; we could not abide by international law – this would have gone on for centuries, an additional 60 years.”
After Gotabhaya Rajapaksa’s meeting with Senate Foreign Relations staff members, the US Ambassador wrote; “Gotabhaya Rajapaksa noted that in defeating the LTTE terrorists the war had “not been clean,” but was still a success.” (See: colombotelegraph.com for the leaked cables). SLFP Treasurer and District Organiser for the Matara District former foreign minister Mangala Samaraweera while serving as a ruling party member of Parliament on February 26, 2007 told US Ambassador Blake that the Government uses a group called the “Lion Cubs” to engage in these extrajudicial activities. Blake wrote; “Samaraweera confirmed that the Government uses a group called the ‘Lion Cubs’ to engage in these extrajudicial activities. It is widely rumored in Sri Lanka that Ex-Army Commander Fonseka, with the knowledge and approval of Defense Secretary Gothabaya Rajapaksa, has set up special cells within military intelligence to go after suspected LTTE cadres and sympathisers in Colombo, Jaffna and other places. We have also heard reports of a similar shadowy group called the ‘Hambantota Cats.’ The recently-appointed Cabinet Minister for Environment has publicly called for the use of extra legal means to root out LTTE sympathisers. Samaraweera lent credibility to these reports by relating grisly details about the methods these groups use to dispose of the bodies of their victims at sea.”
On December 14, 2009 Fonseka had accused Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa of ordering at the end of the war the shooting of any LTTE leaders who might try to surrender under flags of truce, to US Ambassador Butenis (See colombotelegraph.com for full cable). In another cable on November 2, 2009, the US Ambassador told Foreign Minister Bogollagama of developments regarding Fonseka, including cancellation of his invitation to attend the recent Chief of Defence conference in Hawaii due to US concerns about his involvement in human-rights violations during the conflict with the LTTE.
So why do they not implement the Senate recommendation and revoke US citizenships? Instead of doing just that, without any shame one day after the publication of the Senate report, December 8, 2009 during a meeting with Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, Assistant Secretary Robert Blake raised the possibility of Sri Lanka contributing to US – led coalition operations in Afghanistan, noting that it would be a significant step in support of improving military–to–military engagement (See colombotelegraph.com for the cable). Are they really concerned or do they want to play with human rights?

uvindu@jouranalist.com

THESUNDAYLEADER.LK

The United States says it will support a Resolution at the UN Human Righs Council (UNHRC) on Sri Lanka government's war panel report.!!!

US to discuss LLRC at UNHRC .

Tuesday, 14 February 2012 18:22 NewsEditor Hits: 126 .

The United States says it will support a resolution at the UN Human Righs Council (UNHRC) on Sri Lanka government's war panel report.

Maria Otero, the most senior US official to visit Sri Lanka since 2005, said she discussed the recomendations made by the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) with President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

“I urged the Sri Lankan Government to share the details of their plans and begin fulfilling the recommendations called for in the report, and to credibly address outstanding issues of accountability,” she told journalists in Colombo.

US Under Secretary General of State Maria Otero said the LLRC has addressed “number of crucial areas” though there are “shortcomings on Accountability.”

Child Labour

“I confirmed the United States will support a resolution in the UN Human Rights Council in March that provides an opportunity for the Government of Sri Lanka to describe what it intends to do to implement the LLRC's recommendations and advance reconciliation, as well as address accountability, human rights and democracy concerns,” added Ms Otero.



She also urged Sri Lanka to address the needs of all communities and ensure the rule of law is upheld for a lasting reconcialition.

“We hope that all Sri Lankans see diversity as a strength, not a weakness.”

Together with the Assistant Secretary of State Robert Blake, Ms Otero has met senior Sri Lanka officials and representatives of the opposition political parties and the civil society.

She is the most senior US government official to visit Sri Lanka since the visit by then Secretary of State Colin Powell in 2005.

The senior US official commended Sri Lanka government’s improved track record in successfully prosecuting human trafiickers and reducing child labour.

“Today less than two percent of children are engaged in the worst forms of child labor in Sri Lanka. This is a significant achievement, particularly in this region,” she said.

- BBC

Fresh notice on the Petition that seeks 2missing TAMIL Political Activists to be produced before courts!Respondents:SINHALA Media Minister+IGP+AC+JAC!

Fresh notice ordered in Lalith, Kugan disappearance case

Wednesday, 15 February 2012 13:28


(Srilankamirror) - The court of appeal today (Feb. 15) ordered the issuance of fresh notice on the respondents in the petition that seeks two missing Jaffna political activists to be produced before courts.

The respondents cited are media minister Keheliya Rambukwella, the IGP, the Army commander and the security forces commander of Jaffna.

The case relates to the disappearance of the Movement for People’s Struggle members Lalith Kumar Weeraraju and Kugan Muruganandan.

The lawyer for the petitioner informed CA Judge Nalin Perera that one of the respondents, IGP N.K. Illangakoon, has not appeared before the court although he was present at the complex.

The state counsel said the respondents were yet to receive their notices.

The case will be taken up again on February 29.

U.N. Human Rights Chief Navi Pillay: I Raised concerns in a letter to SG: Ban Ki-moon about the Appointment of SLA-GENERAL:SS TO UN-PK-PANEL.!!!

Lanka News Web.COM

UN rights chief raises concern about Sri Lankan to Ban .

Tuesday, 14 February 2012 18:25 NewsEditor


U.N. human rights chief Navi Pillay said on Monday that she has raised concerns in a letter to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon about the appointment of a Sri Lankan army general to Ban's senior advisory panel on peacekeeping.

Pillay's worries relate to General Shavendra Silva, currently Sri Lanka's deputy U.N. ambassador, who commanded the Sri Lankan army's 58th Division during the final assault against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in 2009.

The Indian Ocean island nation has come under pressure from Western governments and human right groups to account for war crimes they suspect it committed in the final phase of a 25-year war against LTTE rebels, often called the Tamil Tigers.

After a U.N. General Assembly meeting on Syria, Pillay was asked what she thought about General Silva's appointment to Ban's Senior Advisory Group on Peackeeping.

"It's a matter of concern," she told reporters. "The United Nations has very clear policies on vetting and this is part of the work that my office does.

"We keep a list of individuals who are suspected of committing human rights violations and I have addressed a letter of concern to the secretary-general about this individual," Pillay said.

U.N. officials say that General Silva was appointed to the advisory panel on peacekeeping by the Asia Group, which consists of U.N. delegations from Asia and the Middle East, not by Ban himself. Ban's spokesman did not have an immediate response to a request for a reaction to Pillay's remarks.

A U.N.-sponsored panel said in a report that it found "credible evidence" that the military killed tens of thousands of civilians in the last months of Sri Lanka's war in 2009 and that both sides committed atrocities.

General Silva is named in that report as the commander of one of "six major battalions (that) were active in the final stages of the war."

Sri Lanka says that report simply repeats fabricated charges made by the Tamil Tigers' overseas networks and that its soldiers acted in accordance with international law. The Sri Lankan government has vowed to investigate itself.

The Sri Lankan U.N. mission did not have an immediate response to Pillay's remarks.

Earlier this month a U.S. court dismissed a lawsuit against General Silva filed by people who say they are relatives of victims of Sri Lankan violence against Tamils, citing his diplomatic immunity as Colombo's deputy U.N. envoy.

(Reporting By Louis Charbonneau; Editing by Sandra Maler) - (Reuters)



Last Updated on Tuesday, 14 February 2012 18:26

External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L.Peiris says that he has lost Respect amongst the Intl Community due to the varying tasks assigned to him BY MR.!!!

“President has put me in difficulty” – Minister GL .

Wednesday, 15 February 2012 09:17 Lanka News Web

External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris says that he has lost respect amongst the international community due to the varying tasks assigned to him by the President.

He has made this comment with several of his most trusted friends during a dinner at a Muslim businessman’s house.

A chief manager of a well known Singapore company had also attended the dinner.

The Minister has spoken at length about the current situation of the country and what could transpire in his meeting with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. He has said that he was faced with a great difficulty in responding to Clinton about the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) report since the recommendations have not been implemented. He has noted that on a previous visit to the US to meet Hillary, he had assured the implementation of the LLRC recommendations following a directive by the President to make such a statement.

A disgruntled minister has said that apart from the US, assurances given by him to India and the European countries following Presidential directives have all not yet been implemented.

Minister Peiris has said that Ministers Champika Ranawaka, Wimal Weerawansa and Basil Rajapaksa also intervened in Ministry affairs and that the External Affairs Ministry was now in a mess.

He has added that the External Affairs Ministry staff was split and that the staff members acted in support of various countries while the External Affairs Ministry Secretary was partial to the Chinese.


editor@lankanewsweb.com
LankaNewsWeb.COM