CRUEL SINHALA PRISONS: ALWAYS RISK OF LOSS OF LIVES/ SAFETY FOR TAMIL POLITICAL PRISONERS! RELEASE THEM ALL OR KEEP THEM IN NE! IC/UN MUST HELP NOW!!

Tamil political prisoners attacked in Colombo
[TamilNet, Friday, 13 November 2009, 04:40 GMT]

22 Tamil political prisoners in custody within the Colombo Remand Prison (CRP) were attacked Friday morning by Sinhala prisoners, initial reports from Colombo said. Seven of the prisoners were rushed to Colombo hospital with serious injuries.

The attack on prisoners has taken place around 6:30 a.m. Friday.

Further details were not available at the moment.


TamilNet URL: http://www.tamilnet.com email: tamilnet@tamilnet.com

-----------------------------------------------------
CLASH BETWEEN TWO GROUPS: TENSION PREVAILS IN PRISON

By Shalika Ranaweera

A tense situation prevailed at the Magazine Prison in Welikada yesterday following a clash between two groups of prisoners after one group had allegedly thrown a stone at a prison guard, prison authorities said.

Prisons Department spokesman Keneth Fernando said that no one was injured in the clashes and the situation had been brought under control.

Prisons Commissioner-General Major General V. R. De Silva also confirmed that there were no casualties due to the incident.

“According to the prison ordinance there is a laid down programme for prisoners in the morning and for that we unlock them and take out of the cells. This incident took place in the morning when the officer was trying to unlock the prisoners in the ward J of the Welikada Magazine Prison,” he said.

He said that the Superintendent of the Prison appoints a leader to each ward based on their conduct. “As the leader of this particular ward had been taken into court for hearings the prisoners had not obeyed the orders of the officer in charge.

The dispute rose afterwards and the prisoners in the nearby cells also were involved in the scene. But the prison authorities were able to control the situation,” he added.

When inquired he said that prisoners in ward J had been taken into custody under Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and emergency regulations.

“Most of them are Tamils.

In the meantime, there are a few Sinhalese as well. Thereby some people try to interpret the incident in a different angle,” he said.

DAILYMIRROR.LK

THREATS...BRUTALITY.....KILLINGS....ROBBINGS....DENIALS...LIES...!!! NO RESPONSE FROM SONIA GANDHI/ M.M.SINGH TO HELP INDIAN TAMIL FISHERMEN..! WHY???

SL Navy denies Indian reports of death threat

By Achala Dissanayake

The Sri Lanka Navy yesterday refuted having threatened to kill Indian fishermen who had been discovered fishing at a point located between Katchchativu and Danushkodi, as quoted in some Indian media yesterday.

Sri Lanka Navy Spokesperson Captain Athula Senerath said the Sri Lanka Navy never threatened to kill Indian fishermen and that Indian media were often coming up with such concocted stories.

“All we do is assist fishermen in distress, irrespective of their nationality,” the Navy Spokesperson stressed, adding that the Navy had no need to threaten those fishing in the area mentioned.”

According to the Indian media the Tamil Nadu Fishermen’s Association has planned a procession from Rameshwaram to Chennai on November 17, to demand that Chief Minister M. Karunainidhi talk to the Sri Lankan Government and get them to take steps regarding this situation.

dailymirror.lk

There are no special issues regarding the freedom of expression in Sri Lanka..!!!

UN 'perplexed' by Lanka reluctance

By Saroj Pathirana
BBC Sinhala service

Mr. La Rue said he is still waiting for the official response to his letter
A top UN envoy says he is "perplexed" by Sri Lankan government's reluctant to allow him for a fact finding mission despite unofficially agreeing for the visit months ago.
Frank La Rue, the UN Human Rights Council's special rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression told the BBC that he has been making the request unofficially since March this year and sent an official letter seeking permission to visit Sri Lanka in August or September.

"I have no official response yet but unofficially the Sri Lankan mission in Geneva told me that yes, I would be welcome but that the government would have to find the appropriate time for that to happen," he told BBC Sinhala service.

"And yes, I find it a bit perplexing for the government to take this long to respond."

Reconciliation after conflict

Speaking with the BBC from Guatemala Mr. La Rue said he understands that Sri Lanka has just gone through a serious armed conflict between the government forces and the Tamil Tigers.

The special rappoteur says the freedom of opinion and freedom of expression are key components of a process of reconciliation after decades of civil war.


Minister says there are no issues related to Freedom of Expression in Sri Lanka

"I think this should be definitely one of the crucial issues for that reconciliation. It is precisely at that moment that is the best effect for my visit," Frank La Rue said.

The government, as well as the LTTE, are accused of curtailing press freedom during the decades of conflict. The government earlier admitted that at least nine journalists had been killed since January 2006.

Sri Lanka media minister told the BBC that he was not aware of such a request from the special rapporteur.

"There are no special issues regarding the freedom of expression in Sri Lanka," media minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena told BBC Sinhala service.

If certain groups and individuals need to investigate "internal affairs" in a country, the minister said, the country has the right to allow or refuse such a request.

BBC|Sinhala Sandeshaya

But there is also a silver lining if indeed President Mahinda Rajapaksa is genuinely concerned about the future of SL (not only about him/family)..!!!

Mahinda (and only Mahinda) can re-establish democracy

2009-11-14 | 4.30 AM

It is now official. General Sarath Fonseka has quit the top most military post in the country. All the indications are that he will contest against the incumbent to be the next Executive President in Sri Lanka.

Whether it is continued Mahinda Rajapaksa presidency or a new Sarath Fonseka presidency, of course the future does not look brighter.
Lanka News Web recently reported that he has approached Ranil Wickramasinghe to warn about the future of democracy in Sri Lanka if General Fonseka becomes next President.

But there is also a silver lining if indeed President Mahinda Rajapaksa is genuinely concerned about the future of Sri Lanka (not only about himself and his family).

All major opposition parties recently agreed to support any move to abolish the executive presidency. President Rajapaksa, who agreed in writing with the JVP to abolish the presidency, can seize the opportunity and end General Fonseka’s dream to be the next head of state.
The opposition, in that scenario, should allow the president to continue his two years in office and to contest a future election, if he wishes to be the next executive prime minister.

Until then, President Rajapaksa should immediately implement the 17 amendment, appointing a new Constitutional Council, paving the way for new bodies - including elections and police commissions - to be established.

He should allow the new Constitutional Council to make new appointments to the key positions including chief justice, senior judges and police chief.

Of course the Rajapaksa administration, including General Fonseka, is accused of many gross human rights violations.

President Rajapaksa, the former human rights campaigner turned violator, can make measures to rectify at least some of the wrongdoings, though many incidents could not be reversed.

He can at least offer a presidential pardon to journalist J.S. Tissainayagam and speed up investigations over (if there are any such investigations) murder of Lasantha Wickramathunga and the brutal assault on Poddala Jayantha.

Mr. Rajapaksa, as the head of state, should also shun his extreme nationalistic views and release all internally displaced people from detention camps and help them resettle in their own land.

Instead of ordering Minister Mervyn Silva to instigate campaigns against his political opponents, including Mangala Samaraweera and General Fonseka, the president should take action against Minister Silva for attack on Rupavahini and Sirasa journalists.

He should also be more accommodative towards democratically elected representatives, take steps to gradually replace military leaders in top government posts, in and outside Sri Lanka, with senior civil servants.

It is him, neither Ranil Wickramasinghe nor General Fonseka for that matter, who can re-establish democracy in Sri Lanka and, if he is genuinely worried, he should act now not tomorrow.

Lanka News Web.com

Govt relaxes transport along A-9 trunk road TO JAFFNA! UNWANTED CHECKINGS/ WAITINGS TOO...???

11/13/2009 11:34:31 AM
Govt relaxes transport along A-9 trunk road

The Government has decided to relax transportation of goods and passenger transportation by A-9 Road, for the convenience of the public in Jaffna. According to media reports following decisions were made facilitating transportation of people and goods from Jaffna and forth.

There is no restriction to transport goods to Jaffna and back as in the case of any other part of the country.

The vehicles that are already registered with the Commissioner General of Essential Services (CGES) can engage in the transportation of goods. Registration of vehicles by CGES for transportation of goods to Jaffna is extended till November 30, 2009.

The vehicles belonging to Government Departments, Corporations, Banks and Manufacturing Companies, will be permitted to transport goods by their own vehicles, for six months continually.

They are requested to submit applications for CGES approval.

The public are permitted to travel to Jaffna and back by public transport and private busses which are now in operation.

Any private bus/coach owner who wishes to operate between Colombo and Jaffna, should apply to the National Transport Commission for route permits.

Private vessels are permitted to carry cargo to the North from any port of the country, subject to naval clearance and operational requirements of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority. Approval of the CGES is not required.

Ministry of Defence.LK

United States of America had helped Sri Lanka to wipe out the LTTE!!! BUT USA FAILED TO SAFE 1000s OF INNOCENT TAMILS & PUNISH THOSE WAR CRIMINALS.!!!

US helped destroy some LTTE ‘floating arsenals’-President
by Shamindra Ferdinando

President Mahinda Rajapaksa, on Monday (Oct 9), responding to criticism that Sri Lanka’s foreign relations were in shambles and the country isolated internationally, declared that the United States of America had helped Sri Lanka to wipe out the LTTE shipping fleet.

An irate President said that the US had alerted Sri Lanka to the presence of LTTE ‘floating arsenals’ on the high seas. This confirmed the recent revelation by The Island that a foreign power had helped the Sri Lanka Navy to destroy four of the eight ships, including three sunk in a two-day operation in 2007, causing a severe setback to the LTTE.

He said that contrary to condemnation of his foreign policy, the country had received the support of many foreign countries to defeat the LTTE. All of them had sold arms, ammunition and equipment to Sri Lanka.

The President was responding to queries raised by a group of journalists, representing the print and electronic media, during a three-hour press meet at Temple Trees telecast live over both state and private television networks.

The President said that the government had succeeded in maintaining its foreign relations. Appreciating the support extended by Pakistan, China and India for Sri Lanka’s war against LTTE terrorism, the President said that some questioned his ability to meet the LTTE threat. Others said that the LTTE could not be defeated by what he termed Medamulana strategy. To the credit of their foreign policy the country had managed to receive the support of many countries though some of them desperately tried to throw a lifeline to the LTTE. The Many countries and organisations had intervened on behalf of the LTTE at the height of the war though the government did not succumb to international pressure he said.

He recalled the extremely difficult and unfavourable economic conditions under which his government had to wage war against a well entrenched enemy. The government launched new development initiatives and provided employment to over 300,000 persons though the war sapped the economy.

Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said that the government had successfully battled the LTTE both here and overseas. Referring to the arrest of Kumaran Padmanathan aka ‘KP’ he said that the government was continuing operations to destroy their international network though the LTTE no longer posed a military challenge.

Minister A. L. M. Athaulla said that the Rajapaksa administration had not received any support at all from the Opposition. Praising the President and Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa for their leadership, he said that people of the Northern and Eastern Provinces had been finally liberated from the LTTE. He asserted that the Opposition could not understand the ground realities though the people of the Eastern Province appreciate what the government had achieved against tremendous odds. "We are finally free. Our children are now free to attend school." People flock to Trincomalee and other eastern towns to enjoy life. Former LTTE commander turned UPFA MP Minister Vinayagamoorthy Muralidaran aka Karuna, too, explained the rapid development taking place in the East after the liberation of the province.


www island.lk

Chairman of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into abductions and disappearances said that he was personally unhappy with Police investigations.!

Ex-HC judge unhappy with police probes
by Ifham Nizam


Former High Court Judge Mahanama Tillekeratne, Chairman of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into abductions and disappearances said yesterday that he was personally unhappy with Police investigations into telephone calls as regards an attack on Lake House journalist Poddala Jayantha.

The Commission also inquired into unexplained killings and unidentified bodies.

Chairman Tillekeratne said that he would shortly submit a report to President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Poddala Jayantha, who had been brutally assaulted by a group of unidentified persons at Nugegoda a few months ago.

He said that he would also submit a report on the plight of 31 families in Trincomalee and Kantale who deserved compensation since they had lost their bread winners.

Addressing a press conference in Colombo yesterday, he said that the Commission had commenced sittings in September, 2006 and handled nearly 15,000 cases and settlement had been reached in a majority of them.

The ex-Judge said that in many instances during inquiries, a majority of families were not interested in compensation but wanted the commission help trace their kith and kin who went missing.


www island.lk