Death of the primary suspect in the case of the murder of a newspaper editor should be investigated

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that Pichchei Jesudasan, the primary suspect in the murder of veteran journalist editor of the Sunday Leader News Paper, Lasantha Wickramatunga, died while in remand prison. The other suspect who was arrested in relation to this case confessed to the Magistrate that he is under severe pressure by senior police officers to say that the killing was ordered by members of the military. He refused to follow these orders and sought judicial protection for his life. Jesudasan’s death is a huge blow to those who have awaited justice for the killing of Lasantha Wickramatunga , including a number of a local and international human rights groups. The Sri Lankan government has initiated a policy wherein suspects are arrested and then killed so as to deter criminals from committing crimes. This policy has encouraged law enforcement officers to kill innocent people with impunity. The lack of a thorough investigation of this crime is a denial of justice to the victim and his family. The case illustrates the exceptional collapse of the rule of law in the country.

CASE NARRATIVE:

Pichchei Jesudasan (36) of Magastora, Nuwara Eliya District died on 15 October 2011. Jesudasan was the owner of a garage in Nuwara Eliya. He was arrested under the suspicion that he had been involved in the assassination of Sunday Leader newspaper editor Lasantha Wickramatunga in January 2009. Lasantha was killed on 8 January 2009 at Malagala, Atthidiya in Colombo as he traveled to his workplace. .

Several days after Lasantha’s death, Jesudasan was arrested in Nuwara Eliya at his residence and detained at the police station. Shortly thereafter, he was produced before the Magistrate of Mount Lavinia and then remanded at Magazin Prison in Colombo. Even though he had not been charged by the courts, he was detained in prison for almost two years. Jesudasan was suspected to have close ties with the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam) and was thus provided with special security measures while he was at Magazin Prison.

On 13 October, he was to be brought from Magazin Prison to Mount Lavinia Magistrate Court for his suspected involvement in Lasantha’s death. He was found that day in prison lying on the ground having discharged a large amount of sputum (a mixture of mucus and saliva) from his mouth and nose. Prison officials admitted him to ward 44 of the National Hospital in Colombo for treatment. Two days after he was admitted, he was pronounced dead. Jesudasan was a healthy adult who sustained a livelihood as a mechanic before the arrest. He had no previously reported illnesses. The police stated that Jesudasan died of a heart attack.

Before Jesudasan’s death occurred, another suspect was arrested and remanded in relation to the assassination of Lasantha. This suspect, who is said to be connected to the Millitary Intelligence Unit, made a confession before the Magistrate of Mount Lavinia. He stated before the Magistrate of Mount Lavinia that he was forced to confess to the killing of Lasantha Wickramatunga by several higher ranking police officers, including the Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) who was following the orders of former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka. He said that he refused to follow these orders, and pleaded for protection because he believed that his life was in danger.

The investigation into Lasantha’s assassination has continued for several years; yet a final investigation report has yet to be submitted to the court. The Magistrate has reprimanded the investigating officers attached to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Sri Lanka Police regarding this delay on several occasions. The officers attached to the CID have stated that the investigation into the killing of Lasantha has been transferred to the Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) of the Sri Lanka Police. The final report on the investigation of the killing of Lasantha Wickramatunga has yet to be submitted to the court.

Several local and international human rights groups, media organizations and influential people including the President of the United States of America have shown their interest in seeking justice regarding the killing of veteran journalist Lasantha Wickramatunga. In light of this national and international pressure, the death of the main suspect of this crime is extremely suspicious. The collapse of the criminal justice system, particularly in relation to cases of serious human rights abuses is emblematic of the lethargic approach of Sri Lankan law enforcement agencies in implementing the country’s laws.

Jasudasan’s sudden death is a serious blow to the investigation of Lasantha’s death. Justice has been denied to both Lasantha and Jesudasan.

Source: Asian Human Rights Commission
SLG

Sivaram murder probe re-initiated

Dharmaratnam Sivaram's body was dumped near the parliament

Police say the murder suspect is a member of the PLOTE armed-wing
A court in Sri Lanka has decided to re-initiate the investigation of senior Tamil journalist, Dharmaratnam Sivaram.

The case is to be heard for the first time after about five years.

Colombo High Court decided to hear the case in front of a Sinhala speaking jury, following a plea by the suspect, Arumugam Sri Skandharajah also known as Peter.

Police said the suspect was identified as a member of the armed wing of the Tamil militant group turned political party, PLOTE. The suspect was later released on bail.

The former Tamilnet editor was abducted on 28 April 2005 and his body was found dumped a day later in Kotte, a high security zone near Sri Lankan parliament.

The case is to be heard on 28 June.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sinhala/news/story/2011/03/110307_sivaram_murder.shtml

Lanka E-news lawyers ask courts to handle investigation

The Lanka E-news website, which suffered an arson attack last month by an unidentified group, complained to the Kaduwela Magistrate that it has no confidence in the independence of the police investigation, and requested that be taken over by the courts.

Counsel Manjula Pathiraja who appeared with Namal Rajapaksa and Hemapala Ekanayake for the website, informed Kaduwela Chief Magistrate Ms. Janaki de Alwis that with the arson attack at dawn on January 31 the entire office together with its library, computers and other equipment were gutted, and the total damage caused amounted to Rs. 11 million. The counsel stated that there is no assurance that the police would conduct an impartial inquiry into the attack, and requested that the investigation be taken over by the Magistrate.

Read the full story here

“We did not set fire to Lanka e news” –Boothaya and Soosa solemnly confirm in court -suspects released on surety bail

activists took to street to protest the attack

Lanka-e-News,

The two suspects P M Soosantha alias Soosa and Udeni Sisira Jayalath alias Boothaya who were remanded by the police in connection with the arson committed on Lanka e news Institution situated at Malabe causing losses to the tune of Rs. 11 million on 31st January at pre dawn 1.45 were released on Rs. 03 lakhs surety bail each by the Kaduwela Magistrate Jayaki De Alwis today (18) when they were produced in Court.

Ms. Talduwa told court that her client Boothaya who has been charged falsely does not even know where Lanka e news is located let alone what a media Institution is, since he is addicted to drugs. Ms. Talduwa added that her client had been remanded for two weeks just for nothing for no crime committed by him. Besides, the police has not instituted any investigations into this after remanding him. She therefore requested bail for her client.

Read the full story here

Suspect Boothaya does not even know where the e news office is! – Lawyer Sandya Talduwa

A police cover up

Lanka-e-News, 15,Feb.2011,
Attorney at law, Sandya Talduwa appearing for suspect Udeni Sisira Jayalath alias Boothaya requested court to give permission to the suspect in the e news arson case to make a statement under oath in Court that he does not even know where the Lanka e news office is located. She added that, while the crimes are committed by those at the top in this country, poor innocent individuals are being made scapegoats. Talduwa made these remarks before the Kaduwela Magistrate Sujatha Alahaperuma today (15) while requesting bail for the accused.
Ms.Talduwa told court that the Wellampitiya police had gone to the house of her client several times saying that they wanted to arrest him as there was a warrant against him. Later, his mother came to know that her son was given to the custody Talangama police and remanded on charges of setting fire to Lanka e news.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Lankaenews dismisses claims of contract attack Police say overseas call link to chief suspect

Police at the scene of crime

By Damith Wickremasekara

Police probing the torching of the Lankaenews office at Malabe are investigating a foreign call said to have been received by a man who reportedly undertook a contract attack, which the editor and the journalist of the website office are dismissive of.

Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Daya Samaraweera told the Sunday Times that one of the suspects already in custody claims that the chief suspect had received a telephone call from overseas, for a contract to attack the office, with the assurance of a handsome remuneration.

..
Editor of the Lankae-news Sandaruwan Senadheera who resides in Britain told the Sunday Times that according to information they had received four soldiers were involved in the attack.

Read the full story here

Sri Lanka: Arson attack on Lanka- e-news office – A police cover up

after the fire

NfR – Net working for rights in Sri lanka
Exile network for media and human rights in Sri Lanka

Press release/ 04 February 2011

Networking for Rights expresses it suspicion of  the news that a suspect has been arrested in connection with the arson attack on the Lank-e-news office in Malabe on January 31, 2011 and calls on the government to conduct the investigation in a transparent manner. Lanka- e-news journalists. According to a  Lanka  e news report this drug addict   suspect has made a confession that he along with another underworld figure set fire to the Lanka-e-news office as they were given a contract by a unknown person form abroad. Further more according to police this other underworld figure is missing!! This version of police investigation clearly points to  a cheap cover up.

NfR also strongly condemns the front page  news report in the state controlled Sinhala language daily, Dinamina of 02nd January . In an obvious attempt to divert the investigation and tar the image of those attached to Lanka-e-news, the news report claims that empty alcohol bottles, blue films, women’s underwear and similar items have been discovered at the scene of the crime. NfR views this report as a deliberate attempt to discredit the journalists and divert the interest of the people from the actual nature of the attack – a further suppression of media freedom. Lanka-e-news journalists have publicly stated that this is a cooked up story and challenged the government to prove it.

This is a continuation of the allegations and name calling by government controlled media institution to harm the reputation of fellow journalists and human rights activists.

It is important o note that the arson attack on the Lanka-e-news office comes soon after President Mahinda Rajapakse told media heads that a separate unit is investigating the activities of certain websites with a view towards “taking action” against them.

Mass Media and Information Minister Keheliya Rabukwella has stated that the attack is an attempt to discredit the government. NfR asks Minister Rabukwella to initiate action that would ensure responsible and balance reporting by all media institutions, including government controlled journalists and reign in those who justify the attacks for the perks
and privileges thrown at them by the government.

Given the many and varied acts of violence perpetrated on media personnel and media institutions which remain unsolved, NfR has deep concerns whether the government is serious about the investigation and committed to bringing the real culprits to book.

NfR reiterates its call for a transparent investigation and concrete action to arrest this trend. We call on the government to ensure that the  investigations would not end in a similar fashion as those on the murder of Lasantha Wickramatunge, disappearance of Prageeth Ekneligoda and scores of other assaults, abductions and arson attacks which have gone unsolved so far.

Issued by
Steering Committee, NfR Sri Lanka
Steering committee : Kshama Ranawana ( Canada) Lionel Bopage ( Australia), Nadarasa Sarawanan (Norway), Nadarajah Kuruparan(UK) Padmi Liyanage (Germany), Raveendran Pradeepan (France), Rudhramoorthy Cheran
(Canada), Saman Wagaarachchi ( USA), Sunanda Deshapriya ( Switzerland)
C/O, 19447, Victory Blvd,#2, Reseda,CA 91335, USA

NfR.SriLanka@gmail.com

Blog  Site:  http://nfrsrilanka.blogspot.com/
Face book: NfR Sri Lanka

The four culprits after setting fire to LeN headed for Mattegoda camp: stop the tomfoolery and spurious melodrama and apprehend the true arsonists

Lanka e News news editor Benet Rupasinghe at the protest

(Lanka-e-News 03.Feb.2011 2.45PM) It has become very obvious that the police investigations which are being conducted into the arson committed and damage caused to the Lanka e news office has been transformed into a well orchestrated spurious drama by the police and those behind . A drug addict , Susantha from Wellampitiya has been apprehended and a confession signed by him obtained to cover up the whole holocaust. The concocted script of this drama which is being enacted at the Mirihana police has been published in the Divaina newspaper by the prompter Norman Pallihawardena as follows :

This is how the script that has been atrociously concocted goes ….

An individual from abroad had given a call to Jayalath alias ‘boothaya’ and told him , set fire to e News office. A good reward will be paid’ . Boothaya along with Susantha (Soosa) after collecting petrol in a petrol can at Wellampitiya itself had gone to Lanka e news office by motor cycle. There , they have after spilling the petrol on the doors and windows of the E news office and had set fire. They have then gone to Malabe Town and from a telephone booth threatened an e News journalist and returned to Wellampitiya.

The drama continues ..

Boothaya is supposed to have gone missing . Soosa is supposed to have been enthroned as Deshabandu

Unfortunately for the authors , actors and creators of this drama and the script , there are too many slips and lapses which betray the insidious motives underlying it.

These two individuals , Boothaya and Soosa are hired arsonists who set fire to properties for money. No advance had been taken to buy the petrol. Mind you, they are supposed to be setting fire to properties by sprinkling petrol with the hands. Moreover, with one can of petrol they have torched the entire premises. When it is proved that the office had been broken open and the goods in each room have been set fire after pouring petrol , who is trying to fool whom ? Is this a script written to fool themselves or the audience ?

We urge the police to stop this tomfoolery and buffoonery at least now and get down to brass- tacks and perform their duties duly in the interest of the public and those who are aggrieved and not to dance to the baila of interested parties with ulterior motives.

We also request the IGP to keep out SP Deshabandu Tennekoon from these investigations. This request is based on the vituperative hate he had shown earlier against the Lanka e news Editor and the news Editor.. In 2009, when the Lanka e news Editor promptly informed the police about the news that Poddala Jayantha was abducted and his legs were broken , the Editor and news Editor of Lanka e news were summoned to the Mirihana police and were threatened on the ground they were suppressing information and nearly remanded by this very same ‘Deshabandu’. After three months , the case was withdrawn by this ‘Deshabandu’ himself. This same Deshabandu gave a punishment transfer to Batticaloa to the Sergeant who handled this case because he could not achieve his objective of remanding the journalists due to the failure of this sergeant to act according to Deashabandu’s requirements on the court action.
Though the drama staged by Mirihana Police was a ludicrous comedy to the people , to the individual who was remanded it was suffering in silence eating ‘prison bath’

If the police is truly , honestly and seriously interested in apprehending the culprits , the information we are providing below is sufficient clues to make a breakthrough

Two high ranking Army officers whose names cannot be disclosed had this to say

Following an article we published on the 28th of January revealing a confidential letter had provoked the fury of the defense chief. He has immediately summoned the chief in charge of confidential information and vented his rage on him and chased him away. He had warned him if any more such letters leak out he will have to bear the responsibility.
The defense chief has thereafter taken a call to an ‘ enemy’ who is now serving in the North who was nearly condemned earlier as a traitor . This ‘enemy’ was in charge of the security of Colombo during the period when murders and attacks on the media were raging. The defense chief had told him four of the best friends of his of the ‘Bajaga’ force have been arranged to accomplish a secret mission. Thereafter , two more from the ‘Force’ of spies and informants were deployed with full pay and additional allowances to carry out an espionage on the Lanka e news office and its staff gathering information. How many are in the staff .? What time the office is closed ? What time the neighbors go to sleep etc.

The two unidentified individuals who were loitering around the ‘e News’ premises on the 29th and 30th as discovered and informed by Lanka e news journalists later were these individuals.
Having garnered information , the foursome of the ‘Bajaga’ Force arranged by the ‘enemy’ , after signing for duty in the North had been brought to Colombo. The mission was entrusted to them . The mission was to destroy Lanka e news by committing arson. They were forbidden two things : not to murder anyone ; and they should not consume liquor until the nefarious and ruthless mission is accomplished

These four individuals of the ‘Bajaga’ Force who arrived in Colombo on the 31st received a dark blue Double cab bearing a garage number plate . After boarding the cab they have filled two large cans with petrol at the Slave Island security division fuel station. This was at about 6.30 p.m. As it was a trifle too early they had taken a rest on the way.

After it became dark, they have parked the cab near the turn at Daham Mawatha , Malabe. Three of the occupants of the cab have alighted and moved towards the Lanka e news office carrying the petrol cans . The informants had already passed the information based on their inquiries that at about 1 .00 , 2.00 night , the neighborhood is asleep. Theses arsonists had gone into the Lanka e news premises breaking the doors without making a noise at 1.30 a.m. pre dawn. They have taken all the goods in the rooms of the premises and put them in the middle and set fire.. The criminals have embarked the cab in the night itself only after confirming that the entire Lanka e news premises was completely torched.

The cab had then proceeded towards the Mattegoda camp via Kottawa . The foursome of the ‘Bajaga’ force are now back at their work place on duty in the North.

This is the true story as disclosed by the two high ranking Army officers who wish to remain anonymous as opposed to the bogus ridiculous drama created by interested parties. Look forward to more interesting and shockingly factual details of this true tragedy and of the stupid comedy the police and interested parties are laboring hard to project.
By Sandaruwan Senadheera

http://www.lankaenews.com/English/news.php?id=10695

Attack on Sirasa Head offcie: Police ordered to file action against suspects

photographic eveidence of the attack

January 10, 2011: Fort Magistrate Ms. Lanka Jayaratne, today ordered the Slave Island police to send all extracts with regard to the attack on the Sirasa Head Office to the Attorney General and file action against the suspects.

The order was made on a request made by attorneys at law Tissa Dias Nanayakkara and Udaya Rohan De Silva on behalf of Sirasa.

When the case was taken up before the magistrate today, police told court that the police information book containing all statements with regard to the incident, is sealed in connection with another case.

As such, police said they were unable to file cases against the suspects involved in the attack on the Sirasa offices.

At that stage, attorney at law Rohan De Silva requested court to order the police to file action against the suspects as all relevant investigations have been completed.

Acceding to the request, the magistrate ordered police to obtain certified copies of all statements, send them to the Attorney General and submit the relevant number to court.

There are 16 suspects involved in the incident and they are all residents of Kelaniya.

However, only 14 suspects were present before court today.

When the magistrate inquired about their absence, police said they were unaware of the proper addresses of those suspects.

The magistrate ordering police to find their addresses and issue summons on them, ordered that all suspects should be present in court on February 14.

http://www.newsfirst.lk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=15539:attack-on-sirasa-head-office-police-ordered-to-file-action-against-suspects&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=18

LASANTHA WICKREMATUNGA MURDER CASE TAKEN UP FOR 38TH TIME

December 04, 2010: Submitting a report yesterday, the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) told the Mount Lavinia court that the case pertaining to the assassination of veteran journalist Lasantha, a veteran journalist Lasantha Wickrematunga had been handed over to the Terrorist Investigation Division(TID).

Earlier, the investigation was carried out jointly by the CID and the TID.

The CID added that the investigations on the owner of a garage and an Army intellegence officer, who were arrested over the assassination, would be handed over to the TID as well.

Accordingly, magistrate Nirosha Fernando ordered the suspects be placed under remand custody until the 17th of this month.

She ordered the TID to submit a report on this day as well.

The case pertaining to the murder of Lasantha Wickremathunga, which took place on January 8, 2009, almost two years ago, was taken up yesterday for the 38th time.

http://www.newsfirst.lk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=14767:lasantha-wickrematunga-murder-case-taken-up-for-38th-time&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=18

December 04, 2010: Submitting a report yesterday, the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) told the Mount Lavinia court that the case pertaining to the assassination of veteran journalist Lasantha, a veteran journalist Lasantha Wickrematunga had been handed over to the Terrorist Investigation Division(TID).

Earlier, the investigation was carried out jointly by the CID and the TID.

The CID added that the investigations on the owner of a garage and an Army intellegence officer, who were arrested over the assassination, would be handed over to the TID as well.

Accordingly, magistrate Nirosha Fernando ordered the suspects be placed under remand custody until the 17th of this month.

She ordered the TID to submit a report on this day as well.

The case pertaining to the murder of Lasantha Wickremathunga, which took place on January 8, 2009, almost two years ago, was taken up yesterday for the 38th time.

http://www.newsfirst.lk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=14767:lasantha-wickrematunga-murder-case-taken-up-for-38th-time&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=18