Sri Lanka: NfR condemns Assault on Navanthurai civilians by security forces

NfR – Net working for rights in Sri lanka – Exile network for media and human rights in Sri Lanka
Press release/ 26 August 2011
NfR Sri Lanka, a network of Sri Lankan journalists and human rights defenders living outside the country condemns the brutal assault on civilians by the officers of Navanthurai Army Detachment, in the Jaffna district. The assault took place on the night of 22nd August 2011. At least 18 of the arrested civilians have been tortured badly and had to be hospitalized. Photographic evidence published by reliable online media sources indicates that many of them having plastered arms and legs.

According to reliable sources,

”At around 1.15 am on 23rd August, the army entered Navanthurai and detained between 100 – 120 young men from the village. According to eye witnesses including two Catholic nuns, between 6-12 Army officers entered each house in the village and dragged out men who were sleeping with their families and children. The men were brutally and indiscriminately beaten with rifle butts and iron rods and dragged along the road towards the Army detachment located around 300 meters from the village. Women and children were also beaten in the attack.”

The civilians who were assaulted were denied medical treatment for up to 8 hours and only after judicial intervention they were allowed to obtain medical treatment.

Both these actions are grave violations of law.

It should be noted that that this brutal attack comes in the wake of international outcry against the Sri Lankan Security forces for alleged crimes against humanity and war crimes perpetrated against Tamil civilians during the last phase of the war.

We are also deeply dismayed at the Sinhala and English language mainstream media that failed to report and investigate this story. It is only the Tamil language press and online media that have covered this act of brutality.

The arrest of civilians in the middle of the night took place after a mass protest against the Navanthurai Army Detachment, which according the people, were giving protection to the five intrudes in to the village when they were chased away by the villagers. People in the area believed those intruders were so called Grease devils (Grease Yakkas/Grease pootham) that attack women.

The phenomenon of Grease devils has created uproar in the rural North and East where Muslims and Tamils predominantly live. Opposition politicians have blamed the Government for not preventing recurrent incidents of unknown intrudes trying to harass and harm women of Tamil and Muslim communities. Some have even blamed the government for creating this fear psychosis in order to further militarise the North and East.

The brutality of the Sri Lankan Armed forces once again raises the issue of Sinhala supremacist tendencies and anti Tamil sentiments within the Security Forces. In the past there have been violent protests against security forces in various parts of the country. However, in none of those instances the security forces deployed this kind of mass arrests and brutal assaults. It is clear that military establishment wanted to convey a very clear massage to the Tamils in Sri Lanka that they are a subjugated community.

NfR vehemently condemns the attacks on Tamil civilians by the Security forces.

NfR calls upon national and international human rights organisations to initiate an investigation in to this incident. It is very difficult to expect the Government of Sri Lanka to launch an impartial investigation that would bring the culprits to book given the culture of impunity, which has become the norm in Sri Lanka.

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)

To protest against the threat to freedom of expression,NTUC organizes poster campaign on a human wall

The National Trade Union Center (NTUC) has organzied a unique poster campaign today (8) demanding a Rs. 10,000 salary increase for the working masses.

The NTUC has organized the poster campaign on a human wall as a mark of protest against the removal of posters demanding a salary increase by the police. The poster campaign on a human wall is to also protest against the threat to freedom of expression.

A Spokesperson for NTUC said the poster campaign on a human wall will be held at 12 noon today at the Borella junction.

The spokesperson said the poster campaign commenced on the 3rd by the NTUC had seen a large number of posters that were pasted on the boards put up by the authorities to paste posters being removed.

The NTUC claim that the poster campaign today would also be a protest against the threat to the freedom of expression in the country.

“Therefore, we decided to launch a poster campaign on a human wall,” he said.

He explained that posters demanding a salary hike would be pasted on a wall created by people at the Borella junction
lankawaynews

Student unions banned

7 March 2011
Student unions and their activities had been banned in the Sabaragamuwa University from March 24, a student union said. A student union member of the university said that according to the ban, any type of student gatherings has been strictly prohibited.

�The notice issued by the administration read that the university administration would take measures to get the students who are actively involved in unions to be arrested by the Police,� he said.

University authorities confirmed the ban in the University.

The union member said that although the regulation was to take effect from March 24, the official notice had been put up today banning the �operations� or �any kind of student union activities� within the university

Daily Mirror

Attempt to suppress human rights advocacy and protection of democratic freedoms

The attention of Networking for Rights is drawn to a media release by the National Peace Council (NPC)� which states that it is being investigated by the Criminal Investigation Department. NfR expresses� its serious concern over the way this investigation is being handled.

It is disconcerting that an Organization� which conducts its activities in protecting and promoting human rights in Sri Lanka in a non-partisan manner is being investigated by the CID, though no criminal charges seemed to have been laid against it. Furthermore, according to the Media Release, the CID seeks to investigate the Councils sources of funding, its partners and its activities. Although the right to association is guaranteed by constitution of Sri Lanka this fundamental right has come under relentless assault by various status apparatus in recent times.

NPC states that the CID investigation was preceded by� critical reports in both state and private media on the Council. It is noteworthy that Organisations and individuals against whom attacks or assaults have been carried out have been similarly targeted on previous occasions. As stated by the NPC, the Council�s affairs have been submitted to the NGO Secretariat under whose purview the Councils activities fall. Its website too carries all relevant information regarding its funders, annual reports and activities. As there seems to be no evidence or allegation of a criminal nature, if an investigation is required then it should be handled by a civil body.

NfR Sri Lanka

http://nfrsrilanka.wordpress.com/2011/03/24/sri-lanka-attempt-to-suppress-human-rights-advocacy-and-protection-of-democratic-freedoms/

Do you have visuals of attack on News Forst at Punchi Borella – MTV/SIRASA

February 05, 2011: The Newsfirst media team covering the protest march last evening at Punchi Borella was set upon and their video camera was taken away by a certain group that attacked the protest march.It was done when the team was recording the event on video.

The incident, where our cameraman and his fellow journalist was assaulted and his camera being snatched away may have been recorded in your camera, mobile phone or any other device.In the event that you are in possession of such visuals, Newsfirst would like to have access to such visuals on condition that your identity would not be revealed

Read the full story here

UNP looking at legal action over Punchi Borella attack

 

After the attack - campaign went ahead

February 5, 2011, 7:00 pm
By Franklin R. Satyapalan

The UNP is considering legal action over Friday night�s attack on its candle- lit procession demanding the release of Gen. Sarath Fonseka, the party�s General Secretary Tissa Attanayake said yesterday. Several people were injured in this attack by goons armed with steel rods who set upon the protesters and their vehicles causing damage running into millions. Police said yesterday that no suspects had been arrested with the media spokesman, SSP Prashantha Jayakody, saying that the organizers had said that they were carrying out their protest at the Borella junction where maximum protection was provided. However, contrary to the original, plan they had moved towards Punchi Borella where some persons performing a Bodhi Pooja asked them to go further away.

READ MORE

176 University students suspended and 27 more in jail !

Sri Lankan universities: on the verge of a colossal showdown between students and administrators
176 university students have been suspended and more than 25 have been remanded in the past 60 days. Meanwhile student unions and cultural activities are halted due to unreasonable restrictions and in some universities the administrators have created a network to spy on students and lecturers.
While the government is planning to usher in private universities it has prevented the commencement of external degree programmes depriving the state run universities of much needed resources. These shocking revelations show the extent of suppression and animosity directed at university students.
Centre for Human Rights (CHR) � Sri Lanka in its second reports revealed the contraction of political freedom in Sri Lankan universities. Not only students but also a large number of lecturers who hold independent opinions are been continuously harassed.
Animosity between university students and administrators grow
In the last six weeks there has been an increase in student activism in the universities. Protests and demonstrations were held in all the universities and these culminated when students were attacked near the Ministry of Higher Education last week. The university students have no other option but to take to the streets to counter the growing suppression leveled at them.
The students of University of Sri Jayawardanepura are facing restrictions hitherto not seen in a university. Some actions taken by university administrators are demeaning and unsuitable for a higher education institute. The most recent incident occurred last week when seven students including five bhikkus and two female students were suspended for distributing leaflets outside the university.
The continuous intervention by two UPFA politicians have spiraled the University of Wayamba into chaos.
University of Uwa Wellassa is nothing more than an open prison. It is the only university in Sri Lanka which does not have student or lecturers unions. The administrators have prohibited the assembly of more than five students and in the last two months no student union activity has taken place.�� Article 14 of the Constitution of Sri Lanka guarantees the freedom of peaceful assembly and association, therefore the administrators of the university is violating the supreme law of the land.

Also a group calling themselves Sanskruthika Kalamanakaruwo (Cultural Managers/Watch Dogs) are spying on students and lecturers. University of Uwa Wellassa is one of the few government institutions that does not conduct internal disciplinary hearings.
Administrators have forbidden male students to enter the university premises after 6 pm and there is an attempt to remove male students from the University of Kelaniya. The Sri Lankan constitution assures equality and this attempt to deprive hostel facilities inside the universities to male students is a violation of their fundamental rights.

Seven medical students and two allied health sciences students of the University of Peradeniya have been suspended. Five students at the University of Rajarata have been suspended after they protested the administration�s decision to prevent the screening of a stage drama. 19 students of the Faculty of Agriculture have been also suspended.

Given below is a breakdown of recent student suspensions.
University ��� Number of students suspended
Sri Jayawardanepura ��� 70
Rajarata ��� 24
Wayamba ��� 62
Moratuwa��� 11
Peradeniya ��� 9

Remanding University Students
Another novel aspect of the government is the indiscriminate arrest of university students using suppressive laws introduced in the late 1980s.
Four students of the University of Peradeniya have been remanded for booing Minister of Higher education SB Dissanayake. 21 students were remanded till October, 29th after the incident near the Ministry of Higher education and out of that 10 students are from the University of Peradeniya.
Two students attached to the Faculty of Agriculture at Rajarata University are in remand custody while another 8-9 students from Rajarata were arrested near the Ministry of Higher education on October 14.

Cases were filed against 66 students of University of Sri Jayawardanepura in the last few months. Currently three cases are filed against 10 students of the university.
A student does not enter a university just to by heart notes and sit for exams. S/he enters university to enhance their understanding of life itself. Therefore art was a part of university culture from day one and even in the darkest days there were always drama, discussions and exhibitions at universities. But there have been no such events at the Universities of Kelaniya, Colombo, Sri Jayawardanepura, Wayamba, Rajarata and Ruhuna due to restrictions imposed by administrators
When universities were established two institutions, the Senate and the University Council, were created to prevent unwarranted external meddling.� But unfortunately there is visible political interfering in the universities. CHR fears that this unwarranted interventions and draconian laws will push students to take desperate measures.
Report compiled by Anupama Ganegoda

Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon
Executive Director/Centre for Human Rights in Sri Lanka,CHR � Sri Lanka
0777791225

18/10/2008

Colombo refuses visa to NGO official

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 15 September 2010, 22:53 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Government has ordered Daniel Horgan, security coordination officer of Nonviolent Peaceforce, a foreign NGO, to leave Sri Lanka immediately, the Sinhala language Divaina newspaper said in an article. The order was made when Horgan sent in his papers seeking renewal of his visa to continue his work in Sri Lanka.

In July, government also deported a Canadian national who functioned as the director of the Nonviolent Peaceforce organization and Ali Palh Ahamed, a Pakistani national attached to the organization to leave Sri Lanka.

Accordingly, steps were taken to ensure that both the Canadian and Pakistani nationals will not be able to return to Sri Lanka again in future for any matter.

Nonviolent Peaceforce is an unarmed, professional civilian peacekeeping force that is invited to work in conflict zones worldwide. With international headquarters in Brussels, Nonviolent Peaceforce has worked in the conflict areas of Sri Lanka extensively. Among other activities, it works with local groups to foster dialogue among parties in conflict, provide a proactive presence and safe spaces for civilians, and develop local capacity to prevent violence. Its staff includes veterans of conflict zones and experienced peacekeepers.

The Divaina newspaper article claimed that, the Intelligence units has obtained information that the Nonviolent Peaceforce has been involved in certain internal affairs with related to Sri Lanka which has been seen as detrimental against Sri Lanka�s sovereignty.

http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=32623

TNA MPs face court cases for participating in a rally

2010-08-23
The Hatankudu Police has filed a case against three TNA MPs, provincial councilor, and head of the Unemployed Graduates Union for organizing and participating in a protest march in Batticaloa on August 11 against the unemployed graduates in the East.

The case has been filed by the police before the Batticaloa Magistrate claiming the protest had been organized without receiving the required permission. The court has asked TNA MPs P. Ariyanenthran, P. Selvaraja, S. Yogeswaran, provincial councilor Thurairatnam and Unemployed Graduates Association
Head to be present in court when the case is to be taken up on September 4.

TNA MP P. Ariyanenthran said that since the Emergency Regulations pertaining to protests have been removed, there were no barriers to hold protests in the country.

http://www.lankanewsweb.com/news/EN_2010_08_23_005.html

NGOs to be removed

Sunday, 22 August 2010
By Indika Sri Aravinda

The government is prepared to order NGO�s who are linked with funding the LTTE, to shut down and have their officials deported, Prime Minister D. M. Jayaratna told Daily Mirror online.

Prime Minister Jayaratna said that the government has identified NGOs who have provided finance, fire arms and advice to the LTTE and have taken measures to cancel their licenses.

With regard to accusations that the government was not permitting NGOs to visit mined and resettled areas in the North, the Prime Minister stated that if an NGO official is injured while visiting mined areas, the government would have to take the responsibility.

Therefore the Government has decided to permit visits only after de-mining is completed and will not succumb to pressure from the international community, Prime Minister Jayaratna added.

http://www.dailymirror.lk/index.php/news/6010-ngos-to-be-removed.html