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Detention centre like a prison, say Tamils

admin — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 21:42:15 +0000

April 21, 2010 – ABC News
Sri Lankan asylum seekers who were removed from an Indonesian port earlier this week say they are now being kept in cramped conditions in a detention centre which is like a prison.

About 150 Tamil boat people were put on buses on Monday and transported from the Port of Merak to Jakarta’s main airport.

They were then flown to the Indonesian city of Tanjung Pinang where they are now in a detention centre.

Two of the asylum seekers, who do not want to be identified, have contacted the ABC.

One likened the detention centre to a prison and says the accommodation is not what was promised by the Indonesian government.

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In conversation with Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu

admin — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 21:40:11 +0000

Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu is the Executive Director of the Centre for Policy Alternatives. I begin this interview with a pointed question, asking Dr. Saravanamuttu to flag anything the government has done well since it assumed power in 2005, in the domains of governance and human rights. I go on to ask Dr. Saravanamuttu why it is that what he sees as enduring challenges to human rights, peace, development and governance are not issues the majority of voters agree with, or are able to discern.

We also talked about the nature of economic activity and development in the North and the East, where Dr. Saravanamuttu noted that “economic development by itself cannot be the sole instrument of national unit, reconciliation, integration”. Sri Lanka’s political culture and the growing intra-party violence within the UPFA, the future of Tamil politics, reconciliation, the role of the international community, prospects for dissent and democratic debate post-war and modes of progressive engagement between the Tamil diaspora are also issues broached in this interview.

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SLA blocks Hindus performing rituals in Keerimalai

admin — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 21:43:55 +0000

April 20 2010 – Tamilnet
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) authorities in Jaffna have obstructed Hindus performing religious rituals to their ancestors in the temple pond as well as dissolving the ashes of their cremated relatives in Keerimalai seas around the historically famous Nakuleasvaram temple claiming that Keerimalai has been declared as a tourist spot and no one should pollute the springs and sea therein, sources in Jaffna said. This infringement on religious rights which had been observed by the Hindus for ages has angered the Hindu organizations in the peninsula, the sources added. Keerimalai is one of the major tourist attractions in Jaffna peninsula and SLA has imposed this restriction in order to please the Sinhalese tourists who continue to pour in their thousands after the opening of A9 road, representatives of the organizations said.

Sri Lanka migrant stand-off in Indonesia port ends

admin — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 21:33:15 +0000

April 19, 2010 – BBC News, Jakarta
Sri Lankan migrants who have been stuck on a boat off the coast of Indonesia have finally left the port of Merak.

After a six-month-long stand-off, they are now in buses on their way to a detention centre in Indonesia.

The Sri Lankans had been refusing to get off their boat until they were guaranteed safe passage to Australia to live there.

The resolution brings an end to a crisis that has plagued both the Indonesian and Australian governments.

Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry spokesman told the BBC that the majority of the 200 Tamil Sri Lankan refugees were now in buses headed for Jakarta’s airport, to be relocated to other parts of the country.
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JNU convention condemns Sri Lanka war crimes

admin — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 21:36:14 +0000

April 18, 2010 – Tamilnet
“[C]onditions in Sri Lanka cannot improve unless the Tamils are given a respectful place in society as equal citizens. Unfortunately, that is not happening,” said Rajinder Sachar former Chief Justice on Delhi High Court in a conference on Sri Lanka’s war crimes held at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) Thursday, a summary report of the convention issued by the organizers said. The convention concluded with passing a resolution condemning “the genocidal war crimes perpetrated by the Sri Lankan government on the Tamils,” and demanding that the war criminals in the Sri Lankan government be brought to justice, Tamils who have been forcefully detained in camps be released and settled in their native homes, an immediate end to colonization, and suspension of military aid by India.

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Sri Lanka’s presidential campaign marred by deaths and violence

Tlapcontributor1 — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 17:05:33 +0000

January 20 2010 – Asia News

The election campaign for Sri Lanka’s presidency, scheduled for 26 January, has been marred by a high number of incidents, many caused by supporters of incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Campaign for Free and Fair elections (CaFFE) reported. Elections Commission Chairman Dayananda Dissanayake is said to resign because of the violence once the election is over.

The CaFFE report that was released today contains a detailed list of clashes, targeted attacks against political rivals and murders. The first death occurred on 12 January in Hungama (Hambantota district), Rajapaksa’s home area. An armed man opened fire against a bus carrying supporters of General Fonseka, leader of the opposition and the president’s main challenger. One person was killed and ten were wounded in the action, which was blamed on pro-government militias.

The following day, Rajapaksa supporters clashed with Fonseka sympathisers in Polonnaruwa, North-Central province. Thousands of people were involved, with many getting hurt.

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Trinco executions added to Sri Lanka’s war crimes record in Dublin

Tlapcontributor1 — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 18:30:36 +0000

January 19 2010 – Tamilnet

An affidavit containing the personal testimony of Dr Manoharan, the father of Ragihar, one of the five high school students shot dead in execution style in Trincomalee beach nearly four years ago by members of Sri Lanka security forces, and two detailed reports of evidence collected on the killings by a Rights Group whose members are in self-exile due to threat to their lives, were submitted as record of evidence to the Dublin war-crimes tribunal hearing concluded on the 16th of this month, US-based pressure group Tamils Against Genocide (TAG) said Tuesday

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Sri Lanka: Time for a New Start; A Human Rights Agenda for Sri Lanka’s Presidential Candidates

Tlapcontributor1 — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 18:23:42 +0000

January 19 2010 – Amnesty International press release

Amnesty International calls on all candidates standing in Sri Lanka’s Presidential elections on January 26th to end widespread human rights violations and the culture of impunity that continues to plague the country.

On Monday, the organization issued a 10-point Human Rights Agenda for all candidates.

“Candidates should commit to restoring respect for basic rights, like life and liberty, ending arbitrary arrests and detention, enforced disappearances and torture, and to restoring respect for freedom of expression, said Yolanda Foster, Amnesty International’s Sri Lanka specialist. “In the longer run, what’s needed is to rebuild Sri Lanka’s institutions so that they can protect efficiently and without discrimination. That’s the only way to restore public faith in the justice system.”

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NZ will take 13 Oceanic Viking Tamils

Tlapcontributor1 — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 18:22:23 +0000

January 19 2010 – ABC News

New Zealand has agreed to take 13 Sri Lankan refugees who spent weeks refusing to leave an Australian Customs boat in Indonesia last year.

New Zealand originally did not want to take any of the Tamil refugees who refused to leave the Oceanic Viking, but a spokeswoman for Immigration Minister Jonathan Coleman said 13 would be accepted – subject to checks – as part of the country’s regular refugee program.

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Court orders release of Vanni doctors

Tlapcontributor1 — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 17:06:02 +0000

January 19 2010 – Tamil National

A court in Sri Lanka has ordered police to release five Tamil doctors who served in the battle zone during the last stages of war, if no evidence is found against them.

Colombo magistrates court also ordered the police Criminal Investigation Division (CID) to speed up the investigations that has already taken more than eight months.

The doctors who worked in Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts; T Satyamurthy, V Shanmugarajah, T Vardharajah, Ilanchelian Vallavan and N Ketheesh appeared before the court on Monday.

International and local media had to rely on these doctors serving patients in the war zone in a time where journalists and international organisations were banned from entering the area.

The doctors are accused by the government of providing false information on casualty figures to international media.

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