Sri Lanka’s presidential campaign marred by deaths and violence
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
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
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
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
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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