I only wanted a credible, independent investigation
January 16 2010 – Lakbimanews
UN Special Rapporteur for Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions Philip Alston raised a hornet’s nest recently by resurrecting the controversial Channel 4 ‘execution’ video and deeming it to be authentic on the basis of a report produced by three independent experts. The government immediately rejected the findings, accused him of being politically motivated and refused to heed his call for an inquiry. LAKBIMAnEWS interviewed Alston on some of the niggling questions his investigation had raised.
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Remaining Tamil migrants to be freed
January 15 2010 – cbc
The federal government is prepared to release the remaining 25 Tamil migrants held in Vancouver on suspicion of links to terrorism since they arrived in Canada three months ago.
The men were among the 76 passengers and crew of a ship seized off Vancouver Island Oct. 17.
All of the men claimed refugee status, saying they were fleeing the aftermath of the civil war in Sri Lanka. Fifty-one of the men were eventually released after posting bonds and agreeing to appear when summoned for hearings on their refugee claims.
The remaining migrants have remained in detention at the request of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), which had said it wanted to submit evidence about the 25 men’s possible connection to the Tamil Tigers.
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Secrets and lies in post-war Sri Lanka
January 15 2010 – Ekklesia
In Sri Lanka, as a presidential election approaches, the mood is outwardly gung-ho. Both main candidates claim credit for defeating the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and ending a decades-long conflict. President Mahinda Rajapakse, who with his brothers, Gotabaya (the Defence Secretary) and Basil (a senior presidential advisor) has been running the country, is being challenged by General Sarath Fonseka, a former army commander.
Yet behind the bravado and bold promises is the shadow of past violence. Many are in denial about the effects, but unless the grim legacy is at least acknowledged, future unity and stability may be undermined.
The government, in recent months, has faced disturbing revelations about actions taken during the war (in some of which the ex-commander is implicated). The United Nations recently confirmed that, in its experts’ view, video footage showing soldiers killing Tiger prisoners was authentic, but the Sri Lankan regime continues to insist that it was faked.
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Detained Sri Lankan Tamil MP is released
January 15 2010 – BBC
A Sri Lankan Tamil MP who has been detained by the security forces for eight months has been released.
Sathasivam Kanagaratnam, an MP from the Vanni district, chose to stay in areas controlled by Tamil Tiger rebels until the country’s war ended in May.
He was detained and taken to Colombo for interrogation where he has been held ever since.
The government refused to release him in spite of repeated requests by the Tamil National Alliance (TNA).
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Sri Lanka police investigate attack on BBC reporter
January 14 2010 – BBC
A BBC reporter is in hospital in Sri Lanka after being attacked following clashes between rival political groups.
Thakshila Dilrukshi Jayasena received minor injuries and her recording equipment was stolen. Police say they are investigating who attacked her.
She had been covering clashes between thousands of government and opposition supporters in the town of Polonnaruwa.
Election monitors say the campaign for the 26 January presidential vote has become “disturbingly violent”.
On Tuesday a supporter of the former army chief Gen Sarath Fonseka, the main opposition candidate, was shot dead in the south of the island.
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