“The Ministry of Defence does not enjoy any specific legal authority under any statute whatsoever to control freedom of speech and association of citizens, who act collectively through civil society organisations. In the circumstances, it is clear from the Press Release issued by the Defence Ministry has acted beyond its mandate”, says the Lawyers Collective
Issuing a statement the Cconveners of the Lawyers Collective, JC Weliamuna says “Analysis of the Communication shows that the Defence authorities appear to believe that the civil society organisations do not have any right to conduct “press conferences, workshops, training for journalists, and dissemination of press releases”. All governments that respect democratic values respect the rights of citizens to engage in such lawful activities. Only authoritarian regimes prevent such democratic engagements. If the Government of Sri Lanka is serious in preserving the democratic character of the country, it must respect its own Constitutional freedoms such as Freedom of Expression and Association.
“The communication of the Director of National Secretariat for NGOs is an indication of the limited understanding of powerful Sri Lankan defense establishment on the civil liberties. The conduct of the MoD in issuing such communication further strengthens the allegation that Sri Lanka has now become an Authoritarian State.”
Sapumal / July 7, 2014
Gotabaya and his assisstances must learn a lesson or take to internatinal criminal courts for all these anti people acts. They are violating all the normal regulations and laws. They think they are above the law and when they feel threatned they act like dogs. This regime must change and we must punish these officials at our earliest opportunity before it s too late! otherwise you can do nothing under military rule.
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Amarasiri / July 7, 2014
Controlling NGOs: “Defence Ministry Acting Beyond The Mandate” Says Lawyers Collective
“The Ministry of Defence does not enjoy any specific legal authority under any statute whatsoever to control freedom of speech and association of citizens, who act collectively through civil society organisations. In the circumstances, it is clear from the Press Release issued by the Defence Ministry has acted beyond its mandate”, says the Lawyers Collective
Slip reveals Gota’s target
http://www.lankatruth.com/home/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7223:slip-reveals-gotas-target&catid=42:smartphones&Itemid=74
An incident that confirms the Department of Police is indeed under the Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, despite his saying it’s not an institution under him but is under another ministry and a Secretary, has been reported.
In an interview the Defense Secretary had with ‘Daily Mirror’ on 1st July, he states he was not responsible for the accusations against the police for the incidents that took place at Aluthgama and Beruwala. He says, “But still why blame me? The Police doesn’t come under me, it’s a different Ministry in itself.”
However, answering another question in this interview the Defense Secretary says, “I was in Mihintale and the IGP and the Secretary to the Ministry of Law and Order was also there. As soon as we got to know about this I knew it could escalate into something unwarranted because the area is a very sensitive one. Even in 2007 there was a similar tension in this area. I immediately instructed the IGP to go to Aluthgama. I also requested the secretary of the Ministry of Law and Order to go there. The IGP on the same night immediately came to Aluthgama.”
In this statement the Defense Secretary indicates he directly ordered and instructed the police to get involved in the incidents.
The Defense Secretary is making a strong attempt to indicate that he had no connection with Aluthgama and Beruwala incidents as the incidents would harm his future political plans. In the interview he says, “Why am I blamed? This is purely done by people who are frighten of me coming to politics. They are frightened because I have proved myself be it in either Defense or Urban Development.” And when asked whether he would come into politics he says, “If the President invites me I will definitely come and I assure you that I can do much better than many of these politicians currently holding office.” It is so serious that he has to deny he has any connection with BBS and other extremist organizations by saying,” I will give up this post if they can prove this. I will leave this post if they can prove that I have any connection with any of these organizations.”
If the Department of Police is not under him the Defense Secretary cannot order or instruct the IGP and the secretary to the ministry to go to Aluthgama. The fact he wanted to hide has been revealed from his own statement.
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S. Modaya / July 8, 2014
Excellent statement! But unfortunately all the govt rag newspapers – Daily Mirror, Ceylon Today , Island do not publish this statement along side Goon Gota’s BORU claim, that NGO’s have no mandate to EDUCATE and INFORM the Sinhala Moda Masses on the true state of Economy, Governance and culture in the Miracle of Corruption.
Mahinda Jarapassa so-called Education HUB in the Miracle of Modayas is really a HUB of Sinhala Buddhist IGNORANCE – a joke of the highest order since education requires exposure to new ideas – including from NGOS, internet, free media and universities.
Mahinda and Gota wants to keep the Lion Race a Moda Race and hence, SInhala Modayas have NO RIGHT TO INFORMATION and EDUCATION from diverse sources, whether the university or NGO seminar, lectures, training programs.
The Jarapassa regime has systematically attacked freedom of CRITICAL THINKING and Right to Information in the Sri Lankan university system which is full of uneducated Jarapassa goons masquarading as lecturers and Profs.
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Ram / July 7, 2014
” civil society organisations do not have any right to conduct “press conferences, workshops, training for journalists, and dissemination of press releases”. “
The results of such ‘freedoms’ funded by USAid and National Endowment for Democracy are all too plain to see, the latest being Ukraine. Do we want a repeat in Sri Lanka ?
If the ‘Lawyers Collective’ is funded similarly, then we have to be rather vary of what it says. I hope that it can reassure us that it isn’t.
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nams / July 7, 2014
Why not? ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT LOOSING NASTY REGIM
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Eusense / July 7, 2014
nams,
Demolishing the regime may be necessary for Sri Lanka. But in principal I would not support NGO’s involvement (with outside aid) in carrying out such an action. It needs to be done by people of Sri Lanka in a democratic fashion.
Does any one know consequences of a outside NGO attempting to educate voters in the US?
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punchinilame / July 8, 2014
The question of educating US Citizens on this subject does not arise – no moda NGO will attempt to do it. The Silly Lanka Democratic set-up demands it specially under this “Dictatorial Democracy”.
If all Civil Society units require MoD Leadership Training,
educating the Sinhala buddhist subjects on Rights is todays urgent need
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Eusense / July 8, 2014
Punch,
So…what’s good for the goose is NOT good for the gander?
Also, does this “Dictatorial Democracy” in Russia require educating it’s voters? Why is nobody attempting to do that? Why only in Sri Lanka? Can you explain why they skip those powerful countries?
I feel more than the “Sinhala buddhist subjects” the “separatist Tamil subjects” like you need training. Why? these separatists destroyed a whole generation of Tamils by indulging in terrorism and violence. Where were these NGOs and their training seminars when Terrorist Tamils were suicide bombing innocent civilians?
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Snowden Edward Asange / July 9, 2014
How ironic is it that the ORDER to this comes from none other than a US citizen..u guessed it GOAT-A. under whom the MOD and the UDA is…?
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eusense / July 9, 2014
snow,
Why are you so surprised that a US citizen is doing so? Ask the same NGO to go educate US citizens on voting. You will find the answer then.
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Javi / July 11, 2014
Bend Over, Here It Comes Again.
Here is a Hole-in-One Nonsense the sterile copy cat.
Goota is Village Idiot sh*t for brains just like you.
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R.Dias / July 7, 2014
This is what Augusto Pinochet did during his rule in Chile….
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Peter Casie Chetty / July 7, 2014
It is a question of bona fides. It is common knowledge now that almost every NGP in Sri Lanka is funded by governments seeking regime change and perfect examples are the resulting chaos in the Middle East and North Africa. Iraq and Libya are good “for examples”. If all these people like Pakyasothy and Jehan Perera drop their pretences and show clean bills of health then there will be no need for clamping down of their freedom. I have always challenged the conclusive results of their campaigns. Has Jehan Perera being able to bring peace? Has Saravanamuttu being able to stop Election violence? Ruddy BS. All these people live comfortably and their feeding bottles are media conferences. Get a life guys. Do some honest work. After all you pewople are supposed to be educated.
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Sapumal / July 7, 2014
ok, we say we agree with you, but what you are trying to achieve by saying this? Are you trying to save the facist regime at their cost? What we say is we are fed up with this anti democratic moves. Enough is enough. We have undergone 17 years of UNP oppression and the again 20 years under Rajapaksa and SLFP oppression. Who care who get money from where. We care about everyones freedom .Do you think that only you and Gota knows this….everyone knows. But no one is above the law. When Gota and MR and clan has no power means , they have no where to go.
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mechanic / July 8, 2014
Open your eyes and see whatever had happened to those countries that USaid etc brought ‘Arab Springs’. What Peter says is that all those countries are having bitter winters now.
Since he was elected President, MR brought Sri Lanka better democracy, political stability, peace and development than any of those countries. Majority voters in Sri Lanka knows it. USaid and other neocons are puppeteers. They want a regime change. They think NGOs can manipulate Ranil be elected as President. Its all hogwash.
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Javi / July 9, 2014
Tsunami Hora and the world know just USAID is defence related but Europe No Way. What you stole during the tsunami are little childrens charity from EU.
Most folk in the EU donate to their favorite charities.
Chetty like you are greedy for the dollar therefore the jealousy of the kallathoni and hora oru Ha ha
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Peace Lover / July 7, 2014
aiyo Peter aiya your talking utter bullshit,of course Jehan and Pakiasothy have done a lot to educate the masses of peace building and reconciliation.
You ask a stupid question when you say
“Has Jehan Perera being able to bring peace? Has Saravanamuttu being able to stop Election violence?”
How can they do that when the goverment is behind almost all pre 2009 may violence in sri lanka!
infact a senior DIG Ravi Waidylankara could not even get justice for his son who was assaulted by the offspring of a Govt minister !!!
oh dear Peter i feel with old age your thinking too has suffered,better for you to chill out a bit with your folk at DBU and socialize and if sure it will make you think more sensibly!
O tmepora o mores
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Snowden Edward Asange / July 9, 2014
IF what u say by DBU.. is some University…I pity his students
Quote: Has Jehan Perera being able to bring peace? Has Saravanamuttu being able to stop Election violence UNQUOTE.
BEING able to? shouldn’t it be been able to? its repeated hence I thought its not by mistake..
(^-^)
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george jilmart / July 7, 2014
You are talking through your hat Peter the Chetty. Don’t display your ignorance by commenting on matters that you are not educated or knowledgeable on. Please tell us your educational qualifications and I guess there are none and this is the typical Sri Lankan mindset of ignoramuses like you who feel threatened and insecure with the qualitative education of guys like Pakiasothy and company that run the NGOs. You will be lucky if you are given the opportunity to clean their toilets man. Please tell us where you were educated and the scavenger jobs you have been doing overseas as well as in Sri Lanka. Reading your article what comes to mind is that nature has been unkind to you both mentally and physically, and that unfortunately CT is not in a position to know that you are mentally deranged and closer to the apes.
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Lapatiya / July 7, 2014
I fully agree with Peter (Maaru)Casi Chetty. Actually our Gota is very honest Gentleman. He easily should have used his White Van Brigade to teach a lesson or two to these western funded NGO’s without sending letters. He also should have used his own Gaanu 5 Bebadu Nanasara Balukaya or Champika’s Sinhala Rawaya or Wimal’s Rawana Balukaya or Namal Baby’s Blue film Balukaya.
Gota is the Law of the Country.
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Saman / July 9, 2014
Peter Casie Chetty,
What Rajapakse dictator does is systematically dismentling all the democratic institutions, trade unions, all opposition parties, lawyers association, police department, student unions, all minority communities and religious groups, health department and all other democratic institutions as well as NGOs so they could rule Sri Lanka on a dictatorial path using military and BBS Sinhala Buddhist extremist groups to run our country.
This should not be allowed to happen and this will never happen in Sri Lanka.
This is similar to what JVP tried in 1971 and LTTE in 1981 to 2009.
They were started but were defeated badly by Sri Lankan people.
Similarly all Rajapakses efforts will be futile when the people start rising up and will topple not only them but all the groups with extremist agendas. Rising up of all Associations, trade unions and peoples groups against Rajapakses strong arm governance are a clear sign that people are rising up agains them.
Very soon Sri Lanka will be liberated from all tyranny and Family run oligarch police state.
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wathie / July 7, 2014
Some NGOs are conspiring with the US and other western embassies to defeat MR at the next presidential election and get their puppet elected in his place. Defence ministry must use its intelligence sleuth to monitor what NGOs do and how they spend their money.
Democracy is one thing, monitoring foreign funded and foreign controlled NGOs is another thing altogether. Government must put severe restrictions on what NGOs could do and monitor their activities and check on their spending.
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Mrs Ramya Jayaratne / July 7, 2014
The Director and Registrar of the NGO Secretariat
is a former Immigration Department tout. He took
a lot of santhosam then for those who wanted to
get their passports.
Today he is posing like the left hand of Gothabaya
Rajapaksa. He is boasting he can get anything done
by Gothabaya and will finish off the NGOs. Go in
the evening to the government services sports club
and you will see this arrack drinking bureaucrat
from Moneragala entertaining by the bottle. Where
does he get the money?
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Park / July 7, 2014
What is the point in the Lawyers Association making noise in this manner. In the past too the Association made noise and nothing happened. In turn the Association also did not proceed further. Is the Association prepared to file a case against Rajapakse as he has no authority to control NGOs’. If the Association is not prepared to do this then they should keep quite.
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Eusense / July 7, 2014
park,
If GR is not the person to advocate this who ever has the power over the NGOs will do what MR wants to do. Why lose sleep over this?
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Javi / July 11, 2014
Idiot they don’t need you begging bowl nation.
they can see you but you cant see them CIA.
That is how Iraq came about and the first 2 know were the investment banks.
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Estate Labourer / July 7, 2014
That circular is written in very bad English. How can you expect anyone to take it seriously?
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ken robert / July 9, 2014
Estate labourer
” All Non Government Organisations should prevent from such unauthorised activities”
That circular is written in very bad English. How can you expect anyone to take it seriously?
I agree that the above sentence is written wrong. Do you think that a good command in English and a good conscience will get you to the top echelons of establishment in Srilanka?
We have to remain as slave estate labourers to the people smart but corrupt Srilankans
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nams / July 7, 2014
Will the prisons in US cope with older people from Sri Lanka. :(
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Ansar / July 7, 2014
Dias . There is no difference between Augustus Pinochet of Chile and ALUTHGAMA PONNOYOS. Two sides of a coin . This ponna GORA who shamelessly bolted to USA for fear of life has suddenly become Pee Chandiya only because he is surrounded by forces.If not he will be a piece of shit.
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Piranha / July 8, 2014
The laws in Sri Lanka today are made by the Rajapaksas. No one can challenge them. This is a fact. The people are sleepwalking in to a life under the Rajapaksas’ dictatorship. The sooner this dreaded family is deposed from power the better for democracy, racial amity among its ethnic groups, prosperity and peace in Sri Lanka.
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Fazl Muhammed / July 8, 2014
My advice to NGOs – Just keep doing what you are doing if not more… It is a game of chess. They make a move, we make a move. A queen will fall followed by the ‘king’… But it necessarily need not be the ones on my side…
The problem with us Sri Lankans is that only a few chooses to play the game!
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Aoka Vithanage / July 8, 2014
Mrs Jayaratne is spot on. Saman Dissanayake is not only
a tout but is also doing business. At a Defence Ministry
office in Chatham Street, one can see this if you visit
his office room. There are brokers and agents visiting him
daily. He cannot write two words cohesively in English, is
very crude and cunning. He makes commissions by putting
through deals. He also speaks to government officials,
particulalry Cusstoms/Police using his official position
to get jobs done. He gets his share. Gothabaya loves people
like this.
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Crazyoldmansl / July 8, 2014
FILE ACTION AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT FOR ABUSE OF POWER and VIOLATION OF THE CONSTITUTION AT LEAST NOW THAT THE SINHALESE ARE AFFECTED YOU RACIST IDIOTS1
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punchinilame / July 8, 2014
Why not the Opposition Peoples Represntatives in Parliament summarize
ALL the misdoings of its Civil Servant Mr. Nandasena Gotabaya for once
and summon him to the House for questioning – is there no provision to
do so, than go to his friends Court, as it will be a waste of time and
money.
This must be done before future elections – a lesson in Governance to all.
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Eusense / July 8, 2014
punch,
Where were you and your brain when we needed it; when Parayabakaran was suicide murdering innocent civilians. Your intelligence would have helped save 100,000 deaths. Or is it 200,000? (number keeps changing, I can’t keep track!)
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Eusense / July 8, 2014
crazy,
You appear to be the idiot here. What good do you expect to happen to the Tamils when you insult all Sinhalese as idiots?
Are you a 5 year old or an adult retard?
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Fathima / July 8, 2014
These statements are just a form of threats to those who expose the partnership of ruling family with intention to crush Muslims based on jealousy and inferiority.
Furthermore exposing BBS’s racist action by ruling family in return will exposes Gotha who is behind it by BBS members themselves.
With this statement from Ministry of Defense even a layman can understand from where BBS got the strength to disrupt the news conference of Ven. Watareka Vijitha Thero with other communities.
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Nimal / July 8, 2014
This is slow erosion of civic rights. Now the NGOs, tomorrow the people !
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K.A Sumanasekera / July 8, 2014
NGOs are safe heavens for Paedophiles, Homosexuals of both Sexes, and Sex Tourists on a budget, to indulge in their pleasures on tax payer donations.
This is in addition to providing logistics, funds, training and even arranging protection Visas for their close buddies who work as anti govt elements in non aligned poor countries.
NGOs who align with terrorist organizations in poor countries,in particular have good cover to protect themselves as it becomes a sort of symbiosis.
Our poor Srilanka has had a fair share of NGO activities which were totally in favour of the LTTE.
Do we need the same again?..
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Javi / July 9, 2014
Sevela in self pity mode.
Why dont you stop tourism if you have any ba**s- that is what we all are waiting for.
Your fear is you would end up eating your own gooo and Goo`ta.
Western taxpayers money is none of a vassal states business- we call the shots.
Beggars have no right to choose
Fascist Lanka Choose and perish!
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Peace Lover / July 9, 2014
How about the Buddhist monk thugs who go about as vigilantes who will curb them ponna man K A Sumanasekera?
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Thondamannar / July 8, 2014
Its easy to sit in an air conditioned office and criticise every action of the GOSL for $$$$$..
Yet, somebody has to do something about these NGOs. They are there to establish the agendas of their paymasters who are from the West anf to cover up their HR violation.
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Native Vedda / July 9, 2014
Thonda Man
“They are there to establish the agendas of their paymasters who are from the West anf to cover up their HR violation.”
What is their agenda?
Give us a few examples of their covered up human rights violations.
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Kiafiya Addar / July 9, 2014
This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy.For more detail see our Comment policy https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/comments-policy-2/
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Deshapriya / July 9, 2014
at least get the english right!
“should prevent”?? gosh our tinpot dictatorship gets worse by the day!
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