The government today ruled out the granting of a general amnesty to nearly 300 Tamil political prisoners who engaged in a hunger strike recently, demanding their immediate release.
The decision on refusing an amnesty to prisoners had been arrived at a meeting chaired by the Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe
The other attendees at the meeting had been Minister for National Dialgue Mano Ganesan, Law and Order and Prison Reforms Minister Tilak Marapana, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Minister D.M. Swaminathan, Inspector General of Police N. K. Ilangakoon, officials from the Prisons Department and Attorney General’s Department.
However, the Prime Minister during the meeting had advised officials of the Attorney General’s Department to consider granting temporary release under bail conditions for those prisoners who can be granted such a facility until their cases are taken up in courts.
Officials of the Attorney General’s department during the meeting insisted that granting a general amnesty for the prisoners was impossible as they had been arrested under Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA).
Also the AG’s department officials said that they will soon file legal action against a number of prisoners who have credible charges against them.
They pointed out that legal action on a number of others were currently proceeding in courts.
Tamil prisoners, including former LTTE cadres at the main high security prison in Colombo started a hunger strike a couple of weeks back demanding the immediate release of Tamil political prisoners.
The prisoners called for a pardon and refused to suspend the fast until they got an acceptable solution.
After five days the prisoners ended their fast after assurances made by the President and several Tamil political leaders that their issues will be looked into within a short period of time.
Meanwhile the Tamil National Alliance and the Norther Provincial Council too engaged in protests demanding the release of the prisoners.
When questioned TNA Parliamentarian M. A. Sumanthiran said the that party was currently studying the outcome of the meeting chaired by the Premier and will make its stance known shortly.
Minister for National Dialogue Mano Ganesan meanwhile said that according to the government decision a large group of prisoners who are under custody for minor charges will be released under bail conditions.
He described the new development as a step forward in solving the political prisoner issue. Ganesan said that the government will take measures to speed up prosecutions on those who have credible charges and will release others
Meanwhile Prison sources said that prisoners were contemplating re-launching their hunger strike as their demands had not been met.
Vibhushana / October 27, 2015
Wigneswaran at the northern provincial council spent Rs 80 million of their budget to defend these LTTE war criminals.
What is more baffling is anyone with any legal training would know the difference between a war criminal and a political prisoner.
However TNA Parliamentarian M. A. Sumanthiran goes on hunger strike next demanding they be declared “political prisoners”.
So when M. A. Sumanthiran was loitering in Geneva screaming war crimes did he know the difference? If he did not know even the basics how certain is anything this guy has done is credible?
/
Lanka Watch / October 27, 2015
Vibhushana – Pls note Mr. M.A. Wigneswaran is a constitutional lawyer and well versed in these matter and he knows what is he doing.
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Jim softy / October 28, 2015
Former Constitutional lawyer is spending govt money earned mostly by the South but given to northen tamils for saving suicide bombers and black tigers.
complain after that.
what kind of disgusting people.
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John / October 28, 2015
Wonder if Ranil is Taking my advise ??, two moons ago in CT, if so, it’s Win-Win formula.
I said,
“
One Solution to this is ” forgive & forget” ,
Govt. of Sri Lanka should bring in a resolution / act in parliament , with PM Ranil & MP Mahinda jointly proposing it & opposition leader Sampanthan seconding it & passed with 2/3 majority ,
“that all those LTTE suspects in jail as well as all those Sri lankan forces personnel who would have committed any such crime be absolved of any such crime committed or not & acquitted & released as the general rule” ,
And perhaps as exception to rule being
“if any one in SL forces or LTTE who can be identified specifically beyond reasonable doubt (meaning credible evidence) for crimes against humanity in specific instances, be dealt with existing law including death penalty”.
This exception to rule won’t be difficult since war ended 06 years ago
If we Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim are united in our resolve as one Sri Lankan nation, No body from outside would ever interfere “
Yes , Ranil, way to go, it’s give & take ,
Cheers
/
Inspector Dirty Hari / October 28, 2015
Lanka Watch,
Good to see you. I was wondering where you are.
“Pls note Mr. M.A. Wigneswaran is a constitutional lawyer and well versed in these matter and he knows what is he doing.”
Unfortunately Wigneswaran is now a politician and misleading people. He seems to have forgotten what he was practicing as a judge. He demanded bail for persons detained under PTA and bail never exists when PTA is used.
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Native Vedda / October 29, 2015
Inspector Dirty Hari
” He demanded bail for persons detained under PTA and bail never exists when PTA is used.”
How long persons can be detained without being charged or bailed? This is really interesting. Cops and armed forces can arrest anyone under PTA and locked them in the prisons and wait until they die.
You must be a very intelligent person who is also knowledgeable in legal matters.
Keep up your good work, and good name.
Chief Inspector Jacques Clouseau seems adroit and competent.
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Shrikharan / October 27, 2015
Vibhushana
“know the difference between a war criminal and a political prisoner.”
Someone arrested without being charged for 20 years is certainly a political prisoner. How come you did not the basic difference. It is nothing but inhumane to have someone on custody without having any charges served for 20 years under whatever law including ‘prevention of Terrorism act’ I put it to you most of them are innocent and they were merely in the war zone only because they were residents. Had if they was any shred of evidence certainly a charge would have been served. How the hell can you tell they are not political prisoners. Check your head first, damn fool. I hope same fate befalls you or to your family member and am waiting for that day.
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Davidson Panabokke / October 28, 2015
They pardoned JVP and appointed Youth Commission for them: look at the submission to LLRC made by Prof Priyan Dias.
Discrimination raised to the power of n.
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Davidson Panabokke / October 28, 2015
Prime Minister is going to appoint Compassionate Council of religious leaders who will decide on justice to those charged in war crimes as action on UNHRC resolution.
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jansee / October 27, 2015
Vibushana:
Rapists, murderers and sadists are roaming free and heralded as heroes. Why the blatant double standards?
A person may be held under POTA for two years. Isn’t fifteen to twenty years held without being charged a gross abuse of power and a miscarriage of justice? Charge those who have committed crimes and let them have their day in the court. After all sinhalese judges have been noted for skewed judgements. Even if they were tried by Tamils, it will be transferred to sinhalese judges/magistrates.
“What is more baffling is anyone with any legal training would know the difference between a war criminal and a political prisoner.”
Really!! Does that apply to your sinhalese war criminals, too?
The President, PM and the FM have categorically stated that they will protect the soldiers at all costs. Despite the fact that the UNHRC indignation is looming over their heads, they are trying the same trick every sinhalese regime had tried until the luck finally ran out of the Rajapakse regime. If it is the truth and reconciliation for murders on a mass scale, including rapists and war crimes perpetrators, why the double standards on Tamils?
Sumanthiran, together with others managed to return home from Geneva with successful resolutions passed against SL in their bags. What did the team with even Ministers representing SL doing when they failed in that mission? Looks like it was not Sumanthiran but the SL guys who were loitering in Geneva.
Read the Paranagama Commission report. The commission of heinous crimes were committed by the regime. While every nook of the LTTE’s actions appeared in its radar and implicated the LTTE for that, even glaring crimes committed by the forces “requires further investigation”. All the perpetrators and witnesses were having tea with Gotabaya and became untouchable.
If it is the intention of the current govt to wish this problem away, then they are going to be surprised. If it wants the Tamils to support its initiatives, it has to be and seen to be fair and equitable to all perpetrators which is not happening now.
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Thiru / October 28, 2015
Vibhushana,
Remember these people are not charged, let alone convicted to be called criminals. You are an irrational Sinhala racist.
Even the PTA does not allow the present lawless government to keep them for such a long time without a trial.
It is a clear case of impunity and being above the law stand taken by the government.
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Inspector Dirty Hari / October 28, 2015
Thiru,
“Remember these people are not charged, let alone convicted to be called criminals.”
Most of them have actually been charged if you choose to believe information given by the Government. About 60 have not been charged.
“Even the PTA does not allow the present lawless government to keep them for such a long time without a trial.”
True. PTA does not allow it but other law does.
“It is a clear case of impunity and being above the law stand taken by the government.”
The police and courts are not following the law. Where to complain? The Dept of AG? Have the detainees done that?
/
Amarasiri / October 29, 2015
RE:Govt. Refuses To Grant Amnesty To Tamil Political Prisoners
What roles did these “Political Prisoners” Play in War Crimes?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_crime
1. Executing Captured Gov Soldiers.
2. Forcing young children and you men to join LTTE.
3. Killing of LTTE Opponents.
4. Expulsion of Northern Muslims.
Should we re-classify Nazis as Angels?
War Crimes.
War crimes are defined in the statute that established the International Criminal Court, which includes:
Grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions, such as:
Willful killing, or causing great suffering or serious injury to body or health
Torture or inhumane treatment
Unlawful wanton destruction or appropriation of property
Forcing a prisoner of war to serve in the forces of a hostile power
Depriving a prisoner of war of a fair trial
Unlawful deportation, confinement or transfer
Taking hostages
The following acts as part of an international conflict:
Civilians killed in the shelling of east Ukraine’s Luhansk. According to the HRW report, “The use of indiscriminate rockets in populated areas violates international humanitarian law, or the laws of war, and may amount to war crimes.”[12]
Directing attacks against civilians
Directing attacks against humanitarian workers or UN peacekeepers
Killing a surrendered combatant
Misusing a flag of truce
Settlement of occupied territory
Deportation of inhabitants of occupied territory
Using poison weapons
Using civilians as shields
Using child soldiers
Firing upon a Combat Medic with clear insignia.
The following acts as part of a non-international conflict:
Murder, cruel or degrading treatment and torture
Directing attacks against civilians, humanitarian workers or UN peacekeepers
Taking hostages
Summary execution
Pillage
Rape, sexual slavery, forced prostitution or forced pregnancy
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Inspector Dirty Hari / October 29, 2015
Amarasiri,
“What roles did these “Political Prisoners” Play in War Crimes?”
They are small fish.
What bothers me are the bigger fish who continue in the Tamil elite.
/
Joseph De Vazz / October 31, 2015
If JVP suspects could be released why cannot the LTTE suspect cannot be released because they are Tamils and that is the main reason.
If LTTE Eastern Province leader Karuna could be pardoned and can hold a ministerial job why cannot these Tamil youths could be released and sent home.
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Ben Hurling / October 27, 2015
Wow! Sri Lanka’s AG follows every single law to the letter. Only when it comes to the most powerless in society.
For all others, such as Avant Guard or Rajapassa cronies, AG is quick to find creative loopholes in the law.
How come the worst culprits, such as Basil, Gota or KP are roaming free? While helpless foot soldiers like these men who went on hunger strike are incarcerated forever?
These people must be released one way or the other. What happened at this meeting is progress. But, hardly enough.
Cheers!
/
Kumar R. / October 27, 2015
Ben H.
You are absolutely right! The whole system is so decked against all citizens, except those in Power. It is a national issue – not a Sinhala-Tamil issue.
Until the nation wakes up, hopefully with the academics and genuine intellects taking the lead to educate the so-far-duped Sinhala south, there is no redemption for the country.
Why then is this case being fought by Tail political parties only? If Tamil Politicians look after only Tamil issues, and Sinhala politicians look after only Sinhala interests, then it indeed is a divided nation – there is no single nation.
Establishing a common identity is not the sole responsibility of minority communities conceding to survive subordinated to the majority. The responsibility is a shared one among all communities, to ensure that democratic and civilized Governance gets established and strengthened – not selfishly undermined for Political expedience, the path that Banda set in motion!
Let’s see how Sinhala civil society (the anathema to the now-thankfully-muted Dayan and the like) take a responsible role in this issue of shared democratic interest for the betterment of the nation, if indeed it has a valid claim as a single-nation!
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Nirmala N / October 28, 2015
[Edited out]
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Spring Koha / October 27, 2015
Oh Ranil, how times change.
There was a time when a convicted rapist serving time could be given a Presidential pardon and a jp’ship.
These days of course there is no chance of an amnesty for an effectively failed terrorist. On the other hand, the government can go around assuring soldiers who acted in excess of their command and perpetrated battle field outrage of the certainty of pardon, come what may.
Come Mother Lanka. succour and comfort me before I go mad.
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Native Vedda / October 27, 2015
Spring Koha
“Come Mother Lanka. succour and comfort me before I go mad.”
No great mind has ever existed without a touch of madness.
― Aristotle
The difference between two individuals is the existence of degree of madness. The rule: All of us are mad. The degree of madness separate us as individuals.
Therefore you should be worrying about other things and not about increase/decrease in madness.
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soma / October 28, 2015
My level of madness is also on increase over this case. Leaving aside the argument over political or terrorist suspects why can’t we just pardon them even if they were convicted prisoners which they are not – only suspects.
I believe Tamil insistence on ‘accountability’ has put the government in a tight corner.
Soma.
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Jest saying / October 28, 2015
Native – As you say “All of us are mad”, except, of course, you and me – and sometimes I’m not too sure about you!!!
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Native Vedda / October 28, 2015
Jest saying
” Native – As you say “All of us are mad”, except, of course, you and me – and sometimes I’m not too sure about you!!!”
Its about degree of madness, from 0 to 100%.
You cannot see your own madness but people around you know you are mad within 0 to 100% range, particularly your children know well about you.
Your partner would dismiss it by saying “Oh I knew he was mad when I got married to him, I thought he was madly in love with me but he was indeed mad, since it has worsened which I didn’t expect at the time”
You wouldn’t have responded to my silly comment if you were not mad.
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Shrikharan / October 27, 2015
Spring Koha
I totally agree with you.
This is exactly the reason the ‘accused’ cannot also be a ‘judge’ in the case against him (even though you may be a qualified judge). There certainly be bias in the outcome. If we to achieve a clean end to this dirty past we should have an Independent inquiry.
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Sach / October 27, 2015
So you are saying SL government should punish SL soldiers but give a pardon fir LTTE terrorists ? nice
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Native Vedda / October 27, 2015
Sachooooooooooooo
What is the difference between you and a knife?
/
Shrikharan / October 28, 2015
Sach
My reply to Vibhushana also applies to you.
Who pardons whom? These people have not been served any charges for 20 years. So how do you pardon someone who do not have any charges? So certainly they are simply political prisoners. They were simply residents of the area in war zone. It is not the Government to pardon the people incarcerated for 20 years. How can a Government pardon who have not committed any crime. It is like saying “I am going to pardon the Pope / mother Theresa / new born baby”, (who have done nothing wrong)! Firstly to pardon you must have done something wrong. One cannot pardon those who have not done any wrong, can they? So it is only the victims being incarcerated without a charge may pardon the Government and not the other way round.
I am not telling not to take action on the LTTE members identified to have committed crimes. Unfortunately all of them were killed, no one spared including those who attempted to surrender holding white flags after having negotiated through International mediators. Waiting for 20 years for a charge to be made? Are you crazy. You have the typical mindset of the Government speaking without any feelings and it because of this attitude the International community has taken a tough stand. Don’t you have any compassion for these people that they may be innocent?
But the security forces have clearly committed war crimes such as killing those LTTE carders holding white flags. Captured LTTE fighters blind folded and shot at point blank range as shown on Channel 4. Killing of Isaipriya., Killing of Prabaharan’s son who is only a very young child. But the war criminal soldiers are walking free!
So Sach there is a big difference between the two you are trying to equate. Just speak to your own conscience without rattling some rubbish like a fool.
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Vetmahadeva / October 29, 2015
Dear Sach,
It is not such a short thing discussed here, we are talking about the people who had been already punished by the State without any charge sheets served on them, for 15-20 years.
You are comparing them with entire Sri Lankan soldiers by virtue of the absolutely argument articulated short query, but in fact it is only about few soldiers who have gone excess of the overall command.
The accountability process should be seen as an attempt to exonerate the rest of the soldiers who are done their duty perfectly with human sense.
If the State is bargaining for pardoning for such accountability process then the State, who ever against the latter, it self becomes the culprit of entire HR violations during the war.
If the JVPers who twice tried to over throw an elected government can be pardoned, why not these suspects without any proper charges?
If 11000 known LTTE cadres captured can be rehabilitated and released why not these already being punished for no known reasons with the same procedure?
The good governance Govt. is not at the best way of thinking!
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Inspector Dirty Hari / October 29, 2015
Vetmahadeva,
“If 11000 known LTTE cadres captured can be rehabilitated and released why not these already being punished for no known reasons with the same procedure?”
I have been told that some detained LTTE cadres refuse to sign a promise to never restart armed struggle again. This is maybe the reason some LTTE cadres are still detained but does not explain the delay in charging and convicting the others.
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Vetmahadeva / October 29, 2015
Dear Sach,
It is not such a short thing discussed here, we are talking about the people who had been already punished by the State without any charge sheets served on them, for 15-20 years.
You are comparing them with entire Sri Lankan soldiers by virtue of the absolutely argument articulated short query, but in fact it is only about few soldiers who have gone excess of the overall command.
The accountability process should be seen as an attempt to exonerate the rest of the soldiers who are done their duty perfectly with human sense.
If the State is bargaining for pardoning for such accountability process then the State, or whoever against the latter, all becomes the culprit of entire HR violations during the war.
If the JVPers who twice tried to over throw an elected government can be pardoned, why not these suspects without any proper charges?
If 11000 known LTTE cadres captured can be rehabilitated and released why not these already being punished for no known reasons with the same procedure?
The good governance Govt. is not at the best way of thinking!
/
Piranha / October 27, 2015
Many of these prisoners have been on custody without charges being filed for many years possibly due to lack of evidence. Just because they were arrested under Pta does Mot mean they must remain incarcerated. The AGs reasoning should be challenged.
This government appears to be no different to the wretched Rajapaksa one when it comes to tamil prisoners.
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Nagananda / October 27, 2015
On prisoners held in Custody under PTA with no charges levelled against them: The Attorney General says that the AG’s Department will soon file legal action against a number of prisoners who have credible charges against them.
It there any credibility in this statement made after the suspect were held in custody for more than a decade with no charges levelled against them. In a true democracy the Attorney General is the “guardian of the public interest” and “good governance” but not in a pseudo democracy like the Republic of Sri Lanka.
More than anybody else the AG is fully aware that in this country the PTA is abused to hold suspects in custody for long period of time with no charges levelled against them and in some cases over 10 or more years.
This is fundamentally wrong and the AG is the one who should object to this blatant abuse of law.
It is immaterial to what ethnic group the suspects are belongs to. The rule of law shall prevail and no law enforcement agency should be allowed to abuse the law. Right thinking citizens should demand immediate release of all suspects held in custody under PTA unconditionally. The PTA itself, a draconian piece of legislation enacted to protect oppressive regimes, shall be withdrawn from the statute book.
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Yoga / October 27, 2015
PTA was included in legislation by JR’S government to put any Young Tamil into prison and to prevent them from becoming a militant and joining either LTTE or any of the other groups who had rebelled against the oppressive measures taken by the successive Sinhala governments to push the Tamils to a second class unwanted citizens in Srilanka. Even today the so called good governance government has no will to rectify the mistakes done by their colleagues and seniors. This is the result of them holding to racism, narrow mindedness and the superiority complex due to their number. They don’t want to lose their face against the extremist9 Rajapaska cronies. Even LSSP once stood for parity has produced show off racist Vasu. His son in law a Tamil, yet his recent speeches worse than The Clown Vera Wansa. Ranil is no different from his late uncle JR. He too a fox. You cannot expect any JUSTICE from this or Any Sinhala Government in future. All Tamil Politicians have been fooled by DS,SWRD, Dudley, so on and now BY MY3 who came to this position on the backs of Tamil speaking people, now that he has crossed the river he doesn’t need them. This is what the Sinhala Maha Janatha’s Philosophy.
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PARAGON / October 27, 2015
Ranil and company is creating a very difficult situation for TNA.specially for SAMPANTHAN-SUMANTHIRAN.as a first step at least RANIL must prove he is a gentlemen by releasing some of these guys detained under bail without further delay.AS A MARK OF PROREST SAM MUST RESIGN FROM LEADER OF OPPOSITION POST.
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Nagananda / October 27, 2015
On prisoners held in Custody under PTA with no charges levelled against them: The Attorney General says that the AG’s Department will soon file legal action against a number of prisoners who have credible charges against them.
Is there any credibility in this statement made after the suspect were held in custody for more than a decade with no charges levelled against them. In a true democracy the Attorney General is the “guardian of the public interest” and “good governance” but not in a pseudo democracy like the Republic of Sri Lanka.
More than anybody else the AG is fully aware that in this country the PTA is abused to hold suspects in custody for long period of time with no charges levelled against them and in some cases over 10 or more years.
This is fundamentally wrong and the AG is the one who should object to this blatant abuse of law.
It is immaterial to what ethnic group the suspects are belong to. The rule of law shall prevail and no law enforcement agency should be allowed to abuse the law. Right thinking citizens should demand immediate release of all suspects held in custody under PTA unconditionally. The PTA itself, a draconian piece of legislation enacted to protect oppressive regimes, shall be withdrawn from the statute book.
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cholan / October 27, 2015
It is because of Tamil voters Ranil & My3 came to power ..otherwise their political life would have been eclipsed ….
File the case against these prisoners else release them ….
Law in this cursed country is different for Tamils …
Wow this is the way they are going to handle internal UN inquiry …..but fooling the International society is not possible anymore ..
Old wine in new bottle ….
Cheers
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Shankar / October 27, 2015
Tamil Eelam is the only solution for Tamils in Sri Lanka.
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shankar / October 27, 2015
hey you bugger,why don’t you change your name to shankar2,or put your srname.
As for your eelam,can you get modi to make a statement that india is changing its policy of blockng tamils from ever getting eelam because it does not want 25 eelams in its own country one day. Then a 800 pound gorilla blocking the path can be removed.To get eelam, first tamilnadu has to seperate from india.Jaffna tail cannot wag the tamil head.It should be the other way about isn’t it?
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Plato. / October 27, 2015
Officials of the Attorney Generals department during the meeting insisted that granting a general amnesty for the prisoners was impossible as they had been arrested under Prevention of Terrorism Act[PTA].
In 1977,when JR assumed power,one of his first acts was to grant an Amnesty to the JVP prisoners.
Why should there be Double Standards?
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Champa / October 27, 2015
The Prime Minister should get another ‘one month tuition’ from Obama about terrorists and terrorist suspects. He shouldn’t forget to ask the meaning of the words ‘imminent threat’ and ‘collateral damage’.
Barrack Obama’s sentencing for terrorists is FINAL. He never let them go anywhere. In his ‘book’, terrorists don’t receive trials. Obama is giving direct orders to kill terrorists in mass scale. He kills them with night time raids on the ground and with drones from the sky. He is fighting terrorism with pre-emptive execution. He is killing terrorists one by one without keeping any ‘prisoners’. Mind my reminding you, all these terrorists are NOT EVEN operating in US soil.
Fortunate for LTTE terrorists, President Mahinda Rajapaksa was not like Obama. If he was like Obama, there won’t be any LTTE ‘prisoners’, all would have been killed in the battle. Unlike Obama, President Mahinda Rajapaksa never gave direct orders to kill each and every terrorist. In my opinion, as the Head of State, his main fight against the LTTE was re-capturing the lands controlled by terrorists and restore law and order in those areas. The culmination of re-capturing LTTE controlled lands by the government troops, marked the end of LTTE terrorism with 27,000 of our war heroes sacrificing their lives willingly and another 24,000 sacrificing their eyes, ears, limbs and legs.
Unlike ‘lethal’ Barrack Obama, President Mahinda Rajapaksa was democratic, reasonable, compassionate and kind hearted. In contrast to Obama, killing all the terrorists was not the first and only option for President Mahinda Rajapaksa, although he had the opportunity. He first invited them for negotiations a number of times, then called them for surrender. Colonel Karuna embraced this opportunity to abandon terrorism and absorb to the civilized life and political mainstream. President Mahinda Rajapaksa kept the promise by reforming him and granting him protection. Not acceding to those kind requests and fight against government troops and see to the death of his cadre was entirely Prabhakaran’s selfish decision. President Mahinda Rajapaksa is not responsible for that barbaric terrorist leader’s decisions.
After the war, President Mahinda Rajapaksa rehabilitated the majority of surrendered and captured terrorists and gave them vocational training to facilitate their smooth transition to the civil society. Out of all the surrendered, only a small faction of hardcore terrorists were sentenced to jail. Those hardcore terrorists should not be released to the society on ‘general amnesty’ or ‘bail’. If they deserve such amnesty, it would have been President Mahinda Rajapaksa who would have done that first. This government should understand the gravity of releasing these hardcore terrorists to the mainstream without considering the safety and security of the general public. The government is clearly lost in the morass of right and wrong and blunders and explanations.
The government is so compassionate about hardcore terrorists while sentencing the members of our armed forces WITHOUT BAIL. Aren’t they entitled for this ‘general amnesty’ or ‘release on bail’? Or is it exclusively for terrorists? In the first place, the government should not have imposed death sentence to Staff Sergeant Sunil Ratnayake. The President should have granted him clemency. Sunil Ratnayake is suffering in the jail because he was not a terrorist. If he was a terrorist and not an army officer, he will receive ‘general amnesty’ or ‘released on bail’. Is that the message this government is conveying to the citizens of this country???
If the government grants bail to hardcore LTTE terrorists, they don’t have a right to implement the recommendations of the Geneva Report and establish a Court with hybrid mechanism. Because, by releasing hardcore LTTE terrorists, the government shows their prejudice over the legitimate army of the country who fought against those terrorists. Then the government has no right whatsoever to send the members of the legitimate army to gallows as agreed in their Resolution. They should reject the Geneva Report and withdraw the co-sponsorship of the US Resolution before granting bail or general amnesty to these hardcore LTTE terrorists.
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MR / October 27, 2015
Head of Prisons Dept
Please let the readers know:
1 How many Tamil remand prisoners are detained in each prison
2 How many of them have been charged and taken to Courts
3. How many not charged
4. How many charged under PTA
5. How long each prisoner is detained
6. Date of arrest of each person. Arrest by Police or Armed Forces. Date of detention in most of the cases will be after several days or weeks of arrest.
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shankar / October 27, 2015
“Minister for National Dialogue Mano Ganesan meanwhile said that according to the government decision a large group of prisoners who are under custody for minor charges will be released under bail conditions.
He described the new development as a step forward in solving the political prisoner issue. Ganesan said that the government will take measures to speed up prosecutions on those who have credible charges and will release others”
I think that is fair and reasonable.Everyone cannot come under the political prisoner category,each case has to be looked at individually.
Those who want to fast and die should be allowed to,so that they can become martyrs like Theepan,to inspire others of self sacrifice needed.
If there are humbug fasters like wimal,karunanidi etc,then sampanthan and sumanthiran should be on standby 24/7 to pass a vadai or two.
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shankar / October 28, 2015
oops,a mistake by me,it should be thileepan,not the warrior theepan.
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NAMS / October 28, 2015
Tamils suffering will continue under this government too, as suffered over last 60 years. Ranil knows the TNA is so weak and he can bully the MP’s elected from the Tamils area. Ranil recent actions confirm that he is no interested in solving ethnic people issues. Mano G and orther TNA MP’s are now mouthpiece of UNP. It’s absolutely shame. Lots of pepole beginning to think they had choosed the wrong person for prime mister roll……
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K.A Sumanasekera / October 28, 2015
Our PM, Batalanda Ranil’s UNP London and Suren Surendran, the boss of GTF are equal partners in this Yahapalanaya Govt.
Batalanda Ranil’s Minister for Western Interests and Diaspora Demands, Mr Mangala Samaraweera has even promised us a “Kotti Sanakeliya” A K A Diaspora Carnival in Colombo soon.
These dudes being held in our prisons still, is a joke.Isn’t it?.
Besides, we need room for our Army dudes ,once the Hybrid Judges , Prosecutors, and War crime Experts start descending on our Motherland soon, to check who in the Armed Forces took part in cleaning up Pudduthikirrippu and Nanthikadal..
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Native Vedda / October 28, 2015
KASmaalam K.A Sumanasekera
It seems you are not your normal self. How are you?
Hope you are alright.
If you are not well, I wish you a speedy recovery.
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Rizwan / October 28, 2015
Your repeat use of ‘Batalanda’ in front of Ranil is boring.
Don’t you know that he was exonerated from the incident?
Get with the times man! Either read the news or stop being an idiot.
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Ben Hurling / October 28, 2015
Dear Sumane,
Hunger strike dudes who committed crimes and Army dudes who exceeded their power can come testify before a future Truth Commission in Sri Lanka.
They will be pardoned in return for nothing but the whole truth.
Try to relax, if you sweat at night. You will be OK.
Cheers!
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Siva Sankaran Sarma / October 28, 2015
Good, so Ranil can get things right every now and then :D
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D.Nimal / October 28, 2015
Politics and security of democracy is not that Tea party .
Sri lanka want remain as Democratic nation in world map .
We are not supposed to released Tamil Terrorist.
What ever the Government come to power by ballot they have to safeguarded democracy of all nationalities .
No upper hand for Terrorist of Sinhalese or Tamil or Muslims.
We have stand for Democracy, Democracy and Democracy!
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Japwatch / October 28, 2015
SL GOVT,
How come the wild, stray, dogs are let loose on the street? The person who literally killed 600 policemen and 100s of others is roaming the streets freely. The former regime literally sanctified him and the like with ministerial posts. What is the logic?
Very poor decision. You mean to say you do not have the legal framework to decide what to do with those prisoners.. It has been around 20 years or so… And your legal system is not ready to deal with such cases? Yeah might as well kill them or let them fast unto death. Seriously…
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Shrikharan / October 28, 2015
For the benefit of people like Vibhushana and Sach, can you define ‘political prisoner’.
Aren’t people kept in custody without a charge being served for many… many years (e.g. 20 years) also fall under this category. I am NOT speaking in reference to Sri Lanka am speaking in general in relevance to any part of the world.
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uncommon man / October 28, 2015
Tamil political prisoners are not requesting pardon.They are only demanding equal treatment.When Sinhalese youth more than 10,000 were apprehended in 1971 they were released within a matter of months.Same thing happened in 1989 – 90.Why not use the same yard stick to Tamil political prisoners? This is nothing but racism and discrimination.These people are not murderers,rapists,robbers and hoodlums like the Army ‘ranaviruwos’. They fought for a cause and that is why they are known as political prisoners.
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TinPotJihadi / October 29, 2015
Bravo Ranil Sir. These tiger suspects should not be released
Do what the US does.
A Mauritanian citizen held at Guantanamo Bay for 13 years despite never being accused of a crime and being cleared for release years ago by the U.S. government was finally repatriated to his home country, the Pentagon said on Thursday.
Ahmed Ould Abdel Aziz, 45, was told in 2009 by an inter-agency review task force created by the Obama administration that it no longer believed that that he needed to be detained in the U.S. prison camp. Yet there he remained, along with 53 other detainees who have also been cleared for release, out of a total 113 who remain at the controversial detention facility.
“While it’s great that Ahmed is home with his family, it’s 14 years late, and long after he was cleared,” one of his lawyers, Clive Stafford Smith said. “His release was only delayed because he, an innocent man, routinely protested his mistreatment.”
The U.S. government has not said why, despite after being cleared for release in 2009, his repatriation has
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TinPotJihadi / October 29, 2015
Terrorists do not need to be released in a hurry. US will never release terrorists. They in fact, torture them in third country locations in a program called “Rendition”. US Hon PM is our ally now.Do as the USA does.
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taraki / October 30, 2015
The Government is only following that bastion of freedom, the USA.
Have you not heard of Guantanamo? According to the BBC the first 20 detainees were transferred to the facility on January 11 2002, and a total of 780 men have been held since then – the vast majority without charge or criminal trial.
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BBS Rep / November 3, 2015
If mastermind KP and mass executioner Karuna could be pardoned and given ministerial portfolios, why not these low ranked cadres, even if they committed terrorism related offences. War criminals GOTA and MR are also free to go about their business, aren’t they. Are there any ulterior motive afoot in keeping these pathetic people under lock and key.
“Officials of the Attorney General’s department during the meeting insisted that granting a general amnesty for the prisoners was impossible as they had been arrested under Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA).” The AG’s department must read the PTA more thoroughly before so insisting. There is no provision for persons arrested on PTA to be held indefinitely.
Ah but then this is of course the Sri Lanka Attorney General’s Department.
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