Tamil politicians, including a Minister and activists have expressed their disappointment over the ruling by the Colombo High Court which acquitted all five suspects involved in the murder of former TNA MP Nadaraja Raviraj.
Raviraj
According to reports Lawyer and TNA Parliamentarian M.A. Sumanthiran, who also represented the victim’s family in the case said he did not accept the ruling, and will appeal Saturday’s ruling, which saw five personnel including three former intelligence officers of the Sri Lanka Navy being released.
Sumanthiran pointed out that this verdict is one reason why the TNA was continuously advocating for foreign judges to be present in an effort to maintain the independence of the judiciary, even when it comes to matters relating to war crimes.
Meanwhile, Minister of National Coexistence Dialogue and Official Languages Mano Ganesan who also tweeted his disappointment over Saturday’s ruling said the decision was frustrating because the ruling made it look as if Raviraj shot himself and his security. “It is frustrating as if Raviraj shot himself and his security,” he said.
Raviraj was shot dead in November 2006 along with his bodyguard. He was shot five times while his police bodyguard Sergeant Laxman Lokuwella was shot eight times.
Following the court decision, Suren Surendiran, spokesman of the GTF highlighted that all the accused, legal representatives, as well as the judge and seven jurors were Sinhalese, while the victim who was murdered was Tamil. “Should Tamils trust Sri Lanka’s justice system?,” he asked.
The order release was granted to the suspects after the case was heard before a special jury, even though the state witness had given details of the murder plot including who had pulled the trigger to kill Raviraj.
Incidentally, the order is the latest in a series of court decisions to release military intelligence officers, after President Maithripala Sirisena launched a verbal attack over the arresting and remanding of army intelligence officers in October. Since Sirisena’s statement, all arrested army intelligence officers including Army Intelligence Officer Premananda Udalagama who was involved in the murder case of Sunday Leader Editor Lasantha Wickrematunge has been released. Also, the last two Army Intelligence Officers who were remanded in connection with the disappearance of Prageeth Ekneligoda, were also released last month.
Common Sense / December 25, 2016
These are sensitive issues in so many ways. Emotions run high.
In the first place, why was not this case tried by a High-Court-at-Bar? Why is it that MA Sumanthiran and others now talk of the ethnicity of the jurors and the judge after the trial? A lawyer of the calibre of Sumanthiran knows that during British-Ceylon times and during independent Ceylon times (1796 – 1972) the prosecution does not appeal a verdict of the jury acquitting an accused. This practise continued even in Sri Lanka until recently. I ask Sumanthiran to quote a precedent in Britain where jury acquittal verdicts are appealed by the prosecution. In Sri Lanka, the choice of waiving a Jury trial to a single judge rests with the accused and the decision to hold a High-Court-at-Bar lies with the Chief Justice who has always agreed to such requests made by the Attorney General.
I am dissappointed with Sumanthiran’s and others’ belated outbursts. Justice should be done in this murder to the satisfaction of all concerned. The guilty in a murder case should not have freedom even for a moment. They should have made a hue and cry before any trial and got the AG to request the CJ for a Trial-at Bar. Political leaders at that time requested a High-Court-at-Bar for the Krishanthi Kumaraswamy murder case and got one. Why not Sumanthiran who definitely could have got one? In that sense Sumantiran failed to represent the interests of the agrieved parties.
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Socratis / December 25, 2016
Common sense,
Regret to mention that that a fraction of Tamils are the Black sheep’s among Tamils. This may never end but continue for selfish benefits. People like Sumanthiran Destroyed the image of the best known Uduvil Girls College.
Tamils must realise where they are standing?
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Native Vedda / December 25, 2016
Socratis
“Tamils must realise where they are standing?”
They are standing on their head just like their Sinhala brethren.
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Sunil / December 26, 2016
Welcome to paradise where we protect the criminals and harass, punish and even kill the innocent!!!
So the “Game of Shape” is the only way this government too wants to go!?
Is this why the people voted for this government!?
Can we make it public how they came to this conclusion so that the whole world can see the logic behind this decision!?
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jansee / December 25, 2016
Commmon Sense:
You have no common sense but only have donkey sense:
“Why is it that MA Sumanthiran and others now talk of the ethnicity of the jurors and the judge after the trial?”
Did you really read what has been written. When the ALL SINHALESE jury was objected to by Sumanthiran (at the jury selection stage), the SINHALA JUDGE dismissed the objection. This shows that you are a stupid donkey jumping into conclusions withot even knowing what is happening.
Are you comparing British justice with a banana republic’s justice and jury system? When have the Sinhalese been honest, truthful and fair to the Tamils, a typical hoodlum of that CJ Sarath N Silva who, after retiring, publicly claimed that he helped out Mahinda in one of the cases. You are talking about the CJ here.
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Rohan / December 26, 2016
Jury is supposed to represent the community. Some argue that Colombo is no longer Sinhala-dominated. Then, why ALL members of the jury were of Sinhala background? Where were the Muslims and Tamils?
Jury is supposed to represent the community.That means people from all demography. Why did they pick all jurors from people who hold high positions in the state sector?
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Common Sense / December 26, 2016
Aiyo! What an ill informed rowdy comment.
I do not subscribe to ethnic animosity but I promote harmony. If such comments are made in Britain they will tell you to leave the shores. But I will never say so and try my best for one Sri Lanka like on Singapore of Lee Kuan Yew.
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Sinhala_Man / December 28, 2016
You just don’t care, do you?
That a Tamil membrr of the legislature was killed?
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moda putha daham / December 25, 2016
this is a highly inflamatory and ill informed opinion piece. the accused in this case were not released, they were aquitted. the onus of proving murder is not easy, and clearly there was a lack of evidence. the only reason this case had a trial was due to political pressure. there wasno evidence even to start the trial. all the other military personnel released on bail are released either pending trialor because tgere is no evidence even to make a charge. while people might be dissapoimted that no one was found guilty, that does not mean innocent people should be convicted to satisfy the victim or any politician
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / December 25, 2016
Tamils will never get justice in Srilanka where thee is institutional racism in the judicial process comprising the bench, bar and police. The outcome of this case is similar to several others like Mailantenna and Kumarapuram massacres. I have been a medico-legal officer in the war zone in Srilanka, where in cases of first degree murder committed by security forces, the judges without batting an eyelid delivered verdicts of either justifiable homicide or not guilty discharging the suspects, despite incriminating evidence to the contrary. Constitution of an independent international panel is absolutely necessary to conduct a free and fair inquiry of war crimes committed by security forces on Tamils.
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Ajith / December 25, 2016
What can you say about the Justice system in Srilanka? Injustice!No! This is the in-laws of this Nation.
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AVB / December 25, 2016
Ajith, It is sad to see that our judges do NOT know law &/OR do NOT respect law (like our SB monks do not know Buddhism & do not respect Buddhist values) .
As I remember in late 1970s, some of my friends who struggled to get through GCE O/L but somehow later managed to get results 5p/3c , were put into Law College by their parents and… as I know number of them are Judges now… Do these people, who struggled at school to understand 50% of subject matters, have enough analytical skills to understand complexities of law?
About validity of jury system.. I read first SL criminal case with a jury was done in 1830s, that was state against young Madugale. It is said young Madugalle killed the man married his mother (father Madugalle was killed in the first Sinhalese resistance) because he refused to give family assets to Young Madugalle. British decided to have jury with 8 whites and 9 local learned Sinhalese. All 9 Sinhalese jury decided Madugalle was innocent and he was acquitted. Perhaps Jury is not a viable justice process in SL..
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Ajith / December 25, 2016
Rather than wasting Time and Resources, Tamils should boycott the courts of Srilanka. Who should be punished and who should not be punished is not decided by law books it is decided by the Power of Buddhist Fundamentalism.
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Ramany K / December 25, 2016
Please tell Sumanthiran & Co to boycott the courts.
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soma / December 25, 2016
Ajith
No one is so saddened as me to this day over the killing of this most lovable, affable, innocent character. I never forget what he used to say in his faltering Sinhala ” Don’t tell me this man was killed by the LTTE or that man by the the army – both men were killed by the WAR, so we must bring and immediate stop to this cruel war.” I don’t see any reason why the Sinhalese wanted to kill him. Since this govt assumed office there is a rush to charge the intelligence officers to placate (fool) the international community without any clear proof or on cooked up evidence. But the justice system cannot let any one be punished without clear proof. The case with corruption charges on the previous regime is the same. No one says there was no corruption or Raviraj shot himself.
Only a lawyer by profession, having thoroughly studied the evidence presented in the court can comment on a judgement. Are you?
Soma
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Ajith / December 25, 2016
The justice system includes the law and order system as well.it is not secret that the whole justice system including, police, military and judges are controlled b y political system which is dominated and influenced by Buddhist Sinhala Fundamentalism. It is not a secret that police who investigate the cases follow the orders of politicians cooked up evidences in favour of murderers and criminals. We all know what is going on with Lasantha murder and we all know what is happening to Bharath murder case and I don’t expect anything better on This parliamentarians case.
You don’t need to be a lawyer to comment on the subject which has amble evide to proof the secrets of justice system. Even former Chief justice himself said about this. We all also know what happened to former Chief Justice. Do you need a lawyer to say this. Don’t you think sumanthiran is alawyer?
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Native Vedda / December 25, 2016
somaaaaaaaaaaass
“No one says there was no corruption or Raviraj shot himself.”
Actually Raviraj was shot by his bodyguard and then shot himself, because he was a secret LTTE operative, in order to put the blame on innocent Gota and discredit the lovable armed forces.
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / December 26, 2016
You are blind to the reality. How can three different cases collapse at the same time in which accused in all three cases were those from military intelligence. Sira is afraid of the military as there is a possibility of them turning against him. These verdicts have nothing to do with law, but an insult to humanity. In none of the instances where members of security forces were involved which were committed either on the instigation of the government or with government condoning such acts, the culprits were never convicted. Tamils will never get justice under Sinhala dominated governments.
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Sinhala_Man / December 28, 2016
For once I agree with you!
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Rohan / December 26, 2016
/Only a lawyer by profession, having thoroughly studied the evidence presented in the court can comment on a judgement. Are you?/
Oh really?
We all know where the weapons came from. Army conceded its hand.
We all are aware the auto that was used.
We all are aware of the escape route.
We all are aware of the person who pulled the trigger.
But…
The decision by the jury was based on reasoning that the five accused cannot be convicted solely on the fact that witnesses in the case identified them.
So, what do you like to know?
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Uthungan / December 25, 2016
Will the Tamil CJ indicate his disapproval by resigning from his position for having no say in the matter of the seclection of the entirely Sinhalese jury and the appointment of a Sinhalese judge, to sit in judgement, of a case of this nature where a Tamil parliamentarian and a lawyer at that, was assainated with the connivance of an importance minister in the previous government who also played a role in the killing of a leading rugger player?
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namal / December 25, 2016
This is disgrace to the SL. Baratha Luxman Case can be held without jury why not this?.
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SinhalaPropaganda / December 25, 2016
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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Nihal Gunatilake / December 25, 2016
Hello – Why do you want foreign judges? What’s wrong with the Local Judges? When (Murder Suspect) Sathasivam was acquitted nobody wanted to invite Foreign Judges. You want only foreign judges. How about a President and Prime Minister and Periya Dorais from UK.- Specially Scotland and Ireland? Write a letter to the Queen to send here (at least) some retired Judges? Some people are still like and worship the white skin. bye- Nihal Gunatilake
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / December 26, 2016
Sathasivam was acquitted on the forensic evidence of a foreigner, the world famous Sir Sydney Smith. All the Sinhala forensic experts said that Sathasivam had committed the murder. This proves that it a Tamil has to get justice, there must be independent foreign involvement.
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Rohan / December 26, 2016
heh heh…
when raviraj was killed, lokka mara wanted to bring scotlandyard to investigate the case.
are you conceding that the lokka still like and worship the whiteskin? do you agree that the mara conceded that local investigators are potta buggers? or, mara wanted cover something up???
we have third country umpires in cricketers. what is wroong with you nihal aiya? why do you think the word foreign means only whites? there are well-esteemed asian and african professionals. maybe you like and revere whiteskins?
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Jason / December 25, 2016
Good decision by courts. Thank you!
At last the courts system is working.
Very encouraging the chief justice is a dedicated Tamil.
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Mallaiyuran / December 25, 2016
“The Karuna group is probably the most active Sri Lankan paramilitary in abductions and extrajudicial killings. On March 20, former Tamil MP and legal expert Dr. K. Vigneswaran (strictly protect) confided to PolOff that even MPs fear that the GSL will use Karuna to assassinate them. Colombo-area Tamil MP and Chairman of the Civil Monitoring Commission Mano Ganesan echoed this anxiety to us on March 29. A number of other MPs, Muslims as well as Tamils, have told us privately that they fear for their lives. Vigneswaran stated that he believed Karuna set up the assassination of Tamil MP Joseph Pararajasingham on Christmas Day 2005 (ref G) with the help of EPDP leader Devananda. Vigneswaran was also positive that Karuna cadres were employed in the killing in Colombo of popular Tamil MP Nadarajah Raviraj on November 10, 2006 (ref F).” the US Embassy Colombo informed Washington. – CT based on a telex from Ambassador Robert Blake to US State Department.
We all know when Mr. Blake was the ambassador, he was influential and got involved in many matter. One is his insistence of investigation on couple of murders – TNA MPs, Kathirgamar, Trinco Five students, Muthur’s 17 action farm employees, etc. All these murders were covered up the government at that time. Udugama Commission investigation was overseen by IIGEP. By the government’s open cover up IIGEP resigned. A Judged named Suntharalingam was supposed to release this commission’s report to public. In an article in CT, Radhika Coomaraswamy, a that time government employee was accused of suppressing the release this report. Then she received recommendation to UNESCO. Hearsay stories indicated Radhika was working with the government for recommendation for UNSG nomination. Radhika was not fully cooperating to answers to the questions raised by readers. Radhika is member in the CC(Constitutional Council) of this government. Her Brother Indrajit Cumarasawmy is CBG, who was selected to the position after an scandalous no renewal of the previous CBG, Arjuna Mahendran. By the displeasures existing on the internal structure of the that position, there was news items he too submitted his resignation to EP. Those all are suppressed by this government.
A party to this murder, Pillaiyan, said to have said he was employed by previous government to murder other prominent members in the government and they are in this government too. Latter, those who was accused by Pillaiyan was allowed by this government to meet him in the prison and, assumedly allowed to negotiate on that. That is a serious violation of criminal justice system.
Further, as usual, we had accurately predicted this verdict for this case, but it is not with any internal knowledge of the accuseds’ involvement in the murder, only based on public knowledge of how the Sinhala Government’s impunity worked for 70 years on violation of Tamils rights by government’s thugs, acolytes, armed forces and paramilitary units. These Government hired thugs and took them to Jaffna Library to burn it. Some Government leaders have said some “Sorry”. Though the library was Tamils pride, it was nonliving thing, never protested of any injustices committed against it or never asked for Federal government, which that provoked the need for retaliation against Tamils as explained by the Sinhala governments from the time of freedom. No accusation- No Accused- No Case- No verdict- No Justice for Tamils on the library burning. This government, with the claim of bringing back the Justice system, fired two CJs and appointed two CJs to issue warning and obtain the fullest cooperation from the current CJ.
The victim’s attorney, M.A.Sumanthiran has said he will appeal this verdict. We have no faith in Sumanthiran’s appeal process bringing any new miracle that has refused to appear for the last 70 years.
Those are some, provable- Not provable, but their existence is known for public, facts of this case. Further, as we said above, IIGEP and other international Community had/have shown interest in this murder. So we like to see what the IC’s rejection for this verdict. Are America and EU still going keep saying the human rights situation against minorities in Lankawe has improved and going to allow GSP+ and the like benefits to enjoyed by these human rights violators and they confer non guilty, impunity verdicts for themselves? Is the UNHRC is still believing and internal investigation in the war without foreign Judges and lawyers will provide justice to Tamils?
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Thamarai / December 25, 2016
It is very sad. Three branches of a government are executive, legislative and judiciary. These three branches are not functioning well in Sri Lanka. It is very clear that Sri Lanka is deeply divided on ethnic grounds. In India I can remember that so many murder cases were reopened under the previous BJP government and the accused murderers were found guilty. In India although the police is corrupt, some police officers everywhere are very honest and cannot be bought.
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naren / December 25, 2016
This verdict was anticipated after YAHAPALANAYA President Srisena’s recent outburst.Long live our justice system!!!.
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Shrikharan / December 25, 2016
This certainly proves we need foreign judges. Certain Tamils will not accept local judges to try war crimes. It is better to have no judicial case for war crimes if only local judges are going to be involved.
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S.R.H. Hoole / December 25, 2016
Foreign judges are an absolute must.
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Keerthi Wijebahu / December 25, 2016
First of all Ajith, why can’t you use your Tamil name?
We need to understand this, all of the killings done by state and LTTE during 30 years of war will go unpunished, full stop. This has nothing to do with justice system, simply no evidence to prove. Only politically motivated investigations for gallery, just get on with it
Also dont just blame Prabakaran, Mahinda and Gota for everything, there are many many people responsible for the killings.
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Rohan / December 26, 2016
/First of all Ajith, why can’t you use your Tamil name?/
Thanks for demonstrating your ignorance! Although the name AJITH is not of Tamil origin, there are many many Ajiths among Tamils.
/Also dont just blame Prabakaran, Mahinda and Gota for everything, there are many many people responsible for the killings. /
Maybe. But, this one was planned and delivered by the Rajapaksas. There was ample evidence in this case to convict that accused. Even, there was a clear evidence to see the link. But, the decision by the jury was based on reasoning that the five accused cannot be convicted solely on the fact that witnesses in the case identified them.
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Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / December 25, 2016
Justice delayed is justice denied! A better example cannot be found.
Dr.RN
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Leelawathie / December 25, 2016
This is valid to
a)LW murder
b)Thadjudeen Murder
c)Eknaligoda Murder/dissapearance
d)And all other murders thatare not in public media
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Lanki / December 25, 2016
FIX
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virgo fernando / December 25, 2016
The stupid president who is now more interested in his survival rather than justice is a disgrace and must be kicked out. MS has no right to make any statements regarding intelligence or army personnel to be released from jail. This is tampering with the judicial system and I suggest he be brought before the courts for contempt of court and impeached. Since this shit and RW came to power it has been all fart and no shit. No hope for this country and appointing all seven jurors who are Sinhalese as well a judge who is Sinhalese says it all. Sinha Le in full force now. All we have experienced to date is that no crooked politician has been locked up, the Thajudeen murder trial is not getting anywhere, Rajapakses are roaming free, Ekneligoda muder has been covered up, Weerawansas are enjoying the bliss of viagra, Sajin Vas Gunawardene case has been hushed up, Aluthgamage, Rattharan, Prasanna Ranatunge, IGP Ballasuriya, Nadesan and Cabraal have not been arrested, what the hell is going on????
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thrishu / December 25, 2016
Agree with the comment on visible partiality but we do not know the whole story including evidence as presented in the court
As I have read elsewhere, it was a jury hearing. What repreentation had the defense lawyers made regarding the selection of jury members and what efforts had he made to secure a balanced composition for the jury at the time of their appointment. The higher court will I hope hear the case solely by the judges.
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Native Vedda / December 25, 2016
thrishu
“As I have read elsewhere, it was a jury hearing.”
Is it a case of jury nobbling?
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jansee / December 25, 2016
Why should anyone be surprised on a lop-sided verdict? The tainted history of the Sri Lankan judiciary and current “monitoring” by a President is not something new. The Tamils will never get justice, particularly on war crimes allegations, in Sri Lankan courts. To the extent that the President has written to President-elect Donald Trump to “look the other way” in dealing with alleged war crimes slapped on Sri Lanka, he is telling th Sri Lankans and the world: Yes, we have done it, so what? Is there any difference then between this guy and Mahinda? The only difference is, Mahinda gave the promise to SG Ban in Sri Lanka but this President gave the promise in the UNHRC, a world body. Figure out who is worse.
The Tamils have to take bold steps – have to conduct a referendum on their own, if possible with the assistance of a recognised world body, to decide once and for all if they want to go their own way. For this to happen, the outdated current crop of leaders led by Sampanthan should step aside. From now on, they should not negotiate with the Sinhalese anymore, as if all the negotiations have produced any tangible results. At the end of the day, no Sinhala leader will be honest with the Tamils.
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malik / December 25, 2016
One was waiting for the delayed spin of CMB telegraph of this story. It was the government had conducted the investigations and argued that the accused were the guilty. And a SPECIAL jury acquitted after a fair trial. And naturally M.A. Sumanthiran, is going at appeal as usual around the world. Naturally CMB and the 10 followers are digging to find something that is not there. Still years of lies by CMB and rest and not factual proof must be catered to. Now it is a all sinhalese jury theory. what rubbish. Even if brian senewiratne sat on the jury after the evidence he would have found it hard to convict.
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jansee / December 25, 2016
malik:
I was literally scratching my head after reading and re-reading a couple of times the report by CT but could not find anything that CT had span. OK, if you as much believe, as you have mentioned, that CT had span anything at all, please let us know where and how it had span. All that has been written is information in the public domain.
If a donkey like you get your brain screwed up, an immediate remedy would be to go and bang your head against a wall. If you are as smart as you want me to believe, show how CT had span. Fair enough, isn’t it?
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Native Vedda / December 25, 2016
jansee
“I was literally scratching my head after reading and re-reading a couple of times the report by CT “
Probably your head is infested with lice, heirloom parasite. You need to have a bug busting strategy.
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Manicka Vasagar / December 25, 2016
What disappointment, I expected power failure after midnight on the eve of Christmas, before the verdict announcement.
The judge and jury was set up before the proceedings commenced, for a verdict, why complain now?
TNA is part of this system.
As per ground conditions,they lobbied and elected for this president and for this “good unity government” without any pre-conditions, accepted the seat of the Opposition Leader, portrayed to the IC to be working, supporting and guiding this government, but leading and taking all of us Tamils in circles to no-where, buying more time and space for this regime to complete their own agenda.
High Commission Prince Zaid have said very clearly in his OISL report, that he has no faith in the SL judiciary, and insisted on an international independent investigation, and further stipulated in the UN HRC resolution for international judges, prosecutors and lawyers be part of the process.
Only last week it became clear to some that Sri Lanka wouldn’t implement the UNHRC resolution in full, and therefore, it is inevitable that Sri Lanka will request an extension to the timeline for a roll-over.
Raviraj did not shoot himself, we are shooting ourselves in the leg by participating in a system to kill our own political aspiration for permanent peaceful solution, by not demanding the IC, with a united voice, to initiate and resolve this long drawn ethnic issue and for the true aspirations of the Tamils.
Should we be part of the system, and wait for more to whitewash to come, now 2 years or demand SL be referred to the ICC and for a UN Conducted Referendum to decide our future destiny?
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Rohan / December 26, 2016
/TNA is part of this system./
Why are you bringing TGTE bias here?
Okay okay, what other great ideas you have to offer, mate? What steps do YOU take towards the ultimate goal other than finding fault in others?
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Abu Mukarram / December 25, 2016
God save Thajud3ens case
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Plato. / December 25, 2016
When the Minister of Justice says that it will be over his dead body if any harm befalls any member of the MaRa family,in spite of incriminating evidence that is unfolding the question that begs an answer is IS THERE ANY JUSTICE IN THIS COUNTRY?
My gut feeling right along in this Raviraj murder Trial was that it was a MOCK TRIAL!
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Native Vedda / December 25, 2016
Plato.
“IS THERE ANY JUSTICE IN THIS COUNTRY?”
It died before even it was born.
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Aia / December 25, 2016
Almost 10 years to give a verdict on a homicide committed in the in the capital of Sri Lanka in broad day light, killing the MP and his body guard.
This is Sri Lanka, a place criminals allowed to roam free by the court heeding the advice of the President. Judiciary has lost the credibility, making itself a laughingstock, let alone let down the victims.
Maithiri or Mahinda, status quo remains same even after LTTE’s demise. Reconciliation under Maithiri, a daydream. To please extremists, screwing the minorities is the only way and MS is not an exception.
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Thanos / December 25, 2016
All Sinhala jury? Who is the genius who came up with that idea? Jury should have been mix of different ethnic backgrounds.
See the problems in the USA due to idiotic jury selection. Having an “all-white” or “all-black” jury in a cases where the the victim and the perpetrator are of different races can cause severe distrust among people.
This madness will only deepen the extreme distrust minorities in SL have towards the judicial system.
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Manel Fonseka / December 25, 2016
Why were there no Tamils on the jury?
This is as bad as appointing an all-white jury to try a case in which whites are charged with the murder of an African American.
I hope we are not going to look back in the future and see this as one of many steps on the way to renewed Tamil militancy.
Can somebody tell me how jury selection is done here? Couldn’t the lawyers for the victim’s family have demanded Tamil representation on the jury?
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sekara / December 25, 2016
Is not the Chief Justice a Tamil?
It is generally a matter of class and class interests above race.
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Native Vedda / December 25, 2016
sekara
“Is not the Chief Justice a Tamil?”
Isn’t the President a Sinhalese? What his reaction to some of the high profile investigations?
“It is generally a matter of class and class interests above race.”
Now you are being silly.
Just accept the fact that institutionalized racism exists and rampant in Sri Lankan state structure. Though honest Sinhalese accept the existence of institutional racism they wouldn’t challenge it for the fear of loosing everything they have got as you failed note the nation building (destroying) has been carried out by racist impulses and state is under the control of racist Sinhalese since 1948.
You must keep your eyes and ears open all the time. You will find it very difficult to hide Sinhalese racism in your class analysis.
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Pena Kiyanna / December 25, 2016
How bloody interesting!
The lawyer of the losing side, Sumanthiram, who also happens to be a Tamil separatist politician (though a Colombo-based Methodist that can’t identify with mainstream Tamils) is blaming the Sinhala jury and the legal system.
Another known LTTE sympathiser Ganesan does the same.
They never comment about the methods used in coercing an ex-intelligence officer to turn state witness whose lies came unstuck during cross examination. If that is not justice, what is?
Is it with frauds like these the Maithipala-Ranil government trying reconciliation with? They should be jailed for contempt of court.
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Senthil / December 25, 2016
The main problem with Tamils is each and every one wanted to achieve something on their own, they do not join in team work. But some large projects can not be Implemented by a single person – trying to complete on their own is stupidity. Example to build a high rise building like Berge Kalifa you need 1000 different trades and no individual can claim that he only build it but a small shed can be built by a single person. We should not confuse shed and high rise building. Present Tamils urgent need is like building a high rise tower – only viable with team work, be sensible and stop being modias. Singhalese are good at team work at least to suppress Tamils, but never unit to build the country, individually very good to fill their own pockets and ruin the country. jayaveva.
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