The arrest of Ruki Fernando and Fr. Praveen under the PTA and their detention is not only a violation of their rights but also is highly damaging to national interests at this crucial time as it sends a strong negative signal to the international community regarding the state of human rights and threats to activists in Sri Lanka at the present time, says the Law and Society Trust.
Ruki
Issuing a statement today it says; “The consequences of this act is likely to reverberate negatively throughout the human rights community at the very moment when the government is working hard to convince member states at the UNHRC of its ability and interest in adhering to international law with regard to human rights in the country.”
We publish below the statement in full;
Arrest and detention of Ruki Fernando and Fr. Praveen, OMI
The Law and Society Trust is deeply disturbed by the arrest of former staff member of the Law and Society Trust, Mr. Ruki Fernando and Fr. Praveen, OMI from Kilinochchi on Sunday 16th March 2014.
Mr. Fernando worked with the Law and Society Trust for five years until April 2012 as head of the Human Rights in Conflict Programme. He was a deeply committed campaigner for human rights and is widely known and highly respected both in Sri Lanka and outside the country. We remain seriously concerned as to his safety and that of Fr. Praveen and urge that strict due process standards are followed by the law enforcement authorities in this regard including giving clear and distinct reasons for the arrest.
According to international law standards accepted by Sri Lanka, States have a responsibility and duty to take all necessary measures to ensure the protection of everyone against any violence, threats, retaliation, adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights.
The arrest of Mr. Fernando and Fr. Praveen under the PTA and their detention is not only a violation of their rights but also is highly damaging to national interests at this crucial time as it sends a strong negative signal to the international community regarding the state of human rights and threats to activists in Sri Lanka at the present time. The consequences of this act is likely to reverberate negatively throughout the human rights community at the very moment when the government is working hard to convince member states at the UNHRC of its ability and interest in adhering to international law with regard to human rights in the country.
We appeal to you to use your power and authority to intervene with the authorities responsible for the arrest and detention of Ruki Fernando and Fr. Praveen; ensure their safety and take steps to release them immediately as on our understanding, they had only been trying to help family members of ‘disappeared’ persons in the North.
kabaragoya / March 17, 2014
International law standards mandate equal treatment. Why does the Trust not show concern for the mother and daughter taken in by the army at Kilinocchi as well and countless others kept in custody without trial? Why this concern for national interests when the truth, the Truth, that the Trust should maintain is that human rights standards simply do not exist in the country. Why should the arrest of two more matter to a scrupulous bunch of thugs now ruling Sri Lanka when they had massacred thousands on the basis of ethnicity, killed journalists who oppose them and begun killing Sinhalese young who protest for water? Why does the Trust not honestly declare that the present government has no concern for abiding by the norms of international law on human rights and that the statements that it makes at Geneva are a pack of lies? It will help all in Sri Lanka a great deal, just not these two good men who have been arrested, if the Trust were to do this at this crucial time. It should state that the arrest of these two people and the mother and the child are emblematic of the utter disregard of the norms of human rights by the present government of Sri Lanka.
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Fathima Fukushima / March 17, 2014
Good move by govt.
But arresting is not enough. USA gives a different punishment to terrorists.
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Upali Wijewardene / March 17, 2014
Fathima, lets see when they take you in. You would know how it feels. Ruki is a very decent human being and has championed for the vulnerable to have a decent life. How dare you say this kind of thing. I wish I could write here what I would like to do with your ….
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Javi / March 18, 2014
“Fathima, lets see when they take you in.”
Shuush! haven’t you followed the tracks from the outskirts of London the murder at Paris and back to as Fatimam??
Fat_imam is Mango working for Douglas/Goota Jewish/Islam axis of evil known as Al-CIA-D
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Mallaiyuran / March 17, 2014
Fathima
Hakeem has given a speech at a Virakesari Function that the time is in full ripe for him to quit UPFA and to join TNA. Another time he said if GOSL is not giving the East’s CM job to MC, he will quit UPFA. <b(that man can think only about posts and elections)
When is your time going to be fully ripen? I am the one gave the ethylene to Hakeem. Could I lend you some too? LOL
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burt / March 18, 2014
He can quit UPFA but don’t take him to TNA. Muslims as Tamils can join TNA at anytime and even contest and lead TNA but don’t accept anyone as SLMC.
If they want to hold unto SLMC that is their right and they can go it alone.
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Tamil from the North / March 18, 2014
@Malaiyuran, fathima will be happy with cow dung. please pass some to him and he will happily have it for dinner :)
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Analyst / March 17, 2014
Well, well, well well.
An investigation as to who funds the LST will definitely be in order!
They have been dealing with receipts of more than Rs.50 million a year (according to the only financial statement to end 2012 avilable on hte website, and have reported a surplus of more than Rs. 5 million. Good money if you can get!
This is big money, US$5 million! Probably larger than the budget of the Malidives and some poor African countries!
Where did all this money come from? There is no disclosure on the website at all! Is this open and accountable?
The people involved are CT regulars too: Advisor-Basil Fernando based in Hong Kong! Board-Dr R. K. W. Goonesekere, husband of Savithri oonesekera. Thenn there is famous star in the NGO universe, Deepika Udagama.
Our esteemed CT contributer Ms. Kishali Pinto-Jayawardena is a “Consultant” many times over and Deputy Director/ Head-Civil & Political Rights Programme, and Head/ Editor of LST Review.
There are few other consultants, like Dr. Jayantha de Almeida Guneratne, P.C.
The funniest part is that the independent auditors who have endorsed the accounts, MSJ Associates of Deloittes have signed the accounts as “MSJ Associates” with no human responsible!
Do we have a human right to find out that the money came from the US embassy where Neelan Thiruchelvam was a [Edited out]
Can we have some answers please.
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Lapatiya / March 17, 2014
“The funniest part is that the independent auditors who have endorsed the accounts, MSJ Associates of Deloittes have signed the accounts as “MSJ Associates” with no human responsible!”
for your information this is how the Auditors sign in the Audit reports. Members of the Audit firm sign under the name of the Audit firm and not as individual members. by this entire Audit firm is responsible for Audit Reports and not the Individual members.
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ainsley / March 17, 2014
Hey you stupid ‘analyst’ – even the numbers you get wrong..first you say Rs 5 million and then you say USD 5 million – What a difference. And what a stupid lout! So much for so called analytical capabilities.
Do you think people of this caliber are scared by your stupidities? Who the hell are you? Some mongrel whining for crumbs of bread from the Rajas!
Your dirt will not stick. Mud slinging can only go so far and no further. It is time that honest people of Sri Lanka stand up for whats’ right. I like Dayan’s article in CT – I have not really been one of his supporters but the points that he makes are very valid
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ainsley / March 17, 2014
and by the way, you ignorant man (I assume that the gender is correct given the style) auditors always sign like this. Stupid!
Can’t these rajas get better bum-suckers??
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Amden / March 18, 2014
[Edited out]
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jansee / March 17, 2014
Analyst:
You have purposely omitted the names of the rajapakses and his stooges who rake up millions and millions in kickbacks. What are you going to do about that? And yes, we will be waiting for your answers, too.
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punchisingho / March 17, 2014
Analyst!
Well! well! well!
Your politicians rob poor Sri Lankans. NGOs get money from foreign countries and do a service to the voiceless. What is better or worse?
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JimSofty / March 18, 2014
Stupid GOSL.
They could not think in advance.
In those days, they should have used LTTE to blow up this Scum.
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srinath.gunaratne / March 17, 2014
US manipulated UN does not give what ever the law we arrest the priests, If they are involved with separatism and terrorism, punish them to the max of the law. We must send a strong message to anyone promoting separatism, The list include the Rayappu LTTE Bishop whi said nothing for child abductions and now talk for human rights, Sasitheran whose husband is a child abductor.
Human rights is great but separatism and terrorism is worst, So let Sri Lankans decide what they want with the ballot box.
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easwaran / March 17, 2014
srinath.gunaratne you are indirectly promoting separatism and terrorism through these comments. Sad, You liken to a frog in the well. can’t see any thing beyond your nose tip. The separatism and terrorism was the creation of DS, SWRD JR and now MR with JHU, BBS. What you are trying to do is to pour oil over these incidents and deny that they are justifiable, through your racism and xenophobia. When they are, illogical and illegal arrests of mother and daughter through fabrication, now the Human right activists for doing their duty. President sheds crocodile tears and screams that the good image of the country are being tarnished. Is there any more need to tarnish the country? All ready this ruling goons have done enough damage, since they have no brain, when their own men through their idiotic words and actions have done much more damage (Mervin Silva, Rambukwela). Just look what you have written, aren’t you reflecting and showing that Sinhalese are a bunch of racists, have no tolerance even though Buddhism preaches tolerance and Dharma. Your comment is what people would say that ‘you have spat on your own face’. many comments on TC reflects, sad to say coming from low IQ .
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Pera / March 17, 2014
I am totally condemned this arrest. Why this government so scared about human rights. If they did not do anything nothing to worry. I pray for Ruki. You are one of our HR champion.
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Pera / March 17, 2014
I am totally condemned this arrest. Why this government so scared about human rights. If they did not do anything nothing to worry. I pray for Ruki. You are one of our HR champion.
Pera.
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Katmai / March 17, 2014
I think the Christians will take the case of Fr. Praveen to the world Christian community because they know the Rajapaksa lackey Cardinal Ranjith will not do anything about it.
What has he done about the desecration of the church and assault on the priests and nuns at the church?
When religious leaders are so beholden to the regime it shows how little faith they have in the BS they feed the rest of you; that God will protect them and look after their needs. They know that if they don’t hold the bucket to the regime they’ll have nothing.
If there are still “Christians” out there who still have their eyes open, here’s a news flash for you. YOU HAVE BEEN LIED TO!
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lal / March 17, 2014
PTA is there to protect the nation. If someone breaks the law, the govt has to act. What busy bodies think is irrelevant.
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Park / March 17, 2014
When guys who have one foot in Sri Lanka and other other in USA, like the Rajapakse brothers and Gammanpilla who has an Australian citizenship and the wig designer Weerawansa who has his children in USA are today trying to rule Sri Lanka. These are the guys who repeatedly attack the foreign governments when they themselves have very strong ties to these countries. Why do they want this second citizenship, the reason is clear, for the democratic ideals of those countries. When they themselves want to have a foot in a democratic environment, they do not want the masses in the country they serve to have such a democratic environment!
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burt / March 18, 2014
Modawanse’s children being in capitalist USA surprises me. Shouldn’t they be in a communist country? What is there to learn or pick-up from the bad bad west?
Only good thing is the children might have a litter better knowledge than this idiot.
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Lankan / March 17, 2014
The time is ripe for the UN resolution to include a travel ban against Sri Lankan President, Ministers, Secretaries of Ministries, members of the armed forces to travel anywhere in the world and to freeze all their assets overseas for violations against human rights.
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sama / March 17, 2014
Tomorrow they will even harm opposition Leader, Former president -CBK, Rev. Sobitha Thero or anyone. These priniciples are based on Rajapakshe rascal doctrine
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Seelawathie / March 18, 2014
We the nation suffered by 30 year war.
Rajapakshe administration together with lanken forces anhilited the ltter terror.
Now a new era is dawned. we have to take every step in anhiliating the Rajapakshes.
Here people should be better informed.
All opposition parties together with great son of the nation -Rev. Sobitha should work on this.
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THONDAMANNAR / March 17, 2014
Real face of the LTTE is OMI gang of the Catholic church. Velupillai Prabakaran was just a condom. Use whilst it last.
Sri Lanka OMI gang are supported by the Australian OMIs.The OMI Provincial for Asia an Australian is now in Beijing along with another gang of OMIs & one of them is Priest Luc Young who had visited the Wanni in 1995 at the invitation of Rayappu & the Northern Church.
OMIs are the real face of of the LTTE.
They are not Missionaries BUT Mercenaries of Rome, silently re-establishing the power base and Territories for the Holy Roman Empire.
This is the reason the OMIs in the South either silent or support through petitions to the UN or through AHRC.
Jayantha Almeida PC, Kishali PJ are hand in glove with AHRC and so are some priests of Sri Lanka, likes of Shelton Reid F’do, Firth and the liked and some South Indian priests too who visit AHRC.
We the unsuspecting catholics become the victims. Then the Church will equate us to Martyrs like those suicide bombers who were encouraged with & promised martyrerdom by S.J.Emmanuel.
LST money is out collection monies at Sunday service & donor money or laundered money by the Vatican Bank.
Want to erradicate terrorism, then the GOSL will have to fight the Church.
The Church is tearing the Country apart to get their claws on power. Northern Church support Terrorism and in the South, Cardinal and lately a sleeping Bishop Francis Shantha are getting cosy with the GOSL. ITS TIME THE FOLLOWERS OF JESUS CHRIST STOOD UP AGAINST THESE CASSOAKED MERCENARIES OR ELSE THESE VULTURES OF THE CHURCH WILL DIVIDE SRI LANKA IN THE SAME MANNER AS THOSE PERPETRATORS OR MURDERERS WHAT EVER ONE MAY CALL THEM WHO DIVIDED JESUS GARMENT AFTER HE WAS BROUGHT DOWN FROM THE CROSS.
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ainsley / March 18, 2014
Thondanamaru’s same old tune, over and over and over again. Do you cut and just paste on stuff? Why don’t you change this, please?
Its getting boring. A Catholic conspiracy, my foot! What bullshit!
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Nimal / March 17, 2014
The PTA must go in the name of human decency.
One cannot accept the govt. decision to charge Ruki Fernando and Rev. Praveen under the PTA.
Judging from the outpour of concern not merely from the NGOs and NGO activists whose job is to show concern, Ruki must be a decent person just like Sunila Abeysekera was, irrespective of their political views.
But people like Ruki has to be careful about what happens to their good names by association with organizations/ people of dubious character.
Ruki’s association with Rights Now Collective for Democracy, as its Director ( Ruki’s name which was on the list of Directors of Rights Now until today – 03/17/2014 – morning has been removed from this list as of now) gives a bad name to Ruki as Rights Now functions as a front for a political group with a fascist and anti-feminist agenda. We don’t want to believe that Ruki Fernando would have been aware of this connection. So would be the case with Mr. Brito Fernando who has been a director of Rights Now. Humans Rights Crusader Ms. Nimalka Fernando also has drawn flak due to being a patron of this NGO. It is unfortunate that Sunila Abeyesekera has been instrumental in setting up Rights Now with its backing for the said political group whose activities have the detrimental effect of silencing independent minds among the youth with its facist tendencies.
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JimSofty / March 18, 2014
PTA must exist.
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shan / March 18, 2014
analyst Sl 50 million is only $.5 us million
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BBS Rep / March 18, 2014
There is no point in appealing to the international community. It is simply not interested in the goings on in Sri Lanka. Even the long awaited UNHRC declaration has turned into a fiasco. Big talking Cameron is suddenly oh so quiet. Needless to say MR and Clan feel empowered to do anything now. It is better to accept that we are now governed by a ruthless Mafia family and the citizenry of Sri Lanka are powerless.
With the arrest of these two decent men Sri Lanka’s rare breed of decent men are becoming rarer indeed.
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Bensen Burner / March 18, 2014
Sincere best wishes and prayers at this hour to Ruki and Fr. Praveen at this hour. Bensen
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