Prof. S. Ratnajeevan H. Hoole
On 25 Nov. 2019, Gania Banister Francis, a Tamil employee of the Swiss embassy (aged 38) alleged that she was kidnapped by the Sri Lankan police. She has said she was treated brutally and subjected to coercion and sexual harassment. She added that the Police asked her for sensitive information on political asylum cases, before releasing her. Subsequently, according to news reports, she was taken in for questioning despite medical conditions, questioned for 30 hours once and overall over 5 days disregarding protests from the Swiss embassy.
Ms. Francis’ counsel, Upul Kumarapperuma, complained to court that he himself has been targeted by individuals and media for appearing in this case, adding that certain false information about Ms. Francis has been released discrediting her. He told court that her employer, the Swiss Embassy, has also been targeted and misinformation about the embassy and its other employee is being spread to change the narrative of the story and to discredit Ms. Francis. The Police seemed in a hurry to nail her and diminish her credibility so much so that they had her warded in a psychiatric hospital.
Many news reports connect this harassment to a Sri Lankan police investigator, Nishantha Silva, who fled to Switzerland following the November 16 election in which President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had been partly the focus by Silva.
Ms. Francis awaits trial, she is forbidden by court from leaving Sri Lanka. Reports suggest that her aged mother has fled Sri Lanka in fear to Switzerland via Singapore.
Ms. Francis arriving in Court
The Cypriot Case
In striking parallel, in Cyprus, an as yet unnamed, 19-year old British tourist reported to police that on 17 July 2019 she was assaulted in her hotel room by Israeli youths aged 15 to 12. There is medical evidence of bruises and scratches on her. The youths were remanded the next day. On finding no DNA evidence (as the police claimed), the five were released to run away immediately to Israel, and the girl was called into the police station on 27 July 2019, and accused of lying and, as she claims, forced to give another statement for over 8 hours without access to a lawyer. She signed a retraction and is formally charged at the odd hour of 2.30am with “giving a false statement over an imaginary offence”.
The woman was remanded in custody for eight days, after being escorted into court in handcuffs. She faced charges of “public mischief” for alleging she had been sexually assaulted by the tourists. She rejects her retraction statement saying she was forced to sign it by the police. Her trial began on 15 October, as human rights and feminist activists pressed the Cypriot attorney general to dismiss the case. The final judgement delivered on 30 Dec. is that she is guilty as charged, and in the meantime, she is awaiting sentencing, out on bail and forbidden from leaving Cyprus. The legal aid group Justice Abroad said the trial had been far from fair because the judge had refused to consider whether the defendant had actually been assaulted as revealed by the marks on her body.
British Teenager arriving in Court
Parallels: Cyprus and Sri Lanka
One cannot be amazed by the parallels as I was in the war years when victims of torture here had testimonies very similar to what others reported from the Shah’s Iran and under dictatorships in Laltin America – toe and finger nails being pulled out, needles pushed under nails, beatings, special injection of drugs making men ejaculate, being hung upside down with a bag over the eyes putting out petrol fumes or chili fumes. There seemed a good trade in torture technology between friendly autocrats.
The prosecuting teams also bear striking similarities in getting female victims of the sexist police to withdraw their statements, long interrogation over the night without legal representation, etc.
How do we Judge?
Where does the truth lie?
The judiciary? No, going by our former Chief Justice’s boasts on how he had rendered a judgement favoring a party in the Hambantota pilfering case while the other two judges meekly signed “I agree.” A Supreme Court justice Haranguing a murdered 12 year old LTTE conscript undergoing rehabilitation at Bindunuwewa, points to our judges also being cut from the same cloth as all of us. I desist saying more because of the actions against Ms. Francis.
The legal fraternity? No, when all lawyers attending the relevant Bar Association meeting including Tamils elders like Nilakandan unanimously condemned the UN report on the massacre of 40,000 on the beaches of Mullaitivu, even before the report was issued. We live in fear and will easily say things we do not believe in.
In Newspapers? No, going by the absence of any objective reporting while Tamils were at the receiving end. The change in editorial tenor in the last few weeks will also give us the answer. Writers I respect say in fear that they will stop writing. Others whom I respected, have changed positions as in the Colombo Telegraph article “Iqbal Athas – Journalist Who Exposed MiG Deal Turns Gota Propagandist.” Even in this Francis case, reporters who seem to know what happened, are reluctant to say anything except that they think that the incident as alleged by Ms. Francis did really happen.
Eye Witnesses
Eye witnesses will say anything in Sri Lanka driven by communal passion or to suck up to authority. For example, on 27.12.2019 at 10.30 pm or so I was driving from Jaffna to Colombo with my wife. Branching off A9 at Rambewa and entering Anuradhapura by A20, I came to a T-junction at the end of A20. I turned left when an immature driver overtook me on my left while turning left herself. Being off the single lane she moved right to my lane and bumped into me on my left and her right. I stopped. The husband on the passenger side came around, was angry, opened the passenger door by which my wife was seated and became abusive in the Sinhalese language. He accused me of overtaking him and hitting him from behind. I was very fearful. It was Anuradhapura. We are experienced with mobs A crowd was gathering.
I took off but the husband and another car gave chase. I drove to the police station. There a crowd came in and became so abusive in Sinhalese that the policeman there shouted at them to go out and do their shouting. I told the officer what had happened (translated into Sinhalese by my wife), and the other driver wearing a necklace with a gold cross stuck to their version. There were 8 people backing their story. There was talk by them of my van being impounded (which would have left me stuck at midnight in Anuradhapura with my wife and dog which a hired car to get to Colombo may not accommodate).
As these fearful thoughts raced through my mind, the policeman, one Wickramasinghe who perhaps was the OIC, turned out to be decent. He called for the CCTV camera footage at the junction. After viewing it, he privately told the other party something and they quietly vanished. She was not charged, just like the monk assaulting a Christian priest described below was not charged. He asked us to tarry awhile as he said that the other party was very angry and that we should leave straight for Colombo. It was a rare Sunday I missed the Eucharist but made up for it only in part with a wedding service at the Cinnamon Gardens Baptist Church where my daughter was a bridesmaid.
The Police
Who respects our police to expect justice through them? I do not, even though the Anuradhapura policeman was in his own way not out to get us as the mob was.
Many times have I seen my drivers getting away with Rs. 300 after being stopped for speeding, especially North of Vavuniya on A9. Writer Lakmal Harischandra has documented with video evidence, Ampitiye Sumana, a Buddhist monk, slapping a Christian minister in front of a policeman. The monk is free to go about creating his mischief. No criminal charge for that in this country.
Look at the CID. They declared Dr. Siyabdeen Mohamed Shafi, who was attached to the Kurunegala Hospital, not guilty of anything after high-ranking persons accused him of tying up the tubes of Sinhalese women without their knowledge. Some of the women who accused him of tying up their tubes, said the CID, subsequently became pregnant. The poor Dr, Shafi suffered badly. The witnesses had behaved like my Anuradhapura mob. Now suddenly, after the change of government, he is guilty and they are reopening investigations. I guess it is no problem for the CID to deal with their previous testimony sworn to in court. They do not seem to care even if it is obvious to all that they are on a vindictive streak, having lost their humanity and lost sight of justice. Such a legal system can only be called a joke.
Look at the case of Champika Ranawaka. The CID cleared him some years back and now they are going after the man again. Perhaps the CID was politically actuated then or perhaps they are so actuated now. We do not know. But either way, it shows that our CID cannot be trusted.
The murdered ruggerite Wasim Thajudeen’s case and the indicted Judicial Medical Ananda Samarasekara’s behavior are other instances that will have lessons for us as time flows. They can play with murder charges because they have not been framed yet. But if the Attorney General decides there is no case against Samarasekara after indicting him, it would open questions about the Attorney General’s credibility and constancy of opinions when the government changes.
Mullivaikal
A team of respectable investigators have investigated the last days of the war for the UN and solemnly declared in their report that upwards of 40,000 persons were massacred by the LTTE and the government.
Our government – we have only one government, not a Gotabaya Rajapaksa Government or a Maithripala Sirisena Government – agreed to many things including trials under resolution 30/1 at the Human Rights Council.
There is talk now of renegotiating the agreement which we ourselves cosponsored. That attempt at withdrawing from our solemn agreement – indeed that attempt to cheat the world – is telling on our truthfulness and integrity.
Trying to renegotiate the agreement would be a disaster for our reputation as a truthful nation. So doing would make anyone wonder why we do not push ahead with war crimes trials and leave it all behind us if no one is guilty. Surely, the move to renegotiate is pushed by those who do not want to face a trial. If there is no guilt, there is no need to fear a fair trial watched by us and the international community to ensure fairness. The international presence is essential if war crimes trials are not to go the route of the cases cited above where the police clear the guilty.
Note: This article has been written carefully and thoughtfully in an attempt to preserve the endangered Sri Lanka that I know and love so much. I hope that for doing that, I will not be charged with “Fabricating False evidence and Inciting Disaffection Against the State,” like Ms. Francis has been,” or with causing “public mischief” as in Cyprus.
“public mischief”
desperateasnother / January 2, 2020
All these reveal that lanken police, courts, and other lawful bodies are no means credible enough with their performances.
Good governance govt brought some sort of fairness in court investigations, but immediately the govt was defeated, the very same police to behave as if there exists no POLICE commission is very doubtful to us the lankens living outside but are very concerns of lanken issues.
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And the fact not a single high crimes, alleged to have committed by Rajapakshe et al are not proved for some reasons during the last 5 years. But like beggars wounds, these investigations were called on and on…. and media men reported about the evidences being collected sufficiently for example for that broad day murder Thadjudeen rugerite. However, Former mad President beecoming a lapdog of Mahinda Rajaakshe, people s faith kept on LANKEN court hearings became funnier so that nobody would ever trust lanken courts again.
Besides, those courts arbitorily abuse the time and put off the court investigations on and on. They dont care about the funds being wasted by the state, and the JUSTICE delays of the victimized families such Ekanligoda, Lasantha Wickramatunga, Thadjudeen and not forgetting the mothers whose young sons were abducted and gunned down in 2009. Those mothers have shed tears flooding colombo commercial city, but nothing is taken serious by SINHALA courts – this is the ground reality of this god punished nation.
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So how can we keep hope for a better future, knowing that nothing seems to work regarding lanken justice performances even if RULERS repeatedly assure UNHRC that they woudl work on improvment of INVESTIGATIONs.
I think INTERNATIONAL missions should focus on the COUNRTIES court proscrastinations and help the SRILANKENS with their JUSTICE issues.
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anticorruptedforever / January 2, 2020
I am a srilanken living in Europe .I simply I would not compare it with CYPRUS but RATHER with Ruwanda or the like minded tribal states and their systems where such ethics and morals control the society.
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U Prof. Hoole perfectly know how you were cornered in your commission where you are sitting. That MACO never respected standards but just what he thought was right. And the rest two had to give it go. – MACO was caricatured by SIRISENA along with RAJAPAKSHE MAFIA BOSS… is not that so ? If that is not the case, who on earth, how could GR ‘s application be accepted as the nominee ?
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They THUGS being biased to MR seem to control lanken press completely even in GOOD GOVERNANCE days. Not much about NEW revealations and how they put it under carpet regarding Thadjudeen and Lasantha Murder investigations were in Lanken press except few lines by some, if SHIRANTHI RAJAPAKSHES would have been interrogated, she would commit suicide. Except that, why the investigations were neglected and how it happened etc was not reported neither local nor foreign press, perhaps, EXCEPT us CT commenters on this and other forums.
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But we heard that COMMISSIONS have been impletmented and how far they were successful was not analysed by anyone. Like for example, yet today, they lanken authorities have the temerity to say, that they maintain COMMON WEALTH basic principles regarding safeguarding basic human rights, but saddest reality lie aside.
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I myself QUESTION not once on and on, how COULD local press be that biased to RAJAPAKSHE crimes or whatever, while the very same press STAY mum regarding HIGH LEVEL mislead made by a MONK-PRIEST with a Prof: Title. This monk at Kelaniya- So called most sacred temple has made a PUBLIC statement that a common reptile (NAGAYA) brought a pithathal pahana along with “relics”.
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Sach / January 3, 2020
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Desperate Sinhalaya / January 2, 2020
As ONE commenter made it very clear-
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Lankens are similar to a stinky garbage mountain that stink but covered with a nice beautiful cover which is the LANDASCAPEs and natural beauty of island. Natural beautiy of the country is too damaged to some levels by the very same RAJAPAKSHES goons over the years, if you would go to MIRISSA or any other coastal areas, you may witness them easily. No matter thugs and facists in those areas, but beloeved Rajapkashes supporters continue their style of day today activities no authorities would be able to reach them for anything.
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I have lost my own inherited properties in Mathara, notars and land grabbers worked together – was what I heard from the process. What left to be done is nothing than STAY silence protecting so called respect to parents. They are old and we cant bring them to courts for anything.
Notars in that areas are bribed for anything because lack of proper systems to control them. Even if RAJAPAKSHES govt spoke high about their performance, they did lot more THUGs to rise up than anything else. That ALONE would be good enough to punish the man BY Karma, the natural drama will come to light sooner than later. I have no doubt, not Gadafi alone was thrown to a drain, but our MAFIA boss and his thugs would ONE day soon be destroyed by own. TRUTHS will succeed even delays are there.
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Leelagemalli / January 2, 2020
We need to interview SWISS embassy for the SWISS EMPLOYEE Saga.
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Any brave journalist would do the job ? No. Perhaps outside journos would do it next days.
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The story is buried under the carpet so as NEW YORK TIMES s revealation about the huges funds being taken by MAHINDA RAJAPAKSHE GOVT from China – became just a hear say only, even if NYT is one of the highly recognized NEWS papers to the global community.
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I never trusted local press – be it about BANK BOND SCAM or ANYTHING…. since they dont spread truths. Most of them in lanken press -specially PRIVATE CHANNELS (Hiru, Derana and Sirasa) TV Channels, are more less like ” blue flies” being found on ROAD SIDE heaps of Dog’s shit.
They and their interviews with Rajakashes are highl biased. The reason is public secret – JOURNOS dont want to be fated like LASANTHA Wickramatunga, Ekanaligoda or over 40 Journos that were then murdered down by RAJAKSHES MAFIA.
My point is if JOURNOS are that FEARFUL, why they select their job as Journos ?
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So long they are sinhala they can do anything under the TITLE – Journos. Best example is so called, ONCE so brave Journalist – IQBAL ATHAS – to have brought coverages regarding MIG flight purchase robbery deliberately made by Gotabaya and others. Unfortuantely for the people in this country – Iqbal athas is tamed by LOADs of perks being offered to him – the size of it is no in press though…… however, this man if he became that obsequeous – SHOULD be BEHEADED by bringing to Galle face green so that entire JOURNLIST COMMUNITY be warned enough.
That kind of brave steps if people could move, could bring this country forward for sure.
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babalath appu / January 2, 2020
ONLY god knows, if THIS local EMPLOYEE was telling the truths or untruths. They hurt the truth makers to the very same manner they dig the wounds not allowing it healing.
This is the style – ABUSIVE press culture in SRILNKA for recent times.
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This was the very same with THADJUDEEN rugherite murder investigations- no lanken press adequately paid much attention to reveal the truths.
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Not a single BRAVE journo had the balls to bring TRUTHS about as to why SHIRANTHI RAJAKSHE was never called for interogations regarding the murder of Rugerite.
If I were the mother of that YOUNG muslim boy, I would have committed suicide killing one of RAJAPKSHE family so that they could finally pulse it how mothers bear the human losses.
I would have committed suicide to the very same manner some NOTHERNERS and SOUTHERNERS did then. I mean, a mother who mourn on and on not having being able to see the justice – being caught by tantalus torments – should be stopped.
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There are mothers that lost their lovely ones, but coming from COLOMBO circles seek the justice not knowing that their sons are still alive not – but RAJAAKSHES FAMILY men, celebrate their son s weddings with STOLEN money, no shame at all… the very same wedding extra vaganzas are being celebrated by the very same folks that brought them back to the field. This is good old SRILANKA where there is no place for JUSTICE and FAIRNESS:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAogLFrw24Q
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Leelagemalli / January 2, 2020
Just tell us,
what is credible in our home country?
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They talk high about commissions having being brought, but what brought these commissions tangibly ?
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If police commission does their duties well, why on earth that KELANIY Chief incumbent monk is not yet arrested ?
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Was that not a greater harm on HUMANITY to have misled buddist vulnerable that way ?
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If anyone would says, sadu saud even looking at a “thalagoya -Iguana”; the by standing man would just believe it and go after it. why ? What the world in SL is made to be misled only ?
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THE REASON HAS BEEN – SOME POLITICIANS LIVE UP HAVING MISLED THE NATION: LONGER PEOPLE STAY ABUSIVE AND MANIPULATIVE- THE HARVEST BEING REAPED OUT BY POLITICIANS ARE huge. This game … go hand by hand. over the 70 years.
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Even high tech consuming youth today are fed with BHUTHAYA stories making the next generation even more blind. SIDU the daily telecasting TELEDRAMA along with INDIAN low level dramas are part and parcel of LANKEN TV channels (HIRU, DERANA) HOw come ? Why not they the authorities have th epower to CRITICISE AND BLOCK them yet today ?
Should GOTA need put his fingers in ?
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ENTIRE LANKENS SYSTEMS ALL TOGETHER ARE LIKE GARBAGE HEAPS THAT FELL DOWN KILLING SOME INNOCIENT. Nobody seems to be caring on anything why ?
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John / January 2, 2020
[edited out]
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SL government must demand to answer these questions: Why didn’t the so called victim go to the nearest police station and the government hospital as soon as the alleged incidents happened? If her health was that bad, why was she kept hidden for 2 years weeks by ambassador Mockery? Can the Swiss smuggle out a Sri Lankan citizen with out going through Sri Lankan immigration laws and procedure? Why does the embassy always employ only the members of minority communities (divide and rule ploy?)?
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At a time like this, ex-president would definitely declare the problematic ambassador persona non grata. But that stunt cost his dear life.
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shankar / January 2, 2020
john
i don’t think she is a member of the minority as you claim because she is known also as sriyalatha perera.
as for going to the police, she knows because the abductors asked her about the visa given to the police inspector, then they must be government agents or the police themselves.As for being kept hidden for 2 weeks as you claim the history of the rajapakshe era had somany killings that the swiss embassy would have played safe for her sake.After all she is their employee and her safety becomes their responsibility because of that visa issue earlier for which she was abducted for.
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R. Manawadu / January 2, 2020
Yes Professor Hoole, this is all great injustice. All foreign dwelling former university academics should be brought back here and reinstated in their professorships, full compensation made. Millions don’t simply mater.
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As to Ms Francis (Tamil or Sinhala or whatever) the Sri Lankan tax payer needs to find some luxurious apartment in a salubrious area of Colombo, for her like Glen Arbour Place, Bambalapitiya and put MS Francis us at tax payers’ expense.
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Our traitors deserve better!
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JD / January 2, 2020
With the Swiss employee case, new president established some new precedence that Sri Lanka did not have. During the Yahapalana govt, International community was governing Sri Lanka and they were all over the govt. They were managing the parliament and the politicians, giving foreign trips to politicians and to Judges. The new president established SRI LANKAN SOVEREIGNTY BY INVESTIGATING the bizarre accusations right away. The Watch maker cum Banker for laundered and ill -gotten money became very uncomfortable because of that.
I think if you ask Mannar Catholic Bishops, the death toll will be not 40,000, it will be 146,000 or higher.
BTW. Sri Lankan catholic are being screwed up be Evangelical Christian pastors. I heard, they are busy converting and preaching even in Colombo suburbs.
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Dutugemunu / January 2, 2020
JD, take it easy enjoy life! Gota and Rajapakshe’s and the racist Sinhala Buddhists will reign supreme till eternity! Dutugemunu
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Christopher / January 2, 2020
JD ,
don’t talk things you don’t know you dummy,
There is nothing wrong in preaching
The Catholic church has screwed up the preaching of Jesus Christ.
That is why it had to be reformed.
The Catholic church oppressed the people and contaminated Christianity with MONEY and POWER.
If the Catholic bishops want to keep on bluffing they have to expect Catholics converting to true Christianity.
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kolla / January 2, 2020
The judiciary no good , the legal profession no good, newspapers no good ,only this Hoole guy knows the truth !
Even in Cyprus he knows what happened ! He suggest what the Cyprus police says is dubious !
Just the right guy to misled foreign embassies here. Is he representing a community well known for their intellectual honesty ?
Ask Saundranayagam, Subs, Raj Rajaratnam, Mahendran and Alloysious. They speak the truth.
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Nadeeka Abeyrathne / January 2, 2020
So under GR as Prez., all the journos in the country have become ‘Iqbal Aththes’ now? they were either won over $$$ or threatened ?
We will never know the truth of this Swiss lady officer and when the state media and govt controlled private media go much against her means its definitely a govt job.
In Colombo political grapevine., its spreading like MR have warned to GR about Kamal G is making life difficult for them as politicians and also mentioned what a mess this Swiss saga became.
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Leelagemalli / January 2, 2020
They are experts at any underground work.
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Rajapakshe brothers are well experts at broad day murders
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Rajapskeh brothers are well experts at money laundering – these are public secret
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That is why the state funds were abused to build monuments of their parents. Asked why they did so, was answered by the newly elected President as – what is wrong with it ? What judges said was – NOT in press, Judges should have NODDED the head as PINGONAs would do. Why people in this country are this much LOW LEVEL even after wearing HIGHLY academic titles ?
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Latter should be part some DOCTORAL THESES of Humanity studies at the Dept of Arts in Colombo University ? SRILANKEN politics.
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sinhalese buddhist / January 2, 2020
how did did you determine Ms. Francis is Tamil? Her birth name is supposedly Sriyalatha Perera – a very sinhalese one.
Are you looking for racial discrimination, where it may not exist, as usual? You are quite a racist sir. Please stop with your speculations and accusations that lack thorough evidence.
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Noname / January 2, 2020
“A team of RESPECTABLE INVESTIGATORS have investigated the last days of the war for the UN and solemnly declared in their report that upwards of 40,000 persons were MASSACRED by the LTTE and the government.”
Why would GOSL be indifferent towards civilian deaths let alone kill civilians on purpose when LTTE was desperately trying to create a humanitarian crisis to make a case for international intervention?
What is the ethical response in a fight or be doomed, kill or be killed situation? What do you suggest the military should have done when LTTE fires artillery at them from amidst civilian settlements/hospitals?
International law requires attacking force to take precautions to spare the lives of civilians AS POSSIBLE. Who decides when/where the “as possible” requirement is met?
RESPECTABLE INVESTIGATORS… according to who? Credibility in today’s world has less to do with facts and more to do with political, economic, military prowess. Those who have grained such “credibility” decide which allegations are substantiated and which ones are not, who has met the requirements set by international law and who has not.
Is ICC respectable? ICC declined to investigate possible war crimes in Afghanistan, involving U.S. According to them “the current circumstances of the situation in Afghanistan are such as to make the prospects for a successful investigation and prosecution extremely limited.”
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (without loss of any “credibility” I might add) said the U.S. would withdraw or deny visas to ICC staff investigating such allegations against U.S. forces or their allies.
Has the world become riled by US actions?
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lanka / January 2, 2020
The UN team of investigators of the last days of the war report on 40,000 persons being massacred was a complete dumb allegation without any valid proof. The UNHRC is a ‘cesspit’ – US representative to the UN. The so called ‘respectable’ investigators write reports to earn their bread. Ask them to write reports on voluntary basis and you will see how fast they disappear.
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shankar / January 3, 2020
no name
” What do you suggest the military should have done when LTTE fires artillery at them from amidst civilian settlements/hospitals?”
i liked your comment as a rational one.Only thing i don’t agree with you about firing into civilians.For 2 reasons.One is the safe zones were designated by the government.So the government has to see that those zones are safe under any circumstances.The second reason is it was obvious that the LTTE was firing from there to provoke the army to fire into the zones and kill civilians.If you do what your enemy wants you to do then you are an idiot.All these unnecessary killings was because of the mad rush to finish the war before the indian elections are held.
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Noname / January 2, 2020
(Continuing on from previous comment)
Is the UK credible? A simple Google search shows only a few months ago LTTE supporters waving LTTE flags in front WESTMINSTER MAGISTRATES COURT. Would the same freedom be allowed to wave ISS flags?
Siobhain McDonagh, an ardent supporter of prosecution of GOSL against Tamil genocide, during a Commons debate said: “Yes, some of us feel bad about Iraq… I think that deposing a murderous tyrant such as Saddam Hussein and introducing democracy to that part of the world was the right thing to do… We cannot constrain our troops by telling them, ‘You fight now—we’ll decide whether you were right to fight later.’ We cannot tie their hands behind their backs. We have to stop thinking about ourselves and start thinking about the brave men and women in Mitcham and Morden and elsewhere”. If end justifies means in Iraq according to international community why not in Mullivaikal?
Why was London Bridge attacker shot dead even after he was subdued? It is said that he wore a hoax device. Given that what could the Sri Lankan military have done to save a group of LTTE higher ups trying to surrender at the eleventh hour in the middle of a battle when black tigers are jumping at them from left, right, top, bottom, front and back with wearing real devices?
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Extra cover / January 2, 2020
A fine bit of journalism. Thank you..
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Noname / January 2, 2020
(Continuing on from previous comment)
The Swiss Federal Court ruled LTTE not a criminal organization. They say “not only must justice be done; it must also be seen to be done.” Has the Swiss lost any credibility as a consequence? Had those 12 acquitted being accused for associating with ISS, would they have declared ISS not a criminal organization?
Law and governance is far from credible or respectable in Sri Lanka. However the world is not any different.
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Jehan / January 2, 2020
How an American became president in your watch?
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Kugan / January 2, 2020
This patriotic looking for save heaven along with green pasture and secured for his sibblings
I blame the ambassdar must be new to this killing paradise.
If she would have been to Police she would have vanished but she let the employer the reallity,but mean time it might be the 1st case (‘nishabthä)was given assylum visa from on his own country.
Now LTTE gone but the fear is coming back to whole nation,Thanajudden murder fabrication comes to every sri lankans.,they know how far rhese evils go
All in the name of……….
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Mohan / January 2, 2020
Hoole you are a joke. Stick to your subject., engineering. Have no clue of reality. So stop writing.
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Dilshan / January 2, 2020
Hoole
What are trying to do. Commit suicide.
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Lohan / January 2, 2020
What happened during the Tiger war ( true or false) pales into insignificance when compared to
The bombing of Dreizden – WW2
Hiroshima – WW2
Vietnam War
American Civil War
Iraq War. Etc etc.
Read about them and then compare.
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shankar / January 3, 2020
lohan
except for the american civil war in all the others the government did not kill its own citizens.That is the major difference.In a family if your son stabs you it hurts more than if an outsider comes and does it.DNA proves that the closest relatives of the tamils are the sinhalese,not the people of tamilnadu with whom they share language and religion.Even Abraham Lincoln stopped his army from killing any more southern troops and let them escape to fight another day,for which he was blamed.
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Sach / January 3, 2020
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rbh / January 2, 2020
Convincing yourself doesn’t win an argument, the blame game is playing very good covering all the when the party changes all rules are made to defend themselves A gateway is set to escape, It works for a short and placing the trap for future generation .
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L. Perera / January 2, 2020
When it ocomes to currency manipulation at international level , the Swiss are pariahs.
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Jay / January 2, 2020
I fully agree with the sentiments of the author. We can’t trust our Law enforcement agencies.. Even judiciary is now questionable. Officers are scared to reveal the truth if there is political connections.
This country cannot be brought under the rule of law.
Almighty God only can help us in finding solution as Sodom and Gomorrah or Noah flood .
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Eagle Eye / January 2, 2020
Native Sinhalayo curse Sinhala leaders who decided to give citizenship to the descendants of Dravidian slaves brought to Sinhale from Hindusthan by Portuguese, Dutch and British colonial parasites to exploit resources in this country and abandoned them in Sinhale making them Stateless. Now these guys have become a pain in the neck of Native Sinhalayo.
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shankar / January 3, 2020
if you lazy bastards got up from your arse and worked nobody need have been brought here in the first place.Hardworking hambantottans had to be brought for the tobacco plantations by the dutch.If they were not brought would you have won the war without the rajapakshes and also the tamils who cleared the malaria infested jungles for you now to enjoy a great tea exports.Without the hardworking gene inyou a country can never be developed by lazy genes.
you have a derogatory idea of hardworking poor people,idiot.See what coolies brought to singapore by the british have achieved because of that hardworking gene that is in them than your lazy ancestors with silver spoons in their mouths and just hot air and gas spewing out of their mouths the whole day.Slaves indeed.Any day slaves are better than lazy fuckers who want others to do all the work for them.
see what the chinese coolies brought to singapore by the british have achieved.Sri lanka did not achieve it because lazy blood sucking leeches like the monks and your silver spoon in their mouths types have blocked opportunities for the hardworking people brought by the british and dutch who knew the correct types to bring here.
https://designyoutrust.com/2015/08/stunning-pictures-of-singapore-then-and-now-50-years-of-independence/
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Sach / January 3, 2020
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Ulysses Grant / January 2, 2020
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Eagle Eye / January 2, 2020
Latest stage drama in town:
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‘Abduction of Sirialatha Backfired’
Producer: Arajitham Senarathanam
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babalath appu / January 2, 2020
Eagle Eye:
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Abduction was real or not is not yet confirmed by Swiss embassy.
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However the producer of the film in favour of abductors is BASIL RAJAPKSHE et al.that handle the press pumping millions if not billions out of stolen wealth.
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What is according to you backfired will come to light as Thajduden killers or Tangalle rapists had no other choice but to reveal later- SO PLEASE shut your orifices and get ready to realize the bits at least few days before your last breath.
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You Evil eagle that is born to destroy sinhala race should be raw buried by nature.
Ultra racists of your nature, are a shame to us sinhalaya.
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Francis Francis / January 2, 2020
Harm has been done to a helpless woman. It is only human that she gets justice and protection_not the mockery and shaming without evidence and the wicked comments most payed for from tax payers’ money..
Thank you Prof. For bringing attention to the case of the weak and vulnerable. Thanks for writing The book “professional Ethics” you taught us at the University. Send a copy to these uncivilized Pakse family members before they take us back into the dark ages.
Gotabaya when in authority in an army station ked a dying soldier with his boots, for not standing up. He is now the President. This used to be not Sri Lankan behaviour before the 60’s. Even under the Colonials, the law was held quite sacred. The man is Darth Vade r. As if Satan.has got his soul.
Gotabhaya’s government acts like the dragon monster we find in the story books. His orcs go about white vanning, killing, raping, lying, supporting this evil in broad day light. That is how they were brought up with probably their mothers and sisters abused in the family that their hearts are hardened. Was not MR’ wife abducted and probably raped by her future husband our former President?
Evil should be resisted immediately or it will take over and suffocate the whole nation.
An educated nation respects justice. A decent President fosters justice.
If Francis’ story is not true, the Swiss embassy would have printed a correction.
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rohan anthony johnpillai / January 2, 2020
nowadays in shitty sorry Lanka, the rule of law has again been forced to take a back seat from the 17th of November 2019.
RJ. 1.
anything said or written about the American citizen of a kallathoni president his rajapuka siblings along with the other corrupt in many a facet this illegal war criminal who should be rightfully locked up at department of immigration and emigration should be castrated shipped out in a dog cage in the car hold of a suitable airliner carrying freight only freight cargo.
R.J. 2.what happened to the visa official of the swiss embassy is nothing new to this sordid happening intentionally made to happen kakkabakki shithole.
this innocent mother of 3 who in all innocence was requested by one the teachers who were employed by the roman catholic girls only reputed in every core convent has requested this innocent lady to help her in how to obtain a visa to travel to Switzerland.
when she unwittingly arrived in all pure innocence, she was abducted eyes blindfolded shoved into a white-colored motor vehicle of some sort sexually molested by all 5 yakka aliens who assaulted questioned illegally over her job all because the government of switzerland who knowing very well of the pariya antics of the para majority who are nothing but a total disgrace to the docile lord buddha had on humantarian grounds had magnanimously granted a refugee visa to the intelligently smartly performing intelligence officer.
m/s francis had to undergo many a dissecting medical examination where she was forced to strip fully to her birthday suit.
not being satisfied by this perve, she then was ordered by a court to be taken to the world-famous mental asylum where she was grilled by a team of Sinhala Buddhist psychopath lunatics who are great in making many a sane human to become insane.
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Professor Asoka N.I. Ekanayaka / January 2, 2020
Professor Ratnajeevan Hoole must be admired and commended for his courage and honesty in exposing and speaking out against the sanctimonious humbug, deception, and injustice that saturates this country at all levels. The weakness and moral turpitude in our society to which he points now pervades politics, governance, the learned professions and academia alike. In a nation full of cowards, and spineless sycophants who keep their mouths shut and kowtow to those in power driven by fear and selfish gain – Professor Hoole is a shining exception and an example of a true patriot who longs for a nation that enshrines the values of truth, justice freedom and equality. He need have no fear. I share with him the defiance of the Psalmist who wrote ” In God I trust, I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me ?”
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Angered sinhalaya / January 2, 2020
Prof. ASOKA,
we admire TAMIL Profs but we treat them yet as second citizens ? And our Sinhala Prof either create new kind of conflicts as Prof. Rajeeva Wijesinghe continues. Or stay back searching for any kind of rabblerousing activities.
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I have no idea how our Prof. as UNI dons doing well regarding any kind of HUMAN development projects in war torn SRILANKA.
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They none of them utter a single word about MEDIF mafia that seems to be misleading the nation from dawn to dusk.
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Alone that lately heard RELICS drama at Kelaniya, you professors didnot even take serious. and let INNOCIENT buddhists be caught by the tricks ?????????????ßß
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If our PROFs did their HOME WORKs regarding rebuilding the society, there would be no place, ABUSIVE politicians to twist the average mind set right ?
Agree ?
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Eusense / January 3, 2020
prof Asoka,
You seem to be going overboard in admiring and commending Hoole. He is no hero in my mind. He is enjoying the freedom of expression given to all of us as citizens. So, you never knew about these happening in SL until he wrote this piece??? However, you write “weakness and moral turpitude in our society to which he points now pervades politics, governance, the learned professions and academia alike”. What have you done to correct these anomalies? For your information, there are many citizens that try to highlight these but are not recognized or does not have the social or educational attainments to be taken seriously.
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Kugan / January 2, 2020
Eagle
You dont even have a guts to put your own name ,
Turning history now we have Amarican as 1st head of our killers land
Which passport you hold,unfortunate lt silvet screen Geeta lost her Swissee citizenship looo
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chiv / January 2, 2020
Some of the comments here obviously reflect the mind set of majority Lankan voters. At the time of voting let alone the country , they do not think of self, family or their future generations but vie for more misery to their neighbors. Some of those who left and residing abroad , too, seems to have not come out of this fixated mentality. (must be the character trait). Way to Go.
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Nagalingam Ethirveerasingam / January 2, 2020
Ratnajeevan.
Thank you for sharing your experience in Anuradhapura and your thoughts on the various events that calls into question the integrity of the police and the prosecuting system. There are too many such events to Ignore the problem. Impunity will breed more of such crimes leading the country into chaos.
Srisena/ RW government cosponsored the UNHRC Resolutions. But During 2019 they publicly repeated that no War Crimes or Crimes against Humanity were committed during last stages of the civil war. Those statements were for political expediency or may be they have convinced themselves that there were no war crimes committed. If they and the present government are sure that’s there were no war Crimes or Crimes against Humanity were committed, there is no reason why they are against setting up the Court and let the trial proceed.
I also wish that Sri Lanka will set up the court as agreed in the Resolution with the presence of international jurists and give those who are accused of the Crimes a chance to defend and for the prosecution to proof their case.
Sri Lanka government and citizens need to realize the War Crimes issue will not go away or can be made to go away. In my view there cannot be reconciliation before a Court with International Jurists is created and starts functioning.
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Lasantha Pethiyagoda / January 2, 2020
Although I read the whole article, I do not have evidence or knowledge to judge one way or another about the war in SL. However, I do believe the author’s account of the traffic accident he was involved in last month. I can well imagine the scenario that took place in the police station and feel very ashamed to be identified as a Sinhala (Buddhist) when our people behave this way towards our own fellow citizens. On social values, our beloved land is slipping very low and one day we will become outcasts in the international arena. Already, Sri Lankan passport holders are always under suspicion in developed countries due to various rackets, duplicity and fraud. With these kinds of developments, SL will indeed become a pariah state if decent values are not inculcated in the people.
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Eagle Eye / January 2, 2020
“Already, Sri Lankan passport holders are always under suspicion in developed countries due to various rackets, duplicity and fraud.”
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Travelling with a Sri Lankan Passport was a nightmare because of the nefarious activities of LTTE barbarians. After LTTE was crushed, situation changed.
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Noname / January 2, 2020
“Trying to renegotiate the agreement would be a disaster for our reputation as a truthful nation.”
Are there any truthful nations in the world?
During campaign for conservative party leadership, Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt were both asked pointblank whether Donald Trump asking several congresswomen “of color” to go back home was racist? Both refused to say out loud that it was racist. Apparently Jeremy Hunt’s wife is Chinese yet political compulsions were such he had to overlook the injustice.
Wonder what you think of Edward Gallagher’s case? Do you think her majesty the queen would refuse to entertain Donald Trump because he set free a navy seal convicted (not accused) of war crimes? The reality is “Steven R. Ratner” types can say all they want about human rights and international law but American troops have ironclad protection from the US administration whichever party is in power. Its all fart, no poo at the end of day for the victims.
The so called international community can be very proactive and realistic when their own security is at stake but very lethargic and idealistic when countries like Sri Lanka are grappling with terrorism. Especially when domestic electoral compulsions and campaign funding is at stake. Yet you want this international community to come and sit in judgement of Sri Lankan troops! You are barking mad.
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C. B. Goonatilale / January 2, 2020
“A team of respectable investigators have investigated the last days of the war for the UN and solemnly declared in their report that upwards of 40,000 persons were massacred by the LTTE and the government.”
A well respected historian, Prof Michael Roberts, says that in historical analysis of conflicts elsewhere in the world, including the two world wars, the ratio of injured to deaths ranges from about 2 to 5 or so injured survivors to each death. Taking the bottom figure of 2, there should at least be 80,000 injured survivors from Mullivaikal alone. But that is not the case at all.
Sri Lankans are born exaggerators. And most Westerners are gullible and believe any exaggeration. Also, they believe whatever that is in their political interests. So, the figure “upward of 40,000 persons were massacred” may not be correct.
This is not to suggest that there were no military excesses. On balance of probability there would have been. But the “upwards of 40,000” is certainly an exaggeration and cannot be substantiated from well documented statistics of other conflicts, based on actual deaths to actual injured (mainly amputees and those who lost their eyesight).
UN report does not detail the methodology of how they came up with 40,000+
Ideally, if those injured at Mullivaikkal are listed, it may be possible to evaluate the number of deaths within a plausible range.
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