19 March, 2024

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Time For The UK To Sanction Sri Lanka’s Army Commander

The International Truth and Justice Project has compiled a 50-page dossier which it has submitted to the Sanctions Department of the UK’s Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office on General Shavendra Silva. The Submission argues why Silva, who is Sri Lanka’s current Army Commander, should be designated under the United Kingdom’s Global Human Rights (GHR) Sanctions Regime established on 6 July 2020.

Shavendra Silva

“We have an extensive archive of evidence on the final phase of the civil war in Sri Lanka, meticulously collected by international prosecutors and lawyers. The testimony of victims and witnesses – many now in the UK – was vital in informing this Submission, and making the linkages to Shavendra Silva and those under his command,” said the organisation’s executive director, Yasmin Sooka.

The ITJP Submission details Shavendra Silva’s role in the perpetration of gross human rights violations including of the right to life when he was 58 Division commander during the final phase of the civil war in 2009 in the north of Sri Lanka. It draws on searing eyewitness testimony from Tamils who survived the government shelling and bombing of hospitals and food queues in the so called No Fire Zones, many of whom now reside in the UK as refugees. The Submission also looks at Silva’s alleged involvement in torture and sexual violence, including rape, which is a  priority area of the UK Government’s foreign policy.

“The US State Department designated Shavendra Silva in 2020 for his alleged role in the violations at the end of the war but the remit  of the UK sanctions regime works is broader and includes his role in the shelling of hospitals and other protected civilian sites during the military offensive. This is important in terms of recognising the full extent of the violations, as well as supporting the US action,” commented Ms. Sooka. “UK designation would be another significant step forward in terms of accountability and would be in line with  the recent UN Human Rights Council Resolution passed in Geneva for which Britain was the penholder,” she added.

Political will in applying the UK’s new sanctions regime to Sri Lanka was apparent in a recent parliamentary debate which saw eleven British parliamentarians ask why the UK government had not applied sanctions against Sri Lankan military figures, including Shavendra Silva who was named six times in this context.

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Latest comments

  • 13
    40

    UK won’t do it fearing retaliation by SL. UK harbors SL war criminals already and SL will take UK to the Hague over it. So it is mutual.

    UK continues to train SL army and sell weapons to SL army!!

    In 2008 UK sold £4 million weapons to SL army and it increased to £37 million in 2013. £6.5 million in 2020.

    • 23
      6

      JATAM

      Please refer my comment below.
      Your American president Gota was trained and protected by Hindians, Americans, and Pakistanis. America also trained and protected many South American dictators. However when the time was wrong for their own “B******s” Americans pulled the rug out from under them. China had done this and would do it again in its own interest. Pakistanis would wait until Hindian response.

      Its all depend on “our interests in your country”.
      Foreign policies are not constructed on Moral principles.
      Get on with your own life.

    • 14
      6

      GATAM,
      I see your monster face now very clearly!

      • 6
        2

        Ajith, That monster you mention looks like a Chinese Dragon

    • 5
      2

      Gatamboooooooooooooo, hahahahaha you are not only a racist but a comedian as well. I have to congratulate you on having multiple talents. By the way when did you receive all this rounded off numbers in sterling pounds? Since you have the figures, you should also have the type of weapons they sold to SL. Can you please list the names of these weapons? I dare you to provide this list!!!!!

      • 5
        2

        Gatamboooooooooo, so mean to tell me that Ali Baba and his 40 thieves are that much richer today?

  • 6
    3

    I guess collecting evidence, analyzing and preserving is already in process.

  • 18
    8

    soman

    Did you know
    “The Truth Will Set You Free, But First It Will P**s You Off!” – By GLORIA STEINEM?
    In his case “Truth Will Set Shavendra Free, But First It Will P**s him Off!”
    However in your case too “Truth Will Set You Free, But First It Will P**s You Off!”
    It is also true for Gota, Mahinda, Wimal, Sarath, Sarath, …………………………. Gevindu, …. all those saffron clad thugs, …………Kamal, 400,000, … 15,000 Generals.
    Don’t forget the 6.9 Million, ….. it is difficult however it is possible.

    • 2
      4

      NV
      While congratulating you on the good news on the New Year day may I seek further clarification on a couple of issues?

      1) What if someone suggests that +12,000 LTTE carder released by Rajapaksa without any parliamentary approval must be rearrested to coincide with Shavendra Silva’s sansctions.
      .
      2) Why don’t the Tamils ask India to sanction Shavendra Silva?
      Help me to make sense of this strange understanding between Tamil political class and India to leave India out of this dirty job of carrying shit buckets? Remember Geneva?
      .
      3) Why did India knowingly ignore killing of civilians who were close relatives of a section of her own people? Or would you say India didn’t know in defence while I believe that there was a RAW agent under every other tree in Wanni and every other lamp-post in Jaffna.
      .
      4) When is the next commemoration day of Sun God by human rights defenders in Jaffna?

      Soma

      • 2
        1

        soman

        This is the umpteenth time I am going to explain you this simple matter.

        1.”What if someone suggests that +12,000 LTTE carder released by Rajapaksa without any parliamentary approval must be rearrested to coincide with Shavendra Silva’s sansctions.”

        Gota the clever dick never published the list of people who were interned or made to disappear by the armed forces and his dead squad. Nor did the state published the detailed list of those whom the state claimed to have released. First you have to have details of those people whom you think should be counted as LTTE. There could be other Tamil speaking dead squad members worked/ working for Gota directly or indirectly. Without personal details of these people you should not ask general public to agree to your parochial hidden agenda and cunning plan.

        Please stop being a child.

        2. Hindians launched the war against in 2005 against LTTE with great help from VP. As far as Hindians are concerned Shavendra, Kamal, Gota, (400,000 + 15,000) ………………. VP, Patmanaba, LTTE, EPRLF, …….. were/are members of their mercenary recruitment (ලස්කිරිඤ්ඤ, Lacukkāriṉ or Lascareen, Lascoreen and Lascarine). They do not give a toss about who they are.

  • 17
    4

    Shavendra is whining to the Mawrata news site about being barred from the USA.

  • 24
    6

    War criminals should be treated like pariahs wherever they go. This despicable man was treated like a VIP in the US among the Sri Lankans, who treated him like a hero, kissing up to him, inviting him to their parties, and fawning over him. The hand they eagerly shook was dripping in blood but they did not care.

    • 2
      2

      “They did not care” ??
      .
      They shook his hand not in spite of the fact it was dripping with the blood of innocents but because it was. Understand the vile nature of those sinhalayo who support these extremist sinhala buddhists

  • 12
    8

    I do not believe that the UK should be at the helm of a human rights body as its own horrific history of atrocities in its many colonies is unsurpassed, possibly due to the long duration and global stranglehold it exercised. However, war criminals must be punished regardless of their geographic location and untainted by political interest, by countries not complicit in massive human rights violations or crimes against humanity. It is well known that in corrupt societies, evidence of crimes can be “disappeared” as can eye-witnesses or people with evidence of crimes by the state or non-state actors.

    • 13
      6

      Lasantha Pethiyagoda

      This is about Sri Lanka’s record on Human Rights.
      You are well aware this island is responsible for large scale human rights abuses starting from 5th April 1971. The members of armed forces and police have behaved as if they are licence to kill, make people disappear, intern innocent, deny responsibility, not being governed by accountability, …. expect to be celebrated being Ranavirus.

      Simple truth is if the state and it leaders fail to treat their people well remember the strangers will grope women folks. No point complaining about colonialism, horrific history of atrocities , …..

      Please read the following
      The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
      EXTRAORDINARY
      PART I : SECTION (I) — GENERAL
      Government Notifications
      THE PREVENTION OF TERRORISM (TEMPORARY PROVISIONS) ACT, No. 48 OF 1979
      http://www.documents.gov.lk/files/egz/2021/4/2223-03_E.pdf

      The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
      No. 2218/68 – FRIDAY, MARCH 12, 2021
      PART I : SECTION (I) — GENERAL
      THE PREVENTION OF TERRORISM (TEMPORARY PROVISIONS) ACT, No. 48 OF 1979
      http://www.documents.gov.lk/files/egz/2021/3/2218-68_E.pdf

      • 3
        1

        NV
        “The members of armed forces and police have behaved as if they are licence to kill, make people disappear, intern innocent, deny responsibility, not being governed by accountability, …. expect to be celebrated being Ranavirus.”
        .
        Why didn’t India step in immediately to save the Tamil civilians while they did send in IPKF to save Sinhala civilians from LTTE atrocities?
        .
        Were the people in Jaffna unaware of SL military behaviour until this Sooka unearthed all this. Remember they even voted for Sarath Silva?

        Soma

        • 3
          1

          soman

          “Why didn’t India step in immediately to save the Tamil civilians while they did send in IPKF to save Sinhala civilians from LTTE atrocities?”

          You must have forgotten what Mahinda said on the record after the end of the war “We fought India’s war.” “We fought for India”. In fact India helped VP to destroy LTTE. Where you’ve been when things were happening?

          “Were the people in Jaffna unaware of SL military behaviour until this Sooka unearthed all this. Remember they even voted for Sarath Silva?”

          Tamil speaking people were in the receiving end since 1956, then how could they not to know their suffering perpetrated by Sinhala/Buddhist armed forces and thugs. Over all the Tamils have been natural allies of UNP. I do not believe they voted for Sarath.

          The votes Sarath received were actually for UNP.

          • 0
            1

            Interesting. If you are associated with UNP you have not committed human rights violations.

            Soma

            • 3
              0

              soman

              “If you are associated with UNP you have not committed human rights violations.”

              It is similar to “if you kill minorities and abuse their human rights that’s fine by you, great patriotism”.

              Sunday Sil Monday kill.
              A good Demela is a dead Demela.

    • 2
      1

      ” It is well known that in corrupt societies, evidence of crimes can be “disappeared” as can eye-witnesses or people with evidence of crimes by the state or non-state actors.”
      .
      But surely India must be in possession of irrefutable evidence.
      It is India not UK who must take the lead.
      After all those allegedly affected were close relatives of a section of her own people.
      Why don’t the Tamils appeal to India is a mystery.

      Soma

      • 1
        0

        soman

        “But surely India must be in possession of irrefutable evidence.
        It is India not UK who must take the lead.”

        You are mad.
        Do you think those who aided and abetted war crimes going to provide evidence against themselves and those who committed such crimes?
        In fact Hindians provided political and diplomatic cover for those war criminals at UNHRC while allowing little islanders (Dayan, ….) to claim glory for the victories.

        “After all those allegedly affected were close relatives of a section of her own people.
        Why don’t the Tamils appeal to India is a mystery.”

        Come on you are conveniently forgetting truth.
        Almost all war criminals are descendants of South India.
        Almost all political crooks are descendants of South India.

        You should take care of your mental health.

  • 14
    4

    Lasantha Pethiyagoda,
    I am somewhat hesitant to step in, having expressed my admiration of your sane inputs. Here, I differ.
    There should be no compunction based on performances, centuries ago. UK is not an ideal country to be tasked with the responsibility; but, pray who else is better suited. My humble opinion is that UK, as a country with long connection with us fits the bill.

    • 11
      3

      Even this comment by Lasantha Pethiyagoda is good.
      .
      It states clearly what he had in mind. The one problem is punishments for armed forces personnel. They deserve punishment, yes.
      .
      However, punishing these soldiers may not do the Tamils much good. Most Sinhalese are racists. Harshly punish a few and Sinhalese positions will harden.
      .
      As a rule, I don’t think that the Sinhalese think much. Quite a few thuggish and vociferous Sinhalese may be rearing to go at the Tamils and Muslims.
      .
      Guys like us may not be able to stop them.
      .
      Good night!

    • 3
      0

      But Nathan why don’t the Tamils appeal to India who most certainly are in possession of true evidence.

      Soma

      • 2
        1

        Soma,
        Even though you did not specify what Appeal I ought to make, let me respond.
        .
        India did not leave us with you lousy lot; It was the British.

        • 1
          1

          Nathan
          I mean investigations of war crimes during the war.
          Does any other party hold more credible evidence than India?

          “India did not leave us with you lousy lot”
          I blame my father’s generation for not being lousy enough.
          Didn’t DS Senanayake make arrangements for you to leave this lousy lot?

          Soma

          • 1
            0

            soman

            “Didn’t DS Senanayake make arrangements for you to leave this lousy lot?”

            Hindians couldn’t agree on the definition of Indian Citizen. In fact Nehru couldn’t accommodate all 7 million in South India. I agree it was a mistake on the part of Nehru. On the other hand how many stupid people or criminals can he let in.

            You should think before start typing.

      • 3
        1

        soman

        “But Nathan why don’t the Tamils appeal to India who most certainly are in possession of true evidence.”

        What are you talking about?
        Hindia aided and abetted Sri Lanka since 2005.
        Hindians ( the current Minister of External Affairs Jaishankar is a Tamil) have been saving Mahinda’s (Gota, Shavendra, Kamal & 15,000 + 400,000) bum since 2009 however let Dayan and inapt Sri Lankan diplomats to claim victory/glory at UNHRC. Sarath Weerasekera, Jayasumana, …….. were being allowed to believe their contribution/campaign/oration let to victories at UNHRC.

        Therefore please advise your inapt crooks not to rock the boat too much, keep Hindians happy. Remember two dates, 26 March 1971 and 4 June 1987.

        • 2
          0

          NV
          Help me with the dates mentioned.

          Soma

          • 2
            0

            soman

            Bangladesh declared independence from Pakistan in the early hours of 26 March 1971.

            Operation Poomalai which consisted of 5 Anatanov and 2 Mirage 2000 dropped chapati flour bags from air on 4 June 1987.

            The brave Sinhala/Buddhist armed forces and clever dick politicians should remember these dates. These are important dates for them than their empty independence day celebration and victory marches.

            Hope you remind them now and then.

            • 0
              0

              NV
              Thanks. I will note it down.
              You are now dreaming of India doing a Bangladesh in Sri Lanka.
              I have noticed that ‘Bangladesh’ poping up increasingly.
              There seems to be something going on at the top.
              It is your moral duty at this point in time to educate the Tamils (All Tamil speaking people scattered across the island irrespective of their religion or the date of arrival) living outside North East about this possibility. For a Bangladesh will come with a Myanmar.
              Their ( Tamils outside NE) present assumption that Sinhala Buddhist environment is superior to their own may no longer be true with a Bangladesh. That Bangladesh will be far more superior I have no doubt.
              .
              As for Parippu, India will have to stockpile a lot prior to the Bangladesh operation.

              Soma

              • 1
                0

                soman

                “You are now dreaming of India doing a Bangladesh in Sri Lanka.”

                No smart ass patriot, I am only giving you early warning for your dumb asses to avoid creating opportunities for another Bangla popping up in Hindian southern flank.

                “All Tamil speaking people scattered across the island…….. “

                Not only scattered across the island but also all over the world.
                Their half sister is the vice president of USA.
                Their son/brother is the deputy prime minister of Singapore.
                Their brother is the Hindian External Affairs minister.
                Their sister is the Hindian finance minister.
                One brother is home grown head of ISRO.
                Another is the CEO of Alphabet and Google
                One brother is the internationally acclaimed composer (2 Oscar under his belt)
                One sister is chairperson and chief executive officer (CEO) of PepsiCo
                —-
                Don’t make it extremely easy for them to carve out separate state by your own stupid arrogant behavior. The way things are I guess your racist crooks are going to hand over separate state on a platter.

                I will give you a clue, that is “Victory Disease” – complacency or arrogance. Please read up on it.
                The saddest part of this country is that Mahinda and Gota still believe they won the war. In fact VP won the war for them with huge help from Hindians.

                • 0
                  1

                  NV
                  But you didn’t express your opinion on the rest of the comment:
                  ” … a Bangladesh will come with a Myanmar.
                  Their ( Tamils outside NE) present assumption that Sinhala Buddhist environment is superior to their own may no longer be true with a Bangladesh. “
                  .
                  Where do you live , inside or outside NE?

                  Soma

                • 0
                  1

                  NV
                  ” I guess your racist crooks are going to hand over separate state on a platter.”
                  With those +50% who presently consider Sinhala Buddhist environment is superior to their own.

                  Soma

                  • 1
                    0

                    soman

                    “With those +50% who presently consider Sinhala Buddhist environment is superior to their own.”

                    Of course they do even after gravely injured or witnessed Sinhala/Buddhist rage/madness in 1915, 1956, 1958, 1961, 1971, 1974, 1977, 1981, 1983, 30 up to 2009, 2013, 2019, …..

                    • 0
                      0

                      Because nothing scares them than the possibility of living in a Tamil only enclave.
                      This is the main obstacle to your Homeland project.
                      Let me repeat.
                      1)
                      Despite intense, unrelenting propaganda of discrimination, violence, loot, rape, murder or even genocide not a SINGLE TAMIL FAMILY who lived among the Sinhalese in the South during or after the war has relocated the residence to Jaffna.
                      2)
                      During the period Prabakaran was ruling Jaffna the only desire of a Tamil mother was to send her children down to South.
                      3)
                      Your politicos who promoted LTTE as the sole representative of Tamils carried out their political activities while living within the enemy.
                      4)
                      When arrangements were made for the estate Tamils to relocate themselves to India so that they can live as equal citizens among their own kith and kin in an environment of their own language, religion and culture they protested and demanded to continue that pathetic life in Sri Lanka. To this day they are happy here than going back to super power India.
                      .
                      If you are really serious about a Tamil Homeland take that message to the Tamil speakers living in Sinhala majority provinces.
                      Your challenge is to convince a SINGLE TAMIL FAMILY!

                      Soma

  • 2
    2

    OK! Let the UK decide to act on the current Sri Lankan Army Commander. What action can it take in the form of sanctions? In any case at the current rate, he cannot be in any European destination, because if he so steps in what happened to Augusto Pinochet can take place and he can be caged in a European Jail for some time until the case is finished for starters. So he won’t step into any one of them. So can be in some South American countries. Therefore, whatever UK supposedly does will only be confined to a piece of paper. It is important to think BIG. Would you want Sri Lanka, the center of the Indian Ocean be a fully fledged Chinese Colony? Some web newspapers report that the Chinese Embassy in its twitter message states that the Chinese President has made two telephone calls to his Sri Lankan counterpart “giving strategic advice”. Some here, may have an axe to grind Shavendra. In doing so will it bounce back on them? Will Sri Lanka, in the Chinese style “throttle” the web and designate even CT as a terrorist or extremist propaganda machine?

    • 7
      4

      Good Sense

      新年快乐
      नववर्ष की शुभकामना
      සුහ අලුත් අවුරුද්දක් වේවා!
      புத்தாண்டு வாழ்த்துக்கள்!
      Happy New Year!
      Feliĉan Novjaron (Esperanto)

      “Some here, may have an axe to grind Shavendra.”

      Nothing that sort.
      You see as a member of armed forces he has to be subjected himself to accountability, not just 2009, but from 5 March 1984 on wards.
      For a long time uniform gave them impunity.
      These people while enjoying all forms glorification of war and heroism, should face the music when they find themselves in the middle of war crime accusation.
      I am sorry they are supposed to be brave when they face enemies and take responsibility for their crimes.

      It is difficult to assess those who demand blanket impunity for war crimes. People would have appreciated if only you advocated a genuine form of Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Well truth does not matter for little islanders.

      “Would you want Sri Lanka, the center of the Indian Ocean be a fully fledged Chinese Colony?”

      By the way if I say no to Chinese Colony do you think Shavendra is ready to fight the Chinese? In any case, let Hindia do the worrying.

      One think every citizen of this island should remind himself is that if he doesn’t treat the family well, neighbours and strangers would grope his female folks.

  • 6
    1

    Gatam, you are right. If Sri Lanka imposes a trade embargo on the UK, the erstwhile empire’s economy will collapse!

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