19 March, 2024

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UN Mandates War Crimes Probe In Sri Lanka Stronger

The UN Human Rights Council today adopted the resolution that mandates an international inquiry into allegations of major human rights violations in Sri Lanka during the last seven years of the war with 23 countries voting in favour of the document in the 47-nation strong body. While 12 countries including Pakistan, Maldives, Cuba,Venezuela, China, Russia voted against, 12 member-states abstained from voting, including India, Indonesia and Japan.

Navi Pillay - United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

Navi Pillay – United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

There were two votes on paragraph 10 (International Inquiry mechanism) and on the whole resolution.

Pakistan’s proposal on abolition of the paragraph 10 in the resolution was rejected by 23 countries voting in favour of rejection of Pakistan’s proposal, while 14 countries voted in favour and 12 countries abstained from voting.

41 co sponsors have signed on to the US led resolution on Sri Lanka to promote human rights, reconciliation and accountability, including Albania,* Austria, Belgium,* Bulgaria,* Canada,* Croatia,* Cyprus,* Denmark,* Estonia, Finland,* France, Georgia,* Germany, Greece,* Hungary,* Iceland,* Ireland, Italy, Latvia,* Liechtenstein,* Lithuania,* Luxembourg,* Mauritius,* Montenegro, Netherlands,* Norway,* Poland,* Portugal,* Romania, Saint Kitts and Nevis,* Sierra Leone, Slovakia,* Spain,* Sweden,* Switzerland,* the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of America (* Non-member states of the UNHRC).

The resolution seeks to set up an international probe into alleged war crimes committed by both sides during the last seven years of the war.

Read the resolution here

UNHRC Vote

Related posts;

Sri Lanka Says Request To UN High Commissioner To Undertake Independent Investigation Is A Partisan Politicised Agenda

Full Text Of The Address By Navi Pillay On Sri Lanka Report

3rd Version Of The US Draft Resolution Is Currently In Circulation

A Revised Version Of The US Draft Resolution Is Currently In Circulation

Full Text: US Draft Resolution On Sri Lanka To UNHRC Leaked

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Latest comments

  • 18
    5

    As expected, South Africa and Japan abstained. It was a bit shocking to see India’s position on the wall. I hope and pray that the Tamils in north and east are not beaten up in large numbers by our beloved armed forces!

    • 12
      5

      Yes, I dont think that beating up would allow this time. But you never know.. these bunch of thugs would respect nothing but family rule. Rajapakshes are unpredictable to their cousins too… I read somewhere else.

      This is good for the country BAD FOR THE RAJAPAKSHES ADMINISTRATION.
      There they have clearly shown that their capabilities are far from those of previous govt – whose Kadirgamar took control all over the world: These buggers should finally start learning to respect others without criticising the messengers.

      • 5
        3

        It should be said “GOOD FOR THE COUNTRY (most important) and bad for Rajapakse clan“… But what really UN can do???? Stop buying those tiny stuff from SL.. (0.001% of their imports) If US/EU freeze Rajapakse clan’s foreign assets and impose travel bans… I would be able sleep well again.. and get out of similar issues like Dutu Gamunu 2000 years old insomnia case..

    • 1
      4

      where have been Malaysia, Brazil, Australia on the list ?

      • 2
        4

        Brazil is there and have voted Yes. As said I also do not see Malaysia, Australia and Canada. Is this another Computer Jilmart? Shame for the countries that have voted No. Now let us get on with the INQUIRY.

        • 2
          3

          Gamini,

          Malaysia, Australia and Canada are not voting members !

        • 4
          1

          Gamini.
          One is allowed to vote for 3 years and every year new countries get the right. india has no right next year and lets hope they are ( Congress is indicted on this)
          This years
          http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/Pages/CurrentMembers.aspx

          Javi

      • 4
        1

        Present and future.
        Lets hope Indian Congress gets into Sh*t on this investigation.
        http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/Pages/MembersByGroup.aspx

    • 7
      1

      Not few weeks ago, DJ said to the TV channel, not just being defeated, but to be difeated by unexpected states is going to be a shame for the country.
      I guess, this megalomaniacs will shape it up by singing buddhan saranan gachami, Mahinda saranam gachachami, or Gota saranam gachcharmi…. all tricks will be used to abuse the poor folks.

    • 4
      2

      Sri Lankan Muslims didn’t work on Saudi and UAR enough.
      BBS may help towards it next year!

      • 1
        1

        Maybe they still remember the massacres in their mosques, and being thrown out of the Northern Province with ONLY the clothes on their backs by their ‘sole representatives’.

      • 1
        0

        The Saudi’s and the UAE couldn’t give a rats arse for SL Muslims. They have their agenda and bank of getting the SL vote in the UN when the time comes.

    • 2
      0

      The Indian position is a testament for it’s sagiacity in telling the rest of the world that it is capable of following and acting on it’s own to further it’s own interest in asserting it’s neutrality. It cannot be disputed.

      But that is not going to deter India in any way to be unmindful of the travils that the Tamil people have undergone in it’s adjacent island country SL over the last sixty odd years from the time of it”s independence. It is because of the people of Tamil Nadu’s concern for the fate and welfare of their cousins across the narrow straits of about twenty or so nautical miles from their shores.

      India does not have any territorial ambitions as some people in Sri Lanka are made to believe, it has no such history or precedent. It liberated Bangladesh from Pakistan which imposed the Punjabi language on and let the people of East Bengal to decide their own fate in 1971.

      Another reason is India cannot afford to have another hostile neighbour on it’s south in close proximity and that is the reality.That is presumably is the prime reason for it’s abstention to vote in Geneva as It has to have a friendly relationship to be in contact and be able to influence the Rajapakse regime to drive good sense into it, to afford devolved powers to the moderate TNA Chief Minister to function freely within the frame work of an amended Lankan constitution by exteding the limitatiions imposed by the 13th Amendments for the Tamil people in the island to have that sense of freedom,dignity and self respect to live as equal citizens in the land of their forefathers.

      Whether the administration of the EP should be merged or not with the NP can come later following a referundum.
      It must be remembered by those detractors to this position among the extremist Sinhalese political pundts in the Hela Urmya, the BBS and such other racist outfits who play an advisory role in the Rajapakse regime, that their regime now has no space to back out or delay in perrsuing this option if it is to ameliorate the impact of the possible sanctions that could follow on the heels of the vote in Genva.

    • 1
      1

      Beatings by Government thugs or Government backed Paramilitaries will only embolden the International community. It would be another own goal by the Rajapaksa regime. Considering how Rajapaksa have a penchant for scoring own goals, one can’t put it past them.

    • 1
      0

      Rohan,

      Does the UN HRC have access to Tomahawks and Drones to take out the White Vans and other undesirables ethat may interfere with the finding of the facts?

      What is the action on the ground?

      Just curious.

    • 0
      0

      Lanka says resolution dangerous

      The Government said that the draft resolution on Sri Lanka submitted to the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) will not only constitute a serious breach of International Law, but create a dangerous precedent in the conduct of international relations within the established global order of sovereign States and could pose a grave threat to the sovereignty and independence of Member States of the United Nations, which is enshrined in the UN Charter. Sri Lanka s Ambassador to the UN in Geneva told the UNHRC that the resolution also erodes the sovereignty of the people of Sri Lanka.

      Minister Wimal Weerawansa today said that the United States backed resolution against Sri Lanka would ultimately lead to an Interim Administration in the North and East (N/E) Provinces under the supervision of the United Nations (UN).

      Will Sri Lanka grant Visa to ‘UN Investigating’ team & risk ‘Economic Sanctions’ just like Russia? Will Sri Lanka invite Navi Pillay again to investigate them?

  • 12
    3

    Fantastic News!

  • 9
    1

    Once again the Muslim countries have stood by us. At least now BBS and their allies should stop shelling Muslims in Sri Lanka.

    • 2
      0

      Ha ha They are clear violators so the negative and abstaining for posterity.
      The voting is a double and hammering for ham-bug -tota hijacker.

    • 1
      0

      BBS and RAVANAS would ensure support of Saudi, UAE and Pakistan Next year. It high time that President castrate that Atte moron otherwise there would be more problems for MR.

    • 1
      0

      Since when is BBS operating artillery.

      Muslim nations are covering their own backs, fearing future UN Human rights investigations will focus on their own genocides and war crimes.

      Muslim nations only care about advancing Islamic global domination and since Ceylon Muslim organizations support Sinhala Chauvinism, these Muslims nations will back one of their own.

  • 10
    1

    The haters gonna come, including Dayan.

    Didn’t matter in the end if India abstained, Pillay has been tasked with the investigation.

    • 3
      4

      I think had the govt appointed competent ones, they could have won more votes for sure.

      On his return to the country, GLP will have to commit suicide – that will be like loosing the face forever..

  • 8
    1

    Well done for all those voted for the resolution. We are going to see the family rule will be demolished in two countries soon. One by this motion and the other by the emotions. Got the point?

    • 5
      3

      But the biggest joke is – all these are while MR is being chaired in COMMON wealth body…
      This world as my 15 year nephew questions is beyond realities. He asks how can an alleged war criminal be posted as the chairman of COMMON WEALTH BODY ?

      • 2
        0

        Passa was to meet the Queen at London on March 10 for Commonwealth Summit Meet but refrained from traveling However, he was at Malaysia so did he have anything to do with flight M 370? After all Sepala is from Hambantotoa.

      • 2
        0

        The 15 year old seems to know more than Prof. G.L Peiris and several others with PhD s behind their name, who are hanging around just for the crumbs!!!

    • 0
      2

      “One by this motion and the other by the emotions. Got the point? “… yeah, loose motion in both families.

  • 4
    1

    The Tamil Diaspora is not at all happy with the resolution that was passed. By abstaining the Congress party will not get a single seat in
    Tamil Nadu leaving Jayalalith and Modi a certain win at the elections.
    And when they win as Jaswant Singh said , they only have to “wisper” to Rajapakse’s ear or face the consequences.

  • 14
    1

    Well done Navi

  • 8
    2

    India prevaricates. It is unable to take a position and ends up antagonizing all sides. Manmohan Singh is weak. Sri Lanka is already annoyed at India’s boycott of CHOGM. The United States which had repeatedly factored in Indian concerns in the draft language not just of this resolution but of previous resolutions as well will wonder how weak India’s foreign policy in its immediate neighborhood. Contrast Manmohan Singh with Putin. Tamil Nadu’s parties will oppose the Congress even more ferociously and perhaps even more status of Rajiv Gandhi will be smashed. Can’t India take a firm stand one way or the other instead of dilly dallying antagonizing all sides in the process!

  • 13
    4

    Thanks to all those countried voted in favour of international investigation.

    • 1
      0

      I just hope Indian Congress gets the works on this and then Pakistan.
      It would go a long way for peace.
      Next year India cannot vote- 3 year term finished so it’s desperatly trying to break the tradition and get in for next year which is not good for it’s people to address rape execution etc.

  • 2
    2

    The outcome was inevitable. Considering the affirmation of the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka, this resolution should be considered a short term road map for action by the government of Sri Lanka. It is an opportunity for the President ( he is the government!) to cooperate with the UNHRC in conducting its inquiries and do its share to set the country on the right path. I hope and pray wisdom prevails and we do not have to deal with any such resolutions in the future.

    Further, it is reported that Drs. Kumar Rupasinghe and Dayan Jayatilleke recently met the President, It is said that the President has agreed to implement the resolution. The draft seems to have been amended to take into consideration, the governments legitimate concerns The duo may have driven some sense into the President.

    However, the government has extended the mandate of the Commission of Inquiry into Missing Persons to include events from 1983. This is obviously meant to include the IPKF interlude. This is though an interesting development, which will be welcomed by many who were victims of the IPKF, may not be to the liking of India.

    Dr.Rajasingham Narendran

    • 4
      0

      Still holding out hope for Dayan and the regime?

      :-)

      I will let Native Vedda tell you about Dayan and and his antics from the first NPC in the 80s and since ..

      As for the regime….nothing will change

    • 2
      1

      WHAT IS IF HE WOULD NOT AGREE WITH THE RESOLUTION?

    • 2
      0

      Has the bugger at all listend to them ? DJ was cornered by President since CHOGEM is over. None of DJ´s efforts made them closer. So how come DJ could approach him all of sudden ?

    • 4
      0

      Doctor:

      You must be daydreaming, honestly. Or joining Dayan’s club of comedians. You mean to say or believe that MR would ever agree to the passage of the resolution? His ambassador in the UNHRC did not make anyone feel that the MR regime had abandoned the fight. Dayan’s latest tirade, too, doesn’t seem to support the view of any change of heart. And, as if it is the “word” of MR that is needed for the passage of the resolution, anyway.

      The “legitimate concerns” of the MR regime is to cling to power. While it appears that the regime has been given the space to continue with whatever investigations it wants to conduct and/or continue, this will be clearly overshadowed by the High Commissioner’s investigation. The fact of the matter is, the regime will play hardball and push itself to a corner and like foxes gassed out of their den, the perpetrators of the horrible crimes have to be dragged to face their day and may I even say, rot in hell.

      That India abstained is to placate the SL regime not to go ahead with the backdated investigation. Nothing new is going to emerge in Tamilnadu as it is a foregone conclusion that Congress may not get even one seat in the coming elections. What is clear is that SL has India’s balls in its hands – the result of complicity in the conduct of the war. Funny isn’t it, to this day the UPA govt has not denied MR’s assertion that he conducted India’s war.

      Nothing should be clear than the fact that the truth should emerge on whoever had hands in the ethnic strife but it is an admissible argument that the credibility of the SL regime is so eroded that a or any report coming from the regime may be dismissed as a sham. I am reminded even at this hour the assessment made by Dayan soon after he was packed home from Geneva – that the wave had started moving from Europe to the USA and if that continues, it will be “different strokes” for SL, not exactly his words but something to that effect. The ominous signs have always been there. The SL regime had hoped and bargained on India and India did grovel to the regime’s tunes but India may not have factored in for the animosity that emerged from Tamilnadu, particularly after the horrors became world news. That, perhaps, did the job.

      • 1
        0

        Jansee,

        Acknowledgement of the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of Sri Lanka and the deletion of references to demilitarisation in the final draft that was approved , makes me suspect the government has made a deal, Time will reveal the truth. Whether the government will cooperate with the UNHRC fully in implementing this resolution or play its usual sneaky games is to be seen. Let us not prejudge . The whistle has been blown and the game is on-going. Let us see how it goes. The game is in the big league now and in the international arena. A situation that is unenviable and could have been avoided, if wisdom had prevailed,

        The government has been put in a tight corner, with little wriggle space. If it tries to wriggle, the corner it is in, will get inevitably tighter. Despite its public pronouncements and dramatics, the government can read the message on the wall and understand the nature of he forces it will have to contend. This government is no doubt the reluctant bride, but it cannot escape the marriage or what the marriage portends! MR is a shrewd politician and enjoys power and the glitz. This is where he is vulnerable. The 2913 resolution and the impending CHOGM summit, made him hold the NPC elections, though he has not permitted it to function properly. The 2014 resolution calks for the 13th amendment to be implemented in all the provinces. Let us see how this plays out first.

        Dr. RN

  • 4
    0

    May not be liking to of India.. let it be, because when I argued with fellow indian from outside TN, they refuse to believe their beloved army massacred, raped Tamils in SL. Let it throw the truth however bitter it be!

    • 1
      1

      manisekaran ,

      Remember i double checked with you on India’s stand , you assured that India will vote for the resolution , why sudden change of hearts ?

      • 2
        0

        Srilal@
        So what do you think will be the UN´s reaction to PINGONA´s rejection ?He says he will go on with his reconciliation – he confirmed he started…. when did he start such plan for reconciliation ? TNA and lanken opposition should respond the IC:

        • 1
          1

          Siri ,

          it is too early to predict the consequences of any foolish behavior from the king kakille’s side , one thing is for sure , if he tries to be too smart with UN staff , sanctions & all sort of tightening will be the final answer.

    • 1
      1

      manisekaran ,

      India’s sudden change of heart ,may be due to following reasons

      1) Tit for Tat , Indian diplomat’s humiliation before the whole world
      2) congress knows it has no chance of winning this election , so did not want bother about TN’s support.
      3) obstruction of any potential war crime investigations .
      4) M. singh wants to end up his career in a good note.

      • 2
        0

        srilal:

        It’s more likely that Congress has reconciled to the fact that TN has become very hostile to the Congress, and rightly so. Yes, it had very much wanted to prevent an internationally constituted investigation as this may lead to revelation of its complicity with the regime. What I am more surprised is why it did not vote for SL despite the Ambassador’s life support speech, that seemed more to release the hold on its balls rather than anything else.

      • 0
        0

        Srilal,

        You are right and summarised in bulleted points.India abstained voting for multiple reasons,

        1) Yes I told India will vote in favour of resolution but to the surprise of everyone, the passed resolution sec 10 is intrusive in nature by the way of explicit mention of international investigation. This shows that US did not bend to India’s tune unlike the previous resolution and watered down it. This would have been the result of
        a) US aligning more to BJP which irritated congress and in return the congress made devyani issue blown out of proportion as a measure of retaliation
        b) US realising clearly that Congress is not going to retain power in India hence would have shifted its policy
        c) India may be worried about supporting this resolution of intrusive nature which will put them in backfoot when pakistan or china raises the similar concern on kashmir.
        d)US government accepting enquiry on Sonia for the release Jagathis titler who is culprit in Anti-sikh riots, sent signal to congress and there is much water on this account between congress led India and US

  • 1
    1

    The after effect of the Resolution may seem some split in the Cabinet. Will G.L.Peiris be the target? There can even be cross overs. Drama is yet to begin.

  • 3
    1

    As expected, finally Truth has won in this battle. Though the rogue nations who sold chemical and cluster bombs and those nations provided the pilots to bomb hospitals and civilian targets tried their maximum to block this resolution, it is passed with credibility. The brutal regime may react violently against those individuals and organizations within the country. The people of Sri Lanka should understand that further violations will create further damage to the nation and people of the nation. It is time for change from authoritarian rule to true democracy and independence of all democratic institutions including the general assembly (Parliament) elected by the people. The authoritarian system have done the damage not only Tamils but Sinhalese and the Nation as a whole and to the peace of all.

  • 1
    0

    NOW..send Galabodatthe to the NORTH and try some of his tricks…He better go and do something there than bark in the south… IF he has balls…. or is he already castrated?…I wonder…

    Wonder how soon the Intrenational community is setting foot in SL and find the guilty ones………..and herd then to the Hague…while Gaabodaththe chants some pirith…

  • 6
    1

    Atlast people have won . This a victory not only for Tamils but for the nation as a whole. The ruling cannibals should be tried for all crimes committed against both Tamils and Sinhalese poeple in Sri Lanka.Let this be a beginning of a new era to end the authoritarian regime of MR that eroded all norms of democracy ,rule of law, independence of judiciary in impunity.

    • 1
      1

      but he says, he rejects it and would like to go on with his agenda ?

      This is where country will have to face with sactions right ?

      • 0
        2

        even i’m not sure how it is going to work , we need some expert’s advice on this issue !

        are Ms Navi Pilay’s representatives going to be stationed in SL ? are they going to conduct their own investigations or going to be observers of SL investigations ? will they observe ongoing human right violations ? may be jayantha Danapala can answer these questions !

  • 0
    1

    There is no reason for anyone to be delighted, or even to panic.

    UN mandates probes for reasons other than what makes one revel or rebel.

    IC generally undertakes such measures to reprove undemocratic conduct, behaviour, and actions of Governments that act authoritarian.

    The writing was on the wall, in the case of SL.

    SL – the people – can still initiate a rational response to the UN mandate in Geneva.

    The people should ‘read’ the resolution as a call to use their sovereign right and install a democratic government using their franchise wisely.

    I may be dreaming, but what else is there for poor me!

  • 0
    0

    We salute all the countries which are trying to force sanity on Sri Lanka.

  • 1
    0

    This is a vote for the well being of Lankian Women and Children who are being persecuted killed raped and their kids forced into being soldiers.
    Against the corrupt murderous men- cannibals!

    This was her answer to DB Wijetunge the ExPM
    I think that you can disagree with people and debate over their positions with issues without engaging in the politics of personal destruction.

    Hillary Clinton

    What we have to do… is to find a way to celebrate our diversity and debate our differences without fracturing our communities.- Hillary Clinton

    Most credit must go out to M/s Samantha Power the journalist turned Professor of Law Havard and Yale and also married to similar status. She worked out the resolution from obscurity giving the politicians an education and walking away with the cake and what a majority”! 100%. Suma and Samp showed maturity in accepting the obscure like any other brief- great!

    I got into journalism not to be a journalist but to try to change American foreign policy. I’m a corny person. I was a dreamer predating my journalistic life, so I got into journalism as a means to try to change the world.

    Samantha Power

    I think I would like the sort of job where you can work away in obscurity to try and improve things, without being caught up in the political maelstrom.

    Samantha Power

  • 1
    0

    Another [Edited out] Looking For Position

    while many Lankians lost their lives just for publishing the truth they saw to make this an event.

    Freedom never comes on a feathered- the worst is yet to come”!

    You got Grapes”!

  • 1
    1

    Thank you Ms Navi Pillai. Im sure that Tamils from all over the world will appreciate on your work and what you have done so far. Thank You.

  • 1
    0

    The Muslim party SLMC worked hard behind the scenes to canvass Muslim countries like Saudi Arabia to save SriLanka from international investigations. Rajapakse is supposed to give some perks to the Muslim leaders like Hakeem if they do good canvassing for the government. That is why Hakeem did not say a word against BBS when they threatened to skin him alive.
    You can never guess which side the Muslims will take and when they will switch sides.

  • 0
    0

    There are almost 6 out twelve who have stood by Sri lanka ,it is always a case the majority in past votes too the same.

    Muslims ? what Muslims ? where on earth do you get Muslims in all these countries who voted in Support? bloody hypocrites ,there are no more muslims ,yes like Christians= Catholics ,Born again with whatever, Jews orthodox ,and hoaxadox whatever ,Hindus whole lot of even they don’t know what, whatever , ,Buddhists theravada ,paraya vadas like BBS ,likewise the Muslims have gone in search of there forefathers with The paqaraya Sauds -The salafis (followers of our fore fathers) backwards to 2000 years -there are Suni ,shia and a whole lot of Cults ,but they are definitely not Muslims -sure , except a few tiny number about 000000000.1 % -who follow only The Quran ,the Quranist.

    —————————————

    Now The BBS will start whacking The Muslim Buggers in Sri Lanka ,like in Myanmar ,and like in Myanmar The Arab buggers will give more money to Sri Lanka to Kill the Sri Lanka Muslims and Faizer Mustapa & muzamil The poodle will lead the gangs like faizer mustapa lead the sinhalese gnags in Akurana his own village where he got voted & Muzamil will plan some cra to frame other muslims, while Azawar The Pimp will give his mother & daughters to stay in the governments.

  • 0
    0

    Correction;

    6 out of the total ,no 12 & 12 absentees.

    Absentee are bloody cowards & hypocrites

  • 0
    0

    There were 41 Co-Sponsors for the resolution.
    Thus the international opinion is for an inquiry.
    Sri Lanka has often stated that there is nothing to hide – so, why not allow the inquiry.

  • 0
    0

    I read this article this afternoon in DBS Jeyaraj Column.

    Crackdown on LTTE Colombo cell reveals plot to assassinate President Rajapaksa or his brother Gotabhaya

    28 March 2014, 1:59 pm

    20140328-135642.jpg by D.B.S.Jeyaraj

    Hectic events over the past few weeks in Sri Lanka have driven home three salient truths on the security front relating to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) organization. The first is that tiger or pro-tiger elements in the Tamil Diaspora will persist with efforts to resurrect the LTTE and disrupt life in Sri Lanka. The second is that the Sri Lankan state will effectively respond to such a challenge regardless of international implications. The third is that the strongly entrenched security apparatus in the country is capable of cracking down hard on any such perceived LTTE revival attempt and crushing it.

    Last week saw this column focusing on the shooting incident in the Tharmapuram area of Kilinochchi district and subsequent events including the manhunt for an LTTE operative known as “Gobi” and the security crackdown on suspected attempts to revive the LTTE. What the country at large seems to have failed to comprehend is the seriousness of “what might have been” had not the security authorities countered the challenge posed.

    Though different shades of opinion in the political spectrum have either wittingly or unwittingly opted to trivialise the issue , the crux of the matter is that the attempt to revive the LTTE , if successful may have resulted in drastic consequences for the country. Thankfully the LTTE revival threat seems to have been effectively neutralised while in its embryonic stages for the present , though the security crackdown continues in some parts of the Island.

    According to reliable security related sources, the most important breakthrough in the probe into a potential LTTE renaissance was the detection of a conspiracy to execute a major assassination in Colombo. The target seems to have been either President Mahinda Rajapaksa or his brother Gotabhaya Rajapaksa the Secretary of Defence and Urban Development. The simple logic seems to have been this.

    COLOMBO

    The defence establishment has been lulled into a sense of false complacency due to the past years of LTTE inactivity in Colombo and the suburbs after the military debacle at Mullivaaikkaal in May 2009.Security measures in Colombo have been progressively relaxed. This has created a situation where it may be possible to mount an “operation” in Colombo utilising the element of surprise.

    Given the current weak state of the LTTE it would require a great deal of resources and organizational capacity to carry out even one attack in Colombo. Therefore chances of executing a single successful attack alone may be possible initially.Thereafter security authorities will be on full alert thereby diminishing possibilities of another attack.

    Under such circumstances it would be pointless to attack comparatively easier soft targets as the alerted authorities will crack down hard thereby negating chances of further operations. As such the opportunity to attack must be utilised against a very high profile target. If softer targets are hit earlier the security around such high profile key targets would be strengthened. Breaching such “security walls” would be impossible for the revived LTTE that is actually embryonic in Sri Lanka. In that context the targets should be very very important persons. The President and his brother fit this target description perfectly.

    Besides the targeting of either the President or the defence secretary would help the LTTE derive maximum political mileage. Demonstrating the ability to take on such powerful targets has great symbolic value and would re-capture the diminishing support base of the LTTE amidst the global Tamil Diaspora. It would also prove to the world that the LTTE is not a spent force. Also Mahinda and Gotabhaya Rajapaksa are virulently hated by tiger elements after the LTTE was militarily defeated. Harming either of the two would warm the hearts of many a diehard supporter in the Diaspora and fill the LTTE coffers abundantly.

    BACKLASH

    It would also demoralise the country and throw into disarray the politico-administrative equilibrium. A process of de-stabilisation could set in. Moreover in the volatile atmosphere that is likely to prevail in the aftermath of such an attack, a backlash might occur against the Tamil people. A recurrence of anti-Tamil violence in the Island is what the tigers, pro-tigers and supportive fellow travellers are yearning for. The attack if successful may have caused exactly such a violent backlash against the Tamil people.

    Targetting the upper echelons of leadership has always been part of the LTTE modus operandi in the past. If the tigers want to render an organization or entity ineffective, defunct or coerce it into toeing the LTTE line, they do not target the rank and file. Instead they go for the leader or top tier of leadership particularly the livewires who make the organization tick. Thereafter the entity concerned becomes non-operational, ineffective or falls in line. This has been the LTTE practice in the past when dealing with organizations they want to either control ,destroy or render impotent.

    Militarily too the LTTE has adopted this strategy effectively until perhaps the post -2005 period. Earlier the LTTE that was relatively weaker than the armed forces in manpower and firepower in a general context would seek to remedy that state of affairs in a particular context by adopting this strategy. It would select a key military target, mobilise maximum resources and attack it utilising the element of surprise. This successful attack would cause consternation and result in consequent over estimation of the LTTE military prowess. This in turn paved the way for demoralization to set in amidst the armed forces.

    The LTTE adopted this strategy successfully when it attacked the Eelam Peoples Revolutionary Liberation Front(EPRLF) in December 1986. The LTTE being relatively stronger than the EPRLF in the North vanquished them by launching simultaneous attacks on the northern EPRLF camps. In the East it was the EPRLF that outnumbered the LTTE and was also more widespread. There was a great disparity of strength with the EPRLF having the advantage.

    HEADCAMPS

    The LTTE however outsmarted the EPRLF by harnessing its limited resources and selectively targeting the three head camps of the EPRLF in the three Eastern districts. The tigers launched simultaneous attacks against the EPRLF head camps at Thambiluvil, Kokkattichoalai and Saambaltheevu in the districts of Amparai,Batticaloa and Trincomalee respectively. With the overrunning of the three head camps the rest of the EPRLF though large in numbers became virtually headless chickens.

    The plans in the pipeline to target the President and Defence secretary are also illustrative of past LTTE modus operandi.The tigers battered and shattered in Sri Lanka after 2009 were now in the process of attempting a revival. Given the inadequate assets at their disposal, Gobi the mastermind behind the LTTE resurgence in Sri Lanka also envisaged the targeting of Mahinda or Gotabhya Rajapaksa in a Colombo based attack. Fortunately such a deadly objective has been detected and nipped in the bud while the plot was in an evolutionary stage.

    Knowledgeable circles indicate that the proposed safe house in Colombo to be used as a launching pad for the envisaged attack has been identified and raided. This safehouse apparently was a bakery establishment in Dehiwela. Twelve persons connected to the premises were taken into custody. All of them are being held under provisions of the prevention of terrorism act(PTA).Ten are detained at Boosa while two are being intensively interrogated on the second floor at the Police Terrorism Investigation Division(TID)headquarters in Colombo.

    DEHIWELA

    A few of those arrested on the Bakery premises are apparently innocent being totally unaware of the diabolical designs of the others involved as the LTTE generally functions on a need to know basis. It appears that the Colombo connection of the revived LTTE is now de-activated after the mopping up at Dehiwela.

    Ongoing investigations have revealed that the lynchpin in the entire exercise of reviving the LTTE in Sri Lanka inclusive of establishing a Colombo cell in Dehiwela is Gobi whose full name is Ponniah Selvanayagam Kajeeban.He is known by the nom de guerre Gobi and the nom de plume Kaasiyan. As stated earlier this 31 year old six-footer of medium complexion with a scar on his left upper lip had been living in the Tharmapuram area of Kilinochchi district and functioning as a heavy vehicle driver. Kajeeban alias Gobi had been formerly an LTTE intelligence wing functionary under the dreaded Shanmugalingam Sivasangaran alias Pottu Ammaan. Kajeeban had surrendered at the end of the war and been accommodated at the Protective Accommodation and Rehabilitation Centre (PARC) at Poonthottam in Vavuniya.

    It is suspected that Gobi exited from the Poonthottam camp with the aid of a Tamil member of the ruling regime and made his way to Saudi Arabia and not Quatar as I had mistakenly written last week.. After working for a while in that country Kajeeban alias Gobi made his way to Europe. He had travelled widely in Europe and gone also to Norway. It is now suspected that Gobi had met with prominent LTTE activists in Europe including the low-profile high-ranking leader Nediyavan and his senior deputy Irumborai during his European sojourn. He had been tasked by Nediyavan and Irumborai to revive the tigers in Sri Lanka.

    DRIVER

    He had then returned to Sri Lanka and started working as an owner- driver of a heavy vehicle. Gobi has his own vehicle that he hires out and functions as its driver. This provides him a cover to travel frequently to Colombo and also to towns such as Mullaithivu, Vavuniya, Kilinochchi and Jaffna.His wife and mother who were taken in for questioning deny all knowledge of his whereabouts and say that he has been living separately away from them.

    Security circles opine that Gobi has been entrusted with the task of reviving the LTTE in the North. They regard Gobi with the “simpleton” looking appearance as extremely dangerous because he is a zealot fired up by a political vision and sense of mission. Gobi is perceived as a highly motivated person because he has turned his back on an opportunity to lead a safe comfortable life in Europe and instead has voluntarily returned home to undertake a potentially hazardous and dangerous task.

    Gobi is also seen as armed and dangerous. Initially he came under the security radar for the relatively “mild” offence of publishing and circulating pro-LTTE leaflets hailing the tigers as Tamil guardians. The arrest of two youths distributing such leaflets in Pallai in the first week of March and subsequent inquiries brought up the name of Gobi. The security forces were on the lookout for Gobi but did not suspect initially that he was masterminding a LTTE renaissance in the North with backing from the Nediyavan led Diaspora tigers. It was the shooting incident at Tharmapuram in the house of Jeyakumari Balendra which alerted the security sleuths to the true nature of Gobi. (This incident was described in detail last week).

    Current Investigations have indicated that Gobi had set up four cells in the North and one in Colombo to execute plans aiming at a LTTE revival. The bulk of those coopted into the nascent tiger network are either ex-tigers or family members of former LTTE members. There is also evidence that funds from Diaspora LTTE operatives in three western countries have been channelled to Gobi’s “agents” in the North.

    OPERATIONS

    The security forces in association with anti-terrorism sleuths are currently engaged in a series of widespread operations in different parts of the North. Hundreds of persons mainly youths from both sexes have been rounded up and interrogated. The bulk of those rounded up were released after some hours. Over fifty persons were detained under the PTA and questioned. Several of these persons too have been released. It is learnt that over 30 persons are currently being detained and interrogated. This figure however is fluid as some are being released while others are being arrested anew.

    Informed security related sources are confident that they have been able to neutralise the “revived” LTTE through the ongoing heavy crackdown. They vehemently deny that Gobi has been apprehended but express confidence that he would be nabbed soon. The possibility of Gobi committing suicide if and when on the verge of being captured is also not ruled out by security circles.

    Further details of the crackdown on suspected tigers as well as the progress of the ongoing investigation into alleged LTTE activity will be outlined in a forthcoming article.

    DBS Jeyaraj can be reached at djeyaraj2005@yahoo.com

    GOSL should go on a search and destroy of any and all LTTE cells and sympathizers.

    JP/USA

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    How interesting Jay Pathbey. You have literally
    reproduced the Daily Mirror. If you want to know
    the real story, DBS is now under the pay of the
    Government of Sri Lanka. This is no Diaspora
    bullshit. He has no means of living in Canada.
    One top security man succeeded in winning him
    over. Wait and see. There will be more and more
    diatribe coming from him in the future. Once
    he was under the pay of the LTTE. Then he was
    under Anton Balasinghe. Now that all of them
    are gone, he is in the hands of the GOSL. Do
    not believe me. Wait for time to prove what I
    say.

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    How interesting. Ravindra Karunaratne has made
    an interesting revelation. If true, DBS has now
    become a prostitute, worse than the ones in
    Mariyakade.

    I have been wondering why the change of attitude
    of this man was due to. Now I can see the reason
    for it. So that explains it.

    This Jay Pathbey also may be trying to whitewash
    DBS’s writings for the same reason – good cover
    to do propaganda. How many more such prostitutes
    are there I wonder? CT should expose them.

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