By Colombo Telegraph –
Minister of Justice Rauff Hakeem
“In recent weeks the Embassy has received several anonymous letters from Muslim groups alleging that they are being targeted for abduction for ransom. One such letter from the ‘Muslim Community in Sri Lanka,’ with no return address, states that ‘within a short period they have kidnapped and collected huge sums from Muslim businessmen.’ Several Muslim leaders have alleged that Muslim businessmen are being targeted for abduction now that most prominent Tamil businessmen have either paid off paramilitary groups or fled the country.” the US Embassy Colombo informed Washington.
The Colombo Telegraph found the related leaked cable from WikiLeaks database, which details a meeting the US Ambassador to Colombo has had with then Minister of Posts and Telecommunications Rauff Hakeem( Present Justice Minister). The cable is classified as “SECRET” and written by the Ambassador Robert O. Blake on June 19, 2007.
Under the subheading “MUSLIM LEADER STATES ABDUCTIONS COME ‘FROM THE VERY TOP’” the ambassador wrote “Sri Lanka Muslim Congress leader and Minister of Posts and Telecommunications Rauff Hakeem (strictly protect) told Ambassador on June 14 that he believed that those carrying out abductions receive ‘patronage from the very top,’ but did not elaborate further. Hakeem stated that he has received many complaints from his constituents recently about abductions for ransom among the Muslim community but that victims were ‘petrified’ to come forward and make a formal complaint. According to Hakeem, some prominent Muslim businessmen have decided to leave Sri Lanka until the threat of abduction subsides. In reference to government-sanctioned abductions of Muslim businessmen for ransom, Hakeem said that the Muslim community ‘has never seen this before.’”
Placing a comment Blake wrote “The negative impact of abductions is spreading beyond the Tamil community and past extra-judicial methods of dealing with possible LTTE supporters into abductions of any minority with a large bank account. Muslim leaders like Rauff Hakeem are increasingly critical of the Rajapaksa administration’s apparent tolerance for abductions, and numerous recent media reports have called attention to the growing trend of Muslim abductions for ransom. The Ambassador met with Foreign Minister Bogollogama on June 13 in part to flag to the Government our concern about this new trend and the need for the GSL to address it”
Below we give the relevant part of the confidential cable;
VZCZCXRO9010 OO RUEHBI RUEHLMC DE RUEHLM #0861/01 1700544 ZNY SSSSS ZZH O 190544Z JUN 07 FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6287 INFO RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 0214 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 7197 RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU PRIORITY 5304 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 3844 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 1104 RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO PRIORITY 3915 RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA PRIORITY 1139 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 3001 RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI PRIORITY 7783 RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI PRIORITY 5443 RUEHON/AMCONSUL TORONTO PRIORITY 0260 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORPORATION PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 2136 RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 000861 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS AND PM MCC FOR D NASSIRY AND E BURKE E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/18/2017 TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: ABDUCTIONS PLAGUE MUSLIM COMMUNITY REF: COLOMBO 842 Classified By: Ambassador Robert O. Blake, Jr., for reasons 1.4(b,d).
EMBASSY RECEIVES AN INFLUX OF COMPLAINTS ---------------------------------------- ¶2. (C) In recent weeks the Embassy has received several anonymous letters from Muslim groups alleging that they are being targeted for abduction for ransom. One such letter from the "Muslim Community in Sri Lanka," with no return address, states that "within a short period they have kidnapped and collected huge sums from Muslim businessmen." Several Muslim leaders have alleged that Muslim businessmen are being targeted for abduction now that most prominent Tamil businessmen have either paid off paramilitary groups or fled the country. MUSLIM LEADER STATES ABDUCTIONS COME "FROM THE VERY TOP" --------------------------------------------- ----------- ¶3. (S) Sri Lanka Muslim Congress leader and Minister of Posts and Telecommunications Rauff Hakeem (strictly protect) told Ambassador on June 14 that he believed that those carrying out abductions receive "patronage from the very top," but did not elaborate further. Hakeem stated that he has received many complaints from his constituents recently about abductions for ransom among the Muslim community but that victims were "petrified" to come forward and make a formal complaint. According to Hakeem, some prominent Muslim businessmen have decided to leave Sri Lanka until the threat of abduction subsides. In reference to government-sanctioned abductions of Muslim businessmen for ransom, Hakeem said that the Muslim community "has never seen this before."
¶6. (C) COMMENT: The negative impact of abductions is spreading beyond the Tamil community and past extra-judicial methods of dealing with possible LTTE supporters into abductions of any minority with a large bank account. Muslim leaders like Rauff Hakeem are increasingly critical of the Rajapaksa administration's apparent tolerance for abductions, and numerous recent media reports have called attention to the growing trend of Muslim abductions for ransom. The Ambassador met with Foreign Minister Bogollogama on June 13 in part to flag to the Government our concern about this new trend and the need for the GSL to address it (reftel). BLAKE
Jeen / April 18, 2012
Shame on you Mr Hakeem. :(
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Piranha / April 19, 2012
Shame on him for what?
Keeping quiet about the abductions or for identifying the Rajapaksa brothers as the culprits?
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king / April 27, 2012
Donkey it’s shame on you dam [Edited out] donkey.
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Jaliya Silva / April 18, 2012
Hon. Minister tell us who are they? “TOP” ????
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rajan / April 19, 2012
‘TOP’ means Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Abductions were carried out by Karuna and his henchemn with the blessings of Gotabaya. Enough? When Gota is dragged to the Hauge, these evidences will be brought out.
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Jim Hardy / April 19, 2012
Hakeem is a coward who fancies perks & positions, not a sacrifice r,I pity the 11 Muslim youth who was murdered by UPFA Anuruddha Rathwathe & his son Lohan Rathwathe during election time in Udathalavinne for supporting Hakeem, some soldiers were charged to cheat the public & prosecution flawed deliberately, all suspects escaped justice went Scot free.
Hakeem never pursued this heinous murder even after becoming justice minister.
I have every right to call the UPFA as murderers & terrorists.
[Edited out] Max take a note.
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Gowrie / April 19, 2012
If this man is the minister of justice, then, we are forced into a position to invent a new word for justice itself. Every word has a whole new meaning in SriLanka. Why can’t you say Gota rather than “top”..Bunch of crooks abusing their legislative powers to rob the nation.
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Dr. Maverick / April 19, 2012
Hakeem’s position is now starting to see the end of the road.Hakeem will be labeled “traitor”.
I agree with Jim Hardy. Hakeem was not useful to the people he represented. He is a old horse to be shot dead.
Bye bye Hakeem ;)
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Vasu / April 19, 2012
George W. Bush cancels visit to Swiss charity gala over fears he could be arrested on torture charges
UPDATED: 20:57, 6 February 2011
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1354211/George-W-Bush-cancels-Switzerland-visit-fears-arrest-torture-charges.html#ixzz1sUPGn5hQ
Think of your part!
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Ben Hurling / April 19, 2012
Dear Rauf Hakeem
Sri Lankans know that the Rajapakse clan tolerates abductions.
Problem is politicians like yourself, who do not have the “balls of Steel” required to stand up against, this kind of Insjustice.
Provide leadership to the brave Sri Lankan nation to fight this.
You shuold not creep into Western Embassies in Colombo to cry on their shoulders in secrecy. It is pathetic.
You should have told the Sri Lankan people first what you knew was happening in their country. They elected you to do just that.
You are not accountable to “Robert Blakes”, but to average Sri Lankans.
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rajan / April 20, 2012
Its true that the minister is accountable to ‘average Sri Lankans’. But what can an avergae Sri Lankan do? ha? Robert Blakes can shake pepole like Gota and Mahinda. Can an ‘average Sri Lankan’ even think about it? get real, please. I am not a fan of this minister, but someone with ‘muscle’ only can bring change there, and average Sri lankans can’t…
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gamini / April 20, 2012
Rajan, I trust you have heard that God did not make all people equal. But Col. Colt did.
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Nimal / April 20, 2012
Hi Ben,
It is difficult to speak the truth in Sri Lanka. Hence what Rauf has done is correct. He has to tell someone – may be he wants get out of his chest.
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Sam Thambipillai / April 19, 2012
In 1999, the then Secretary General of the UN. Kofi Annan, stated to the UN General Assembly that both Rwanda and Bosnia failed in their duty to protect their own people, and that the sovereignty of states, as in the UN Charter, was an obstacle to human rights protection there.
Consequently, in 2005, the UN accepted the principle of “Responsibility to Protect”(RtoP). RtoP stipulates that sovereignty is not a licence to kill its own people, and empathy with suffering people justifies outside inteference. It obligates protection, employing various methods.
If these UN principles are applied to Sri Lanka(SL),
the aspects that become very clear are;
1) SL is a failed state.
2) There is gross violation of Human Rights and
Humanitarian Law, to the extent of war crimes and
Tamil Genocide against the people of Tamil Eelam
(TE).
3. Sovereignty of SL is an obstacle.
4. RtoP is applicable to SL and the UN can intervene
on Tamil matters.
These aspects became evident in the UN Panel Report on SL, but the GOSL defiantly and arrogantly rejected it as if it was from its backyard and not from the International Community(IC).
Therefore, IC responded to the defiance of SL. A resolution on SL was placed before the UNHRC.
Eight countries stepped aside, and the resolution was passed with a majority of 9 votes.
For SL, that was like a red flag waved in front of an enraged bull in Spanish sport.
One enraged cabinet minister said in public that he will break the legs of journalists.
There were many angry outbursts of defiance, with steam and hot air, coming from other cabinet ministers.
Finally, president Rajapakse said “…No one has to tell SL what to do…”.
He meant the IC.
The GOSL insults the IC now, like how it insulted the UN Panel Report. The signs are that SL will not comply.
Now the UN must think of its third step.
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Vasu / April 19, 2012
Thank you for your detailed report Sam Thambipillai
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Lanka Muslim, UK / April 19, 2012
These abductions were well known and those abducted have clearly said that there wer powerful Govt. hands involved in those. Many of the businessmen, who could do so, shifted their investments to Malayasia and other countries. Those who cannot go remain in the country after paying the ransoms. It is even said that some are continuing to pay even now. No one spoke for these victims, neither the Muslim politicians in the Govt. nor those in the opposition. Generally Muslims have become a pathetic community without any political power. Worse is going to happen to them if they remain passive as now.
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the Don / April 21, 2012
No secret that Gota is a Muslim hater
A section of Sinhala (and Tamils) are not too fond of Muslim Business and population expansion.
Business expansion is fair, if the mosque/community funds it, the same can be done by other respective communiteis, it is not their fault they dont drink too much, our fault we were bussy discriminating and fighting the Tamils and they can not say no to side benefits.
As far as the population side, we can do the same, but as SL is an island, could popularize/legalize smaller families.
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Dr. Maverick / April 21, 2012
Dambulla Mosque was attacked yesterday by mob monks. Although, there are bars, karokes, 5 star hotels with all activities and brothels and still call Dambulla “sacred bhoomi”, which is a shame of those mob monks to attack another worshiping place of another faith.
Run Hakeem to the US Embassy and cry for help ;)
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