“If you don’t have enough evidence to charge someone criminally but you think he’s illegal, we [ICE] can make him disappear.” So said James Pendergraph, former Executive Director of the ICE Office of State and Local Coordination, in August 2008. I was in attendance at the Police Foundation National Conference where he made this bold assertion, and I couldn’t believe my ears. I actually asked the person next to me if he had just said what I thought he had just said and she affirmed it. Yes, he had just told an audience of police officers, sheriffs and other law enforcement personnel that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) could make people disappear. Was I in Chile during Pinochet’s dictatorship? Argentina during the dirty war? Sri Lanka, Iran or some other country where public officials boldly and publicly asserted such an awesome and illegal power? No, I was in the United States, where many ICE officers and their delegates run amok with almost no oversight or accountability.
More scary: in August 2008 James Pendergraph was in charge of managing and overseeing the 287(g) program, which delegates federal immigration enforcement authorities to state and local law enforcement agencies. Unfortunately, it is not at all shocking that today the DHS Office of the Inspector General released a report on the 287(g) program outlining a variety of grave concerns including woefully inadequate safeguards against racial profiling and other civil rights violations, deficient training and supervision of 287(g) empowered police officers, misuse of the 287(g) authority, including one incident in which the victim in an accident was brought to a jail to be processed for deportation, and misleading information to the public about the 287(g) program from the highest levels of ICE leadership to sheriffs on the ground – unfortunately, also not out of the ordinary these days.
For many years, communities subject to the 287(g) program have raised and fought against a variety of unconstitutional acts by police officers acting under this authority. Without a meaningful complaint mechanism the denigration of their human and constitutional rights has continued without acknowledgement or remedy. In fact, it is the outrageous position of ICE that it has no legal responsibility for the actions of 287(g) officers, even though Memorandums of Agreement make clear that law enforcement may only perform immigration enforcement activities under ICE supervision.
Today’s report from the OIG is important and timely. ICE has repeatedly stated that it must do better and can do better at prioritizing who is arrested, detained and deported, and what conditions they will be held in while their fate is decided. Here are a few ideas for how to turn this rhetoric into reality:
• Stop the use and misuse of state and local police officers by suspending all 287(g) agreements.
• Develop performance goals for 287(g) officers that do not focus on the number of immigrants encountered by officers as it incentives unjustifiable stops and arrests.
• Ensure that the training and guidance provided to 287(g) officers thoroughly prepares them to make critical decisions, including whether they will deprive people of their liberty, separate them from their families, and exile them to countries they may not know and governments they may well fear.
• Train all officers, including DHS officers, that every person stopped by a law enforcement officer has fundamental human rights that cannot be denied or ignored including :
o Freedom from torture, and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment (ICCPR and CAT),
o Freedom from discrimination such as race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status (ICCPR),
o Recognition as a person before the law (ICCPR),
o Freedom of thought, conscience and religion (ICCPR),
o Best attainable standard of physical and mental health (ICESCR, ICERD, CEDAW, CRC), and
o Adequate food and water (ICESCR, CRC, CEDAW).
Sri Lanka appointed many commissions called the Presidential Commissions of Inquiry into Involuntary Removals and Disappearances of Persons, sofar no one convicted, it is an eyewash. Many people reported missing in Sri Lanka have never been located and are presumed dead. How many more people need to go missing in Sri Lanka?
Sri Lanka: ‘Disappearances’ by Security Forces a National Crisis http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2008/03/05/sri-lanka-d…
Two journalists missing in Sri Lanka http://www.cpj.org/2010/02/two-journalists-missin…
Many people still wainting for justice http://www.groundviews.org/2010/03/23/still-waiti…
Sri Lanka appointed many commissions called the Presidential Commissions of Inquiry into Involuntary Removals and Disappearances of Persons, sofar no one convicted, it is an eyewash. Many people reported missing in Sri Lanka have never been located and are presumed dead. How many more people need to go missing in Sri Lanka?
Sri Lanka: ‘Disappearances’ by Security Forces a National Crisis http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2008/03/05/sri-lanka-d…
Two journalists missing in Sri Lanka http://www.cpj.org/2010/02/two-journalists-missin…
Many people still wainting for justice http://www.groundviews.org/2010/03/23/still-waiti…
Sri Lanka appointed many commissions called the Presidential Commissions of Inquiry into Involuntary Removals and Disappearances of Persons, sofar no one convicted, it is an eyewash. Many people reported missing in Sri Lanka have never been located and are presumed dead. How many more people need to go missing in Sri Lanka?
Sri Lanka: ‘Disappearances’ by Security Forces a National Crisis http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2008/03/05/sri-lanka-d…
Two journalists missing in Sri Lanka http://www.cpj.org/2010/02/two-journalists-missin…
Many people still wainting for justice http://www.groundviews.org/2010/03/23/still-waiti…
Tortured Jaffna student by Sri Lanka Army, commits suicide
26-year-old Balasingham Karunanithi, a third year student of the Faculty of Management in Jaffna University, arrested and tortured by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) when he was held in a Vavuniyaa detention camp after the war on Vanni, committed suicide in Jaffna at a house in Naachchimaar Koayiladi where he was staying, sources in Jaffna said. Karunanithi is the fourth Vanni undergraduate of Jaffna University to commit suicide due to mental derangement resulting from their detention in SLA detention centres in Vavuniyaa, the sources added. A medical faculty student and two first year girl students of Jaffna University had committed suicide after the final offensive on Vanni.
SLA arrested Karunanithi on suspicion that he had been trained as a combatant by Liberation Tigers when he was caught in Vanni and had tortured him, the sources said.
Karunanithi, a native of Poonakari, had been permitted by SLA to continue his studies at Jaffna University only in January 2010.
He was being treated for mental illness in Thellippazhai government hospital after rejoining Jaffna University but he had not turned up for treatment lately, hospital sources said.
Karunathi is said to have taken poison to end his life and his body was recovered Friday from the house in Naachchimaar Koayiladi where he was staying.
The fourth incident of a Vanni student of Jaffna University committing suicide due to mental stress has created anxiety among fellow students.
Sri Lanka appointed many commissions called the Presidential Commissions of Inquiry into Involuntary Removals and Disappearances of Persons, sofar no one convicted, it is an eyewash. Many people reported missing in Sri Lanka have never been located and are presumed dead. How many more people need to go missing in Sri Lanka?
Sri Lanka: ‘Disappearances’ by Security Forces a National Crisis
http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2008/03/05/sri-lanka-disappearances-security-forces-national-crisis
Two journalists missing in Sri Lanka
http://www.cpj.org/2010/02/two-journalists-missing-in-sri-lanka.php
Many people still wainting for justice
http://www.groundviews.org/2010/03/23/still-waiting-for-justice-in-sri-lanka/
Tortured Jaffna student by Sri Lanka Army, commits suicide
26-year-old Balasingham Karunanithi, a third year student of the Faculty of Management in Jaffna University, arrested and tortured by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) when he was held in a Vavuniyaa detention camp after the war on Vanni, committed suicide in Jaffna at a house in Naachchimaar Koayiladi where he was staying, sources in Jaffna said. Karunanithi is the fourth Vanni undergraduate of Jaffna University to commit suicide due to mental derangement resulting from their detention in SLA detention centres in Vavuniyaa, the sources added. A medical faculty student and two first year girl students of Jaffna University had committed suicide after the final offensive on Vanni.
SLA arrested Karunanithi on suspicion that he had been trained as a combatant by Liberation Tigers when he was caught in Vanni and had tortured him, the sources said.
Karunanithi, a native of Poonakari, had been permitted by SLA to continue his studies at Jaffna University only in January 2010.
He was being treated for mental illness in Thellippazhai government hospital after rejoining Jaffna University but he had not turned up for treatment lately, hospital sources said.
Karunathi is said to have taken poison to end his life and his body was recovered Friday from the house in Naachchimaar Koayiladi where he was staying.
The fourth incident of a Vanni student of Jaffna University committing suicide due to mental stress has created anxiety among fellow students.
hahaha. Look I was the victim of a fraud by someone who wanted to immigrate to the USA. She was fiancee and Biz Partner. I had tons of evidence and ICE didn't even want to look at the evidence. They did nothing about it. AT ALL. All I can conclude is the above statements are just more blow-hards blowing in the wind.
Hey I don't mean to be callus. Or sound like these sorts of abuses don't concern me. I actually think there are some immigrants and illegal aliens who get treated unfairly. What I am saying is that I was victim of a well documented fraud. This girl was fiancee & business partner. She lost me virtually everything, including my job, business and an art project. She disappeared while in her country leaving me to think she had been killed or fool play had happened. I spent months terrified & trying to save her. When I found her I found her her in the USA married to another person. I reported this to the FBI, ICE, Local authorities and they did nothing. They did not even want to look at my evidence. This has caused me a lot of loss and grief. 3 plus years of grief and upset. However the point is, no one did a thing, not even look at the evidence. This was a Filipino and what I was doing with her was significant. the story is not small. I realize that some people are being targeted unfairly while others who have been very criminal get away with it. I know this for a fact from direct experience.
hahaha. Look I was the victim of a fraud by someone who wanted to immigrate to the USA. She was fiancee and Biz Partner. I had tons of evidence and ICE didn’t even want to look at the evidence. They did nothing about it. AT ALL. All I can conclude is the above statements are just more blow-hards blowing in the wind.
Hey I don’t mean to be callus. Or sound like these sorts of abuses don’t concern me. I actually think there are some immigrants and illegal aliens who get treated unfairly. What I am saying is that I was victim of a well documented fraud. This girl was fiancee & business partner. She lost me virtually everything, including my job, business and an art project. She disappeared while in her country leaving me to think she had been killed or fool play had happened. I spent months terrified & trying to save her. When I found her I found her her in the USA married to another person. I reported this to the FBI, ICE, Local authorities and they did nothing. They did not even want to look at my evidence. This has caused me a lot of loss and grief. 3 plus years of grief and upset. However the point is, no one did a thing, not even look at the evidence. This was a Filipino and what I was doing with her was significant. the story is not small. I realize that some people are being targeted unfairly while others who have been very criminal get away with it. I know this for a fact from direct experience.
Always be in touch with me please
Always be in touch with me please
After 62 years of opperession on minority Tamil, Sri lankan President said to minorityTamil
“Yes, we are Sinhala. The country is also Sinhala. Therefore, you Demala (Tamils) listen to me. If you cannot listen without trying to be too smart, then leave.” http://www.lankanewsweb.com/news/EN_2010_04_03_00…
Amnesty has said the same thing…when it became actively PRO ABORTION… Amnesty will help any one that wants to make a Child in the womb DISAPEAR DISAPEAR …RIGHT!
Amnesty LOST ALL CREDIBILITY…to me
After 62 years of opperession on minority Tamil, Sri lankan President said to minorityTamil
“Yes, we are Sinhala. The country is also Sinhala. Therefore, you Demala (Tamils) listen to me. If you cannot listen without trying to be too smart, then leave.” http://www.lankanewsweb.com/news/EN_2010_04_03_00…
After 62 years of opperession on minority Tamil, Sri lankan President said to minorityTamil
“Yes, we are Sinhala. The country is also Sinhala. Therefore, you Demala (Tamils) listen to me. If you cannot listen without trying to be too smart, then leave.” http://www.lankanewsweb.com/news/EN_2010_04_03_00…
Minorities, especially Tamils were beaten and burnt alive for staging peaceful protests against the Ceylon Citizenship Act which disenfranchised one million upcountry Tamils in 1949, Sinhala Only Act of 1956 and the systematic government sponsored settlements of Sinhalese in the minorities-dominated North-East provinces. Now Tamil civilians and the Tiger 'suspects' are detained behind razor wired fences and in unknown locations barring access even to the ICRC is to take revenge for having lived in areas controlled by rebels. This has been made possible with the help of 'war on terror' policies of the previous administrations of India, Pakistan US and UK and the unlimited arms sold by China. The members of the UN Human Rights Council do not want to probe the human rights violations committed on Tamils, aid workers and journalists but wait to call for apology from the perpetrators of those crimes after they finished their annihilation of minorities.
Short sighted politicians, autocratic powers, are seeding the next generations of JVP and Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka.
— Sri Lanka has in place all the elements of a police state.
— Sri Lanka is heavily indebted and the International Monetary Fund
— After the LTTE’s defeat last May, nearly a quarter of a million men, women and children were incarcerated in military-run detention camps in flagrant breach of the constitution and legal system.
Sri Lanka is making news everyday with the thugs at the helm of state. Rajapaksha brothers have shown again and again that they are worse than Al-Bashirs, Than Shwes and other thugs.
I happened to watch interviews from these brothers. Insane. Nothing more than 5th grader standards.
There are lot of followers after them for sharing the wealth.
Amnesty has said the same thing…when it became actively PRO ABORTION… Amnesty will help any one that wants to make a Child in the womb DISAPEAR DISAPEAR …RIGHT!
Amnesty LOST ALL CREDIBILITY…to me
After 62 years of opperession on minority Tamil, Sri lankan President said to minorityTamil
“Yes, we are Sinhala. The country is also Sinhala. Therefore, you Demala (Tamils) listen to me. If you cannot listen without trying to be too smart, then leave.”
http://www.lankanewsweb.com/news/EN_2010_04_03_003.html
Minorities, especially Tamils were beaten and burnt alive for staging peaceful protests against the Ceylon Citizenship Act which disenfranchised one million upcountry Tamils in 1949, Sinhala Only Act of 1956 and the systematic government sponsored settlements of Sinhalese in the minorities-dominated North-East provinces. Now Tamil civilians and the Tiger ‘suspects’ are detained behind razor wired fences and in unknown locations barring access even to the ICRC is to take revenge for having lived in areas controlled by rebels. This has been made possible with the help of ‘war on terror’ policies of the previous administrations of India, Pakistan US and UK and the unlimited arms sold by China. The members of the UN Human Rights Council do not want to probe the human rights violations committed on Tamils, aid workers and journalists but wait to call for apology from the perpetrators of those crimes after they finished their annihilation of minorities.
Short sighted politicians, autocratic powers, are seeding the next generations of JVP and Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka.
— Sri Lanka has in place all the elements of a police state.
— Sri Lanka is heavily indebted and the International Monetary Fund
— After the LTTE’s defeat last May, nearly a quarter of a million men, women and children were incarcerated in military-run detention camps in flagrant breach of the constitution and legal system.
Sri Lanka is making news everyday with the thugs at the helm of state. Rajapaksha brothers have shown again and again that they are worse than Al-Bashirs, Than Shwes and other thugs.
I happened to watch interviews from these brothers. Insane. Nothing more than 5th grader standards.
There are lot of followers after them for sharing the wealth.
The North Is Living In Fear.
The people of the North are living in fear. The war is over, Tamils said, but we have lost our freedom.
There was a distinct lack of interest in the election amongst the people, and the voter turnout was expected to be low.
Most gave extravagant praise to all the candidates a dead giveaway that they were too frightened to reveal their true preference.
The Tamils of the North were clearly not in the mood for electioneering. There was, most said, more important matters at hand, like their very survival.
They asked what development was. Was it not, they innocently suggested, the ability to get on with their lives? To farm their lands, to return to their homes and to restore some modicum of dignity to their wretched lives?
Parliamentary elections are not at the top of their wish list. Nothing, they assured us, would be different after the elections.
The development in the North, the road from Habarana to Vavuniya, Omanthai, Kilinochchi and Jaffna was nothing short of disgraceful.
The areas surrounding Kilinochchi were in ruins. The evidence of a savage battle fought virtually hand-to-hand and face-to-face was very evident. The destruction was very much there to be seen. Building after building was devastated, with very little proper housing remaining. There was some welcome reconstruction, but by and large the area was bereft of any development work.
The sole exception was the vast quantities of pre-fabricated material that had been imported from China to build the Army cantonments in the area.
“Yes, we are Sinhala. The country is also Sinhala. So listen you Demala (Tamil)”
The Sri Lankan President tells the Tamil people in Jaffna
President Mahinda Rajapakse has used foul language to reproach Tamil people at the UPFA rally held in Jaffna. Despite addressing the rally in Tamil, using two teleprompters, he had wrongly pronounced the copy written in Sinhalese. The participants had booed him for the wrong Tamil words he had used and the President who had been enraged had said, “Yes, we are Sinhalese. You listen to me, Demala. Don’t try to be too wise. If you can’t listen get out from here.
The hooting had increased and the President has said, “I wouldn’t stop. As you have hooted I would continue my speech in Tamil,” and had continued his speech. As the hooting became thunderous he had to stop his speech.
The journalists who covered the event said the Tamil people had been forced to attend the rally and when President Rajapakse reproached, the people they had tried to leave the rally but had been prevented by security forces.
The North Is Living In Fear.
The people of the North are living in fear. The war is over, Tamils said, but we have lost our freedom.
There was a distinct lack of interest in the election amongst the people, and the voter turnout was expected to be low.
Most gave extravagant praise to all the candidates a dead giveaway that they were too frightened to reveal their true preference.
The Tamils of the North were clearly not in the mood for electioneering. There was, most said, more important matters at hand, like their very survival.
They asked what development was. Was it not, they innocently suggested, the ability to get on with their lives? To farm their lands, to return to their homes and to restore some modicum of dignity to their wretched lives?
Parliamentary elections are not at the top of their wish list. Nothing, they assured us, would be different after the elections.
The development in the North, the road from Habarana to Vavuniya, Omanthai, Kilinochchi and Jaffna was nothing short of disgraceful.
The areas surrounding Kilinochchi were in ruins. The evidence of a savage battle fought virtually hand-to-hand and face-to-face was very evident. The destruction was very much there to be seen. Building after building was devastated, with very little proper housing remaining. There was some welcome reconstruction, but by and large the area was bereft of any development work.
The sole exception was the vast quantities of pre-fabricated material that had been imported from China to build the Army cantonments in the area.
“Yes, we are Sinhala. The country is also Sinhala. So listen you Demala (Tamil)”
The Sri Lankan President tells the Tamil people in Jaffna
President Mahinda Rajapakse has used foul language to reproach Tamil people at the UPFA rally held in Jaffna. Despite addressing the rally in Tamil, using two teleprompters, he had wrongly pronounced the copy written in Sinhalese. The participants had booed him for the wrong Tamil words he had used and the President who had been enraged had said, “Yes, we are Sinhalese. You listen to me, Demala. Don’t try to be too wise. If you can’t listen get out from here.
The hooting had increased and the President has said, “I wouldn’t stop. As you have hooted I would continue my speech in Tamil,” and had continued his speech. As the hooting became thunderous he had to stop his speech.
The journalists who covered the event said the Tamil people had been forced to attend the rally and when President Rajapakse reproached, the people they had tried to leave the rally but had been prevented by security forces.
Again sri lanka made them Disappear in 1000's
Basil Rajapakse, senior advisor of President Mahinda Rajapakse and his brother said Monday in Colombo that if the name of anyone not found in the list of 11,000 persons held in the rehabilitation camps for Liberation Tigers, published in government websites they could be considered no longer living, in a conference he held with the Non-government Organizations now functioning in Vanni. In response to a question raised by HUDEC Caritas representative on the situation of the persons gone missing and arrested during the final stage of the war on Vanni Basil Rajapakse referred to the list of 11,000 persons held in the rehabilitation camps but failed to mention the websites he referred to, an NGO representative who attended the conference said. http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&art…
Again sri lanka made them Disappear in 1000's
Basil Rajapakse, senior advisor of President Mahinda Rajapakse and his brother said Monday in Colombo that if the name of anyone not found in the list of 11,000 persons held in the rehabilitation camps for Liberation Tigers, published in government websites they could be considered no longer living, in a conference he held with the Non-government Organizations now functioning in Vanni. In response to a question raised by HUDEC Caritas representative on the situation of the persons gone missing and arrested during the final stage of the war on Vanni Basil Rajapakse referred to the list of 11,000 persons held in the rehabilitation camps but failed to mention the websites he referred to, an NGO representative who attended the conference said. http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&art…
Again sri lanka made them Disappear in 1000's
Basil Rajapakse, senior advisor of President Mahinda Rajapakse and his brother said Monday in Colombo that if the name of anyone not found in the list of 11,000 persons held in the rehabilitation camps for Liberation Tigers, published in government websites they could be considered no longer living, in a conference he held with the Non-government Organizations now functioning in Vanni. In response to a question raised by HUDEC Caritas representative on the situation of the persons gone missing and arrested during the final stage of the war on Vanni Basil Rajapakse referred to the list of 11,000 persons held in the rehabilitation camps but failed to mention the websites he referred to, an NGO representative who attended the conference said. http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&art…
Again sri lanka made them Disappear in 1000’s
Basil Rajapakse, senior advisor of President Mahinda Rajapakse and his brother said Monday in Colombo that if the name of anyone not found in the list of 11,000 persons held in the rehabilitation camps for Liberation Tigers, published in government websites they could be considered no longer living, in a conference he held with the Non-government Organizations now functioning in Vanni. In response to a question raised by HUDEC Caritas representative on the situation of the persons gone missing and arrested during the final stage of the war on Vanni Basil Rajapakse referred to the list of 11,000 persons held in the rehabilitation camps but failed to mention the websites he referred to, an NGO representative who attended the conference said.
http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=31498
High ranking Tiger officials in Sri Lankan Army custody feared assassinated ?
The UTHR-J report mentions the following top leaders as having surrendered: Karikalan (former eastern province political wing leader and subsequently in charge of the economic disivion), Yogaratnam (former spokesman of the LTTE), Lawrence Tilagar (a former spokesman of the LTTE, a one time head of LTTE office in Paris and later in charge of the Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation), Thangan (former Deputy political section leader), Ilamparithi (former head of the political section for Jaffna district , Elilan (former Trincomalee political wing leader), Papa (former head of the LTTE Sports deprt), Puvannan (former head of the administrative division of the LTTE), Gnanam (deputy international head) and Tamilini head of the Women’s political wing. The LTTE detainees, who now number about 11,000, are kept in special camps. According to the UTHR-J, in 25 percent of the cases, the whereabouts of the detainees have not been revealed.
Basil Rajapakse’s response which hinted at the possibility of the top Liberation Tiger combatants and political wing persons who had been injured when taken into custody and those who had surrendered themselves being assassinated has raised fear and concern among the family members
High ranking Tiger officials in Sri Lankan Army custody feared assassinated ?
The UTHR-J report mentions the following top leaders as having surrendered: Karikalan (former eastern province political wing leader and subsequently in charge of the economic disivion), Yogaratnam (former spokesman of the LTTE), Lawrence Tilagar (a former spokesman of the LTTE, a one time head of LTTE office in Paris and later in charge of the Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation), Thangan (former Deputy political section leader), Ilamparithi (former head of the political section for Jaffna district , Elilan (former Trincomalee political wing leader), Papa (former head of the LTTE Sports deprt), Puvannan (former head of the administrative division of the LTTE), Gnanam (deputy international head) and Tamilini head of the Women’s political wing. The LTTE detainees, who now number about 11,000, are kept in special camps. According to the UTHR-J, in 25 percent of the cases, the whereabouts of the detainees have not been revealed.
Basil Rajapakse’s response which hinted at the possibility of the top Liberation Tiger combatants and political wing persons who had been injured when taken into custody and those who had surrendered themselves being assassinated has raised fear and concern among the family members
SLA harasses resettled IDPs in Vanni
Vanni Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) allowed to resettle in some areas in Ki’linochchi and Mannaar districts are being subjected to severe restrictions and harassment by occupying Sri Lanka Army (SLA), said group of Catholic Bishops of six districts who visited the said areas in Ki’linochchi and Mannaar recently.
The Bishops, however, are reluctant to officially disclose this situation in Vanni due to fear.
Rt. Rev. Thomas Saundaranayagam, Jaffna Bishop, Rt. Rev. Harold Antony Perera, Kurunagala Bishop, Rt. Rev. Vincent Fernando, Badulla Bishop, Rt. Rev. Clister Perera, Ratnapura Bishop, Rt. Rev. Valence Mendis, Chilaw Bishop, Rt. Rev. Antony Victor Soosai, Mannaar Bishop were the members of the group.
The resettled IDPs live surrounded by military, robbed of their freedom of expression, free movement, livelyhoods
Sri Lankan Elections only reward the unscrupulous and violent and punish the honest and wise. I would say- they are against any democratic values.
SLA harasses resettled IDPs in Vanni
Vanni Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) allowed to resettle in some areas in Ki’linochchi and Mannaar districts are being subjected to severe restrictions and harassment by occupying Sri Lanka Army (SLA), said group of Catholic Bishops of six districts who visited the said areas in Ki’linochchi and Mannaar recently.
The Bishops, however, are reluctant to officially disclose this situation in Vanni due to fear.
Rt. Rev. Thomas Saundaranayagam, Jaffna Bishop, Rt. Rev. Harold Antony Perera, Kurunagala Bishop, Rt. Rev. Vincent Fernando, Badulla Bishop, Rt. Rev. Clister Perera, Ratnapura Bishop, Rt. Rev. Valence Mendis, Chilaw Bishop, Rt. Rev. Antony Victor Soosai, Mannaar Bishop were the members of the group.
The resettled IDPs live surrounded by military, robbed of their freedom of expression, free movement, livelyhoods
Sri Lankan Elections only reward the unscrupulous and violent and punish the honest and wise. I would say- they are against any democratic values.
May 2009, a significant month that will never by forgotten by the Tamils living across the globe. A month filled with terror, a month filled with sorrows; a month in which families were separated, children displaced from parents, and mountains of corpses were left to rot. May 2009, the month in which we lost more than 50 000 of our innocent brothers and sisters. May 2009: Genocide of the Tamils.
The Sri Lankan Government deliberately attempted to destroy Tamils in Sri Lanka the past year, the peak of its actions resulting in the catastrophe that took place in Mullivaikaal. Newborn babies, children, youth; those who would be the future of Tamileelam were wiped out in May 2009. These innocent lives, must not be forgotten.
Let’s remember our people and our Maveerar whom we lost during the final war upon Tamils in Sri Lanka on May 2009.
May 2009, a significant month that will never by forgotten by the Tamils living across the globe. A month filled with terror, a month filled with sorrows; a month in which families were separated, children displaced from parents, and mountains of corpses were left to rot. May 2009, the month in which we lost more than 50 000 of our innocent brothers and sisters. May 2009: Genocide of the Tamils.
The Sri Lankan Government deliberately attempted to destroy Tamils in Sri Lanka the past year, the peak of its actions resulting in the catastrophe that took place in Mullivaikaal. Newborn babies, children, youth; those who would be the future of Tamileelam were wiped out in May 2009. These innocent lives, must not be forgotten.
Let’s remember our people and our Maveerar whom we lost during the final war upon Tamils in Sri Lanka on May 2009.
Those who responsible for disapperance will be free always
Police in Sri Lanka say they have released 17 soldiers detained on suspicion of killing or attempting to kill journalists and editors.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8622816.stm
Those who responsible for disapperance will be free always
Police in Sri Lanka say they have released 17 soldiers detained on suspicion of killing or attempting to kill journalists and editors.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8622816.stm
Those who responsible for disapperance will be free always
Police in Sri Lanka say they have released 17 soldiers detained on suspicion of killing or attempting to kill journalists and editors.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8622816.stm
Those who responsible for disapperance will be free always
Police in Sri Lanka say they have released 17 soldiers detained on suspicion of killing or attempting to kill journalists and editors.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8622816.stm
Tamil culture & heritage are being systematically destroyed in Sri lanka. The Sinhala Democracy used to suppress the Democratic will of the Tamils. Memorial evidence of the King Pandara Vanniyan has been destroyed.
The Village name Katchilaimadu came as Memorial evidence of the King Pandara Vanniyan. Sinhala Armed forces, personally directed by Government cabinet ministers – A wanton act of genocidal intent to destroy the history of an ancient people.
Mahaveeran Pandara Vanniyan was a rebel Tamil chief from the Vanni region who was known as one of last native cheif to challenge the british rule in the Island nation of Sri Lanka. August 25th, is the memorial day of Tamil Chieftain Pandara Vanniyan who ruled the Vanni kingdom of Adankapatru. British defeat him during the historic battle of Katchilaimadu by Col. Drieberg. The Portuguese who landed at Galle in 1505 and went to Kotte, to befriend the King there, got control of the Kotte Kingdom through political manipulations. They captured the Jaffna Kingdom by defeating Sangili in battle in 1619.
The Portuguese failed to capture two areas: the Kandyan Kingdom and Wanni which comprised most of the present Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts. The Dutch, too, failed in their attempts to subjugate Kandy and Wanni. The British, who wanted to bring the entire country under their control, started with Wanni. They captured it by defeating Pandara Vanniyan in 1803. Before the final battle, Pandara Vanniyan destroyed the British Fort on August 25, 1803.
Tamil culture & heritage are being systematically destroyed in Sri lanka. The Sinhala Democracy used to suppress the Democratic will of the Tamils. Memorial evidence of the King Pandara Vanniyan has been destroyed.
The Village name Katchilaimadu came as Memorial evidence of the King Pandara Vanniyan. Sinhala Armed forces, personally directed by Government cabinet ministers – A wanton act of genocidal intent to destroy the history of an ancient people.
Mahaveeran Pandara Vanniyan was a rebel Tamil chief from the Vanni region who was known as one of last native cheif to challenge the british rule in the Island nation of Sri Lanka. August 25th, is the memorial day of Tamil Chieftain Pandara Vanniyan who ruled the Vanni kingdom of Adankapatru. British defeat him during the historic battle of Katchilaimadu by Col. Drieberg. The Portuguese who landed at Galle in 1505 and went to Kotte, to befriend the King there, got control of the Kotte Kingdom through political manipulations. They captured the Jaffna Kingdom by defeating Sangili in battle in 1619.
The Portuguese failed to capture two areas: the Kandyan Kingdom and Wanni which comprised most of the present Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts. The Dutch, too, failed in their attempts to subjugate Kandy and Wanni. The British, who wanted to bring the entire country under their control, started with Wanni. They captured it by defeating Pandara Vanniyan in 1803. Before the final battle, Pandara Vanniyan destroyed the British Fort on August 25, 1803.
The man who vehemently advocated for human rights during the 70’s and 80’s has become one of the main offenders and a conspirator against human rights in the present day Sri Lanka. While one expected the island nation to be free after the end of war, the present day situation appears to be the other way around. The common man in Colombo, who walks without any fear of suicide attack from the LTTE, sees a new threat emerging in the form of police and other government agents who involve themselves in intimidation, ‘white van’ culture and unwarranted arrests. http://www.southasiaanalysis.org/%5Cpapers38%5Cpa…
The man who vehemently advocated for human rights during the 70’s and 80’s has become one of the main offenders and a conspirator against human rights in the present day Sri Lanka. While one expected the island nation to be free after the end of war, the present day situation appears to be the other way around. The common man in Colombo, who walks without any fear of suicide attack from the LTTE, sees a new threat emerging in the form of police and other government agents who involve themselves in intimidation, ‘white van’ culture and unwarranted arrests. http://www.southasiaanalysis.org/%5Cpapers38%5Cpa…
The man who vehemently advocated for human rights during the 70’s and 80’s has become one of the main offenders and a conspirator against human rights in the present day Sri Lanka. While one expected the island nation to be free after the end of war, the present day situation appears to be the other way around. The common man in Colombo, who walks without any fear of suicide attack from the LTTE, sees a new threat emerging in the form of police and other government agents who involve themselves in intimidation, ‘white van’ culture and unwarranted arrests. http://www.southasiaanalysis.org/%5Cpapers38%5Cpa…
The man who vehemently advocated for human rights during the 70’s and 80’s has become one of the main offenders and a conspirator against human rights in the present day Sri Lanka. While one expected the island nation to be free after the end of war, the present day situation appears to be the other way around. The common man in Colombo, who walks without any fear of suicide attack from the LTTE, sees a new threat emerging in the form of police and other government agents who involve themselves in intimidation, ‘white van’ culture and unwarranted arrests.
http://www.southasiaanalysis.org/%5Cpapers38%5Cpaper3786.html
It is sad to say that the Crime against Humanity continue, UN failed to protect Tamil civilians. http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&art…
Corrupt leaders in the UN failed in their duties. Instead of protecting the vulnerable, they danced to the wrong tunes that were played by the wrong people http://my.telegraph.co.uk/richarddixons/blog/2009…
It is sad to say that the Crime against Humanity continue, UN failed to protect Tamil civilians. http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&art…
Corrupt leaders in the UN failed in their duties. Instead of protecting the vulnerable, they danced to the wrong tunes that were played by the wrong people http://my.telegraph.co.uk/richarddixons/blog/2009…
It is sad to say that the Crime against Humanity continue, UN failed to protect Tamil civilians. http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&art…
Corrupt leaders in the UN failed in their duties. Instead of protecting the vulnerable, they danced to the wrong tunes that were played by the wrong people http://my.telegraph.co.uk/richarddixons/blog/2009…
It is sad to say that the Crime against Humanity continue, UN failed to protect Tamil civilians.
http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=31682
Corrupt leaders in the UN failed in their duties. Instead of protecting the vulnerable, they danced to the wrong tunes that were played by the wrong people
http://my.telegraph.co.uk/richarddixons/blog/2009/06/01/sri_lankan_puppets_in_the_hands_of_emerging_superpowers
HRW expose the truth
Every time the international community raises the issue of accountability, Sri Lanka establishes a commission that takes a long time to achieve nothing. Ban should put an end to this game of smoke and mirrors and begin a process that would ensure justice for all the victims of Sri Lanka’s war.
Sri Lanka: Government Proposal Won’t Address War Crimes http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2010/05/07/sri-lanka-g…
Sri Lanka risks losing the peace, Already Sinhalisation of Tamil area is happening." http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/opinion/sri-…
HRW expose the truth
Every time the international community raises the issue of accountability, Sri Lanka establishes a commission that takes a long time to achieve nothing. Ban should put an end to this game of smoke and mirrors and begin a process that would ensure justice for all the victims of Sri Lanka’s war.
Sri Lanka: Government Proposal Won’t Address War Crimes http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2010/05/07/sri-lanka-g…
Sri Lanka risks losing the peace, Already Sinhalisation of Tamil area is happening." http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/opinion/sri-…
HRW expose the truth
Every time the international community raises the issue of accountability, Sri Lanka establishes a commission that takes a long time to achieve nothing. Ban should put an end to this game of smoke and mirrors and begin a process that would ensure justice for all the victims of Sri Lanka’s war.
Sri Lanka: Government Proposal Won’t Address War Crimes http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2010/05/07/sri-lanka-g…
Sri Lanka risks losing the peace, Already Sinhalisation of Tamil area is happening." http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/opinion/sri-…
HRW expose the truth
Every time the international community raises the issue of accountability, Sri Lanka establishes a commission that takes a long time to achieve nothing. Ban should put an end to this game of smoke and mirrors and begin a process that would ensure justice for all the victims of Sri Lanka’s war.
Sri Lanka: Government Proposal Won’t Address War Crimes
http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2010/05/07/sri-lanka-government-proposal-won-t-address-war-crimes
Sri Lanka risks losing the peace, Already Sinhalisation of Tamil area is happening.”
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/opinion/sri-lanka-risks-losing-the-peace/story-e6frg6zo-1225863648502
'Behind Barbed Wires'
Tens of thousand souls forever perished in those early months of 2009, not just on that sombre May. Our agonising cries, to the world we appealed. Our kith and kin crushed, scattered like the ash of withered leaves on their native soil. Our ebbing hopes clung to the morality of leaders and nations; we tried in vain to save them from unabated carnage. Oh, land of Vanni, once our refuge, why has your life been sacrificed?
With unforgettable sadness, we grieve for the children of Eezham who died longing for dignity, struggling for justice, and fighting for freedom. We also remember those who languish in open prisons even today. A once self-reliant, self-sufficient and dignified Tamil nation suffers in silence behind Sri Lanka’s barbed wires.
“Never again”, said the civilised world to genocide. But what we witnessed in Mullivaikal were not only mass atrocities against a distinct ethnic group but also an obituary for the very treaties adopted to protect the rights of all human beings – the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
On this first anniversary of Mullivaikal
‘Oh! Gods of Mercy, cried angels with pity
Seeing the carnage on beeches of Vanni
Seeds of shame spilled all over humanity
Strewn across Vanni were worlds' morality’
May 18th…lest we forget
Behind Barbed Wires…….
Languish Tamil Pride……..
Bold and brave're our people of Eelam
Fought to be free, they rode fear of death
Raw guts, did not stand in good stead by them
Crawl they didn't, though bullets pierced their breath
Oh! Gods of Mercy, cried angels with pity
Seeing the carnage on beeches of Vanni
Seeds of shame spilled all over humanity
Strewn across Vanni were worlds' morality
Hearts of steel stood our people against
Armies of several nations of little dignity
Blood bath of gory details ensued in silent
Clouds above shied away on scale of violence
Once proud people of rigour and valour
Trounced at battle by world of dishonour
Today Tamils languish behind barbed wire
Heydays of Tamil honour in pitiful disarray
Hands that fed visitors to brims of their bowels
Hang loose on barbed wires begging for hand outs
Rancour run deep, pain suffered hard to bear
Despair in the air, morrows seem bleak and bare
Land of plentiful stand idle, cracked and barren
Seasons come and go farms see no plough on
Ocean farers sit still by beach no fishermen to return
Soon be straighten, we pray to Gods, this humiliation
Homes and domes of temples remain bombed
Humour and piety which filled'em been emptied,
Huge bulldozers bring to ground what still stand
Burial grounds that honour sons of soil too're desecrated
Tamil pride bleeds, watching it hurts our soul
Mild mannered mandarins of world see no quarrel
Wild orchids will soon blossom on Eelam soil
Riled kids too may once again rebel if world today fail
‘Behind Barbed Wires’
Tens of thousand souls forever perished in those early months of 2009, not just on that sombre May. Our agonising cries, to the world we appealed. Our kith and kin crushed, scattered like the ash of withered leaves on their native soil. Our ebbing hopes clung to the morality of leaders and nations; we tried in vain to save them from unabated carnage. Oh, land of Vanni, once our refuge, why has your life been sacrificed?
With unforgettable sadness, we grieve for the children of Eezham who died longing for dignity, struggling for justice, and fighting for freedom. We also remember those who languish in open prisons even today. A once self-reliant, self-sufficient and dignified Tamil nation suffers in silence behind Sri Lanka’s barbed wires.
“Never again”, said the civilised world to genocide. But what we witnessed in Mullivaikal were not only mass atrocities against a distinct ethnic group but also an obituary for the very treaties adopted to protect the rights of all human beings – the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
On this first anniversary of Mullivaikal
‘Oh! Gods of Mercy, cried angels with pity
Seeing the carnage on beeches of Vanni
Seeds of shame spilled all over humanity
Strewn across Vanni were worlds’ morality’
May 18th…lest we forget
Behind Barbed Wires…….
Languish Tamil Pride……..
Bold and brave’re our people of Eelam
Fought to be free, they rode fear of death
Raw guts, did not stand in good stead by them
Crawl they didn’t, though bullets pierced their breath
Oh! Gods of Mercy, cried angels with pity
Seeing the carnage on beeches of Vanni
Seeds of shame spilled all over humanity
Strewn across Vanni were worlds’ morality
Hearts of steel stood our people against
Armies of several nations of little dignity
Blood bath of gory details ensued in silent
Clouds above shied away on scale of violence
Once proud people of rigour and valour
Trounced at battle by world of dishonour
Today Tamils languish behind barbed wire
Heydays of Tamil honour in pitiful disarray
Hands that fed visitors to brims of their bowels
Hang loose on barbed wires begging for hand outs
Rancour run deep, pain suffered hard to bear
Despair in the air, morrows seem bleak and bare
Land of plentiful stand idle, cracked and barren
Seasons come and go farms see no plough on
Ocean farers sit still by beach no fishermen to return
Soon be straighten, we pray to Gods, this humiliation
Homes and domes of temples remain bombed
Humour and piety which filled’em been emptied,
Huge bulldozers bring to ground what still stand
Burial grounds that honour sons of soil too’re desecrated
Tamil pride bleeds, watching it hurts our soul
Mild mannered mandarins of world see no quarrel
Wild orchids will soon blossom on Eelam soil
Riled kids too may once again rebel if world today fail