Robert Sturdy raises concerns about Sri Lankan trade concessions
INNOCENT SRI LANKANS WILL SUFFER BECAUSE OF HEAVY HANDED EU DECISION TO END TRADE CONCESSIONS
Brussels 16 February 2010. Conservative International Trade spokesman in Europe Robert Sturdy MEP, said the European Commission decision to remove trade concessions to Sri Lanka would punish innocent Sri Lankans. The trade concessions are referred to as GSP + status.
Mr Sturdy added that human rights violations cannot be ignored but called on the European Commission to work closely with the Sri Lankan government in tackling any violations instead of punishing the country as a whole.
In a statement Mr Sturdy said,
“I am concerned about the impact that the removal of these trade concessions will have on development in Sri Lanka. Trade is the principal means for development and by taking away their GSP + status, you are limiting the country’s ability to grow.
“I wrote in December 2009 asking the Commission what the economic impact would be if it decided to remove Sri Lanka’ GSP+ status. I am still awaiting a response. Now we have a new Trade Commissioner, with a background in development policy, I would hope for some real answers.
“It goes without saying that human rights violations cannot be ignored. I am calling on the Commission to work closely with the Sri Lankan government over the next few months, to assess the efforts being made to tackle any violations, and to consider how it will support the innocent Sri Lankan people who will suffer as a result of this heavy-handed action.”
Ends
ECR Press Office – Alex Benjamin +32 (0)476 056 450
Dear Robert,
Please understand that GSP+ is the voice for humanity. Nobody wishes to punish Sri Lanka if it listens.
I am writing this letter with tears after finding the whole story from my batch mate from the area where the nine year old Girl is been raped by well known Sri Lankan military men from Sithandi Veli camp(which is Eastern Tamil home land rural village) in Batticalo district. This Army men have been mostly involved in teasing Tamil girls and making fun our of them from the poor school children who walk to school.
The victim was studying grade 5 and who is been seemed to be subjected to multi men involved rape case and admitted to Mawadivembu Hospital. Villagers tried to support victim’s mother to lodge a complaint at Police station and with the help of Sri Lankan police , military has identified the man who is protesting against the rape. His body was later found in nearby lake. Then commander and few soldiers of this unit has went to the village and threatened the people to keep silent. Also victim is visited by Sri Lankan military and threatened her to change her statement.
Boycotting Sri Lanka is esential to bring down a country which does not accept humanity.
We need you to understand the pain of Sri Lankan Tamils and voice acordningly. This is not only supported by sincere British Politcicians but also supported by many world leaders and human rights acitivists.
I believe you know economic sanctions are the first step and please read the conditions of GSP+ . We need you to be human and voice for humanity and please do not be misguided by any of your close circle because you need to contact Tamils to find out more about why we are campaigning against Sri Lanka
Thanks
Raj Suthan
Dear Sir,
Please understand that placing sanctions/conditions is a good idea. This was clearly shown by the Anti-Apartheid movement in South Africa. Desmond tutu states that boycott is the one of the only things that worked for South Africa.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-Apartheid_Movement
http://encyclopedia.jrank.org/articles/pages/5958/Anti-Apartheid-Movement.html
Therefore, removing privileges that Sri Lanka gets from the rest of the world should be stopped. Especially since Sri Lanka did not have the RESPECT to stop the war (and save the trapped innocent civilians) at the request of countries such as USA, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Most of EU etc.
GSP+ privileges should be removed from a country that does abuses the human rights of Tamils. Sri Lanka needs to learn a lesson. This is the way to do it.
The removal of such prvilleges will being Sri Lanka to the negociation table. Which is what we want.
Thank you for taking the time to read my letter.
Priya
40000 Tamils were killed in the final offensive in Sri Lanka .The Sri Lankan government even refused to order an inquiry which civilised government will do if its citizens are killed in large number in a military operation.Over 300000 Tamils were forcibly detained.40 media workers have been killed including the Sunday Leader Editor Lasantha Wickramatunga who wrote editorial blaming the government if he was killed and finally Rajapakse regime has arrested Sarath Fonseka the opposition candidate in a case of political vendatta right after the elections.Please ithe GSP withdrawal is necessary has the government over a period even as the case with the arrest of Sarath Fonseka shows is not interested in improving human rights.
The purpose of the removal of the GSP+ status is to force Sri Lanka to the negotiating table. It is now 9 months sice the war ended in Sri LAnka and no independent observers have access to the war zone or the IDP camps. If Sri Lanka can address the issues the EU commission has highlighted, I’m sure the the GSP+ status will be re-instated.
Sri Lanka has 6 months to address these issues, as the removal of the status doesn’t take place until 6 months from the date of announcement.
We’ll all know in 6 months, how serious Sri Lanka about the issues the EU has highlighetd.
Dear honorable Robert Sturdy,
Sri Lanka is not listening to any international body including UN. The only way to bring peace and human rights record is to challenge economically like removal of GSP+. International monitors are not allowed in Sri Lanka to record human rights abuse. There were around 20-40 thousand innocent Tamils were killed without witness. Please consider these and change your mind of opposing EU decision.
Thanks & Regards
Pat Suthagar
I am deeply disappointed with the Conservative Party’s official policy regarding the renewal of the Generalised System of Preferences Plus (GSP+) scheme to the Sri Lankan Government. GSP+ gives trading privileges within European markets to developing nations provided they implement 27 international conventions (relating to human rights, the environment and governance). Sri Lanka is not entitled to continue to receive GSP+ because it is clearly not meeting the conditions which are a prerequisite for granting the trade benefits, particularly in light of its continuing internment of Tamil civilians and its refusal to allow an independent probe into alleged war crimes.
In October, the European Commission submitted an independent report which recommended withdrawing the GSP+ trade benefits from Sri Lanka over the ongoing detention of thousands of Tamil civilians in military-run camps and alleged human rights abuses during the final stages of the civil war against the Tamil Tigers. EU officials said that they had no option because the scheme obliged Sri Lanka to abide by international agreements and the Sri Lankan government had refused to co-operate with the EU investigation. The report described a “culture of complete impunity” in Sri Lanka, citing police torture, extrajudicial executions, abduction of journalists and uninvestigated disappearances. A US state department report published in October also contained allegations of wide spread human rights abuses and war crimes. A formal decision by the EU on GSP+ will not be taken until the end of the year.
When all the main political parties in Britain ought to be united in sending a clear message to the Sri Lankan government by using GSP+ as economic leverage, it is sad that the Conservatives’ position appears to be one of appeasement. Sri Lanka is the only country in Asia to benefit from GSP+ and it is important to remember that the concession is a privilege (not a right) which comes with obligations that were made very clear at the outset. If the Sri Lankan government chooses genuinely to meet its human rights obligations it will be entitled to receive GSP+, thus benefiting the island’s economy and the entire community. However, on the other hand, if the EU fails to apply the rules of GSP+ objectively the integrity of the whole scheme will be undermined, which will have an adverse impact on the other countries that currently benefit from GSP+. In my view, continuing to waive import tariffs for Sri Lanka when it is not entitled to receive GSP+ is effectively a subsidy for state oppression and a blatant misuse of public funds. With all due respect, I think the Conservative Party is misguided and irresponsible in supporting the renewal of GSP+ to Sri Lanka and ought seriously to consider the consequences of its position.
I hope you are getting paid from the government of Sri Lanka to say this, because the EU made the right decision to stop the GSP plus. Sri Lankan government needs to understand a limit of boundary and they have exceeded in all aspects and they need to be punished in some way. This is the best solution in changing Sri Lanka’s attitude toward treating their own people (Sinhala) and the Tamils better. I hope you will understand the truth soon as to who have been hurt all these years.
Thank you
Mr Robert Sturdy – it appears that you have not followed in the international media about the horrific events that have been unleashed by the Rajapkse Family Government since it took power in Dec 2005. Both the LTTE and the Government have carried out atrocities, one is a cult while the other is a STATE (which has to protect the whole popullation). The atrocities of the Govt is mind blogging – how could a State bomb and shell (using muliti-barrel guns) part of its own citizens.
Furthermore, the UN, various other governments and human rights organisations have been putting pressure on the Rajapakse Govt for MORE THAN THREE YEARS to address the rights violations and the culture of impunity that had set in the country. EC had even advised that Government in mid 2009 that the extension of GSP+ was in the Government’s own hands – all it had to do was to have started to investigate the allegations. But it refused, showing that it didn’t care about the GSP + or any EC sympathy.
Under the circumstances, what alternative did EC have if it truely believed that rights violations were unacceptable? For you, it appears rights violations are part of the political game, and if you strongly believe so, then you should try and muzzle enough support among the MEPs and change the relevant basic principles enshrined in EC’s mandate.
Paramanathan, London
Innocent Tamils have suffered for more than 60 years
Picture speaks lowder than words. You must visit http://www.uktamilnews.com/?p=13034
Liam Fox received £50,000 Donation from a UK Defence Industry owner selling arms to Sri Lanka?
by admin on Feb.25, 2010, under Sri Lanka
Did Liam Fox support the Sri Lankan Government to KILL 40,000 Tamil Civilians in April/May 2010?
Liam Fox received £50,000 Donation from a UK Defence Industry owner selling arms to Sri Lanka on the 26th of January 2010 – Official
Conservative shadow Defence Secretary Liam Fox Received £50,000 Donation (or nature and value if donation in kind) given to him in his capacity as Shadow Secretary of State for Defence by a businessman whose company makes parts for the defence industry, as well as a £3,000 return flight to Colombo.
FULL DETAILS : http://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/liam_fox/woodspring#register
Conservative Party MP Liam Fox Congratulates President Mahinda for the Killing of the Tamil Civilians?
Mr Fox is a regular visitor to Sri Lanka. The Sri Lanka Government has paid for several visits there, including in November 2007, March 2008, March 2009 and August 2009. In addition, in November 2009 the Mahinda’s Sri Lanka Freedom Party National Convention paid for a visit. The November 2009 visit was to attend the Mahinda’s Sri Lanka Freedom Party’s annual conference as one of their international guests. As an international guest he would have been in the company of Iranian, Chinese, Russian and Vietnamese representatives, among others.
It’s not yet clear who paid for this month’s (February 2010) visit, or how much it cost, but based on the estimated value of previous trips, it looks as though Sri Lanka flew him first class, and paid for some good hotels.
For further disturbing questions about Mr Fox’s involvement in Sri Lanka go to http://www.leftfootforward.org/2010/02/questions-fox-must-answer-over-close-links-to-sri-lankan-dictator/
Finally, for details of Mr Liam Fox’s paid visits to Sri Lanka, go to the Register of Members’ Interests: http://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/liam_fox/woodspring#register. This includes details of a £50,000 donation to him from a businessman whose company makes parts for the defence industry, as well as a £3,000 return flight to Colombo.
Dear Mr. sturdy, further to my e-mail to you, below is the publication by Asian Human Rights Commission . A shameful Srilanka,see for yourself
A Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission
SRI LANKA: Diary of Terror Parts 14-16
SRI LANKA: Diary of Terror — Part 14, February 23, 2010
Sri Lankan Human Rights Watch
Amy officers raping a nine year old girl; can the new army commander maintain army discipline?
(February 23, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) A nine-year-old girl studying in the 5th Grade was raped by soldiers attached to the Digiliwatiya Camp at Batticaloa. The victim is a student of the Sinthandiya School at Digiliwatiya.The rape has led to protests by the villagers of the area which in turn has led to retaliation on the part of the soldiers from the camp who have ridden into the village on their motorcycles to harass the villagers. One of the protesters was killed and his body found in a pond near the army camp.
According to reports the nine-year-old girl was returning home in the company of two of her friends when soldiers bathing near a well chased after her and raped her. The girl was admitted to a hospital and the medical reports confirmed that she had been sexually abused. It is also reported that the girl who is still being treated at the hospital is being questioned constantly by commando officers.
There have been continuous and ongoing protests about the behaviour of the soldiers of the camp towards the villagers. One of the villagers, Chandrasekaran Sugabalan, a 35-year-old man who participated in the protests has been killed and his body found in a pond near Digiliwatiya.
Inquiries are continuing into the rape and about 48 soldiers are due to be produced before the Magistrate for an identification parade.
The question of the soldiers attacking villagers and even engaging in the rape of a child indicates a significant loss of discipline among the soldiers of this camp. When the discipline has deteriorated to such an extent it is not enough to conduct inquiries into a single case of rape; it is essential that the military itself conducts inquiries into the breakdown of discipline in this camp. The three soldiers engaging in the rape of a girl, followed by attacks on the villagers resulting in the death of a man reveals an extremely serious incident which affects the relationship between civilians and the military. The man who was killed was a Tamil civilian which also indicates that the girl and the villagers involved are also from the Tamil community. Thus, the breakdown in the relationship with the minorities who are supposed to be under the protection of the military is itself an example of the breakdown in military discipline.
Under these circumstances there should be inquiries into the activities of the officers in charge of the camp and how the command responsibility is exercised.
One of the duties of the new army commander is obviously to enforce discipline within the armed forces, particularly in relation to the minorities living in the north and the east. The government talks about bring about a spirit of reconciliation and peace and that is not possible if the behaviour of the armed forces continue in this manner.
A deeper problem of army discipline could arise under the present circumstances when the army commander himself is involved in the arrest and detention of the former commander of the armed forces, retired general Sarath Fonseka. All kinds of allegations have been made against the former army commander which the soldiers in the country now know to be totally false. Such allegations were that he was involved in a plot to kill the president and his family; that he was involved in an attempted coup to overthrow the government and that with a group of other soldiers he was engaged in acts of violence against the government. All these allegations have now proved to be absolutely false. Meanwhile, other senior officers of the armed forces are also being forced to retire purely for political reasons. The overall situation does not contribute to a healthy mentality within the armed forces. Once they see the abuse of power at the top layers of the military due to the politicisation of the hierarchy this will lead to the demoralisation of the armed forces. Once demoralisation enters the armed forces the maintenance of discipline will become extremely difficult. Under these circumstances the soldiers may begin to behave in any manner they wish and engage in the type of activities which include the rape of this young girl, the murder of the young man and the harassment of the villagers they are supposed to be protecting. This kind of breakdown in discipline should be a question that goes to the very heart of the leadership of the new commander of the army and its ability to maintain a high level of moral under the present circumstances.
Police killing at Inginiyagala
A 39-year-old man, Saman Thilakasiri, was told to report to the police station at Inginiyagala and did so accordingly. However, the following day his body was found at a water reserve in the same area, the Senanayake Water Reserve. The news of his death has led to enormous protests in the area. A large number of people gathered at and attached the police station at Inginiyagala. They burned tires in the roads and engaged in many other forms of protest against his death. The widespread nature of the protests led to the reinforcement of the Inginiyagala police by officers being brought in from other police stations in order to control the protesters.
The police reported that while Mr. Thilakasiri was being taken to the station in a police jeep he escaped by jumping into the water reserve. The story has been rejected by the villagers as a fabrication for the purpose of exonerating the officers.
Mr. Thilakasiri, was a farmer and father of two school-going children. The problem of arrest leading to torture and ending up in a custodial death is a common feature at many Sri Lankan police stations. Several glaring examples of deaths at police stations have come to light in recent times and have caused scandals. In many places the people in the villages have protested at the local police stations when such deaths occur.
The Inspector General of Police has not taken any resolute action to deal with the constant use of torture at police stations or the issue of custodial deaths. While individual cases are sometimes prosecuted in courts, mostly due to public outcry the police department has not developed any kind of serious to the stopping of these widespread practices. Quite clearly, the command responsibility lies with the Inspector General of Police and his deputies to put out clear guidelines in matters relating to arrest and the supervision of staff. But most of the time what happens is that once these deaths take place fabricated stories are produced and often the police hierarchy themselves get involved in supporting the police version of the events. There is a clear failure on the part of the Inspector General of Police to maintain discipline in police stations.
The case of Sivakumar Ballawannum, who was killed at the Bambilipitiya Sea by a group of policemen that pursued him into the surf in an attempt to arrest him, exposed the type of brutality that goes with policing in Sri Lanka. The Inspector General of Police and the government have been ignoring this problem for a long time.
SRI LANKA: Diary of Terror – Part 15, 24 February 2010
Sri Lankan Human Rights Watch
Even Mahanayakes are not spared from threats, intimidation and blackmail
(February 24, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Reports of the Sanga Convention called by the three great chapters of Buddhism in Sri Lanka and signed by the four Sanganayakes led to severe and adverse reactions on the part of the government, and the result was that the three great Buddhist Mahanayakes were pressurized by government officials and through a section of Buddhist monks themselves to postpone the convention which was to be held on the 18th February. The details of the pressures that were brought on the Buddhist prelates are now public knowledge. This clearly indicates that now even Mahanayakes are not immune from threats, intimidation and blackmail by the government.
The theme of the meeting was a very simple one. It was to discuss to discuss the degeneration of democracy and good governance in Sri Lanka. The participants of the convention were to be the Buddhist monks of the country from all the different chapters of Buddhism.
The gathering of all the sanga in the country would have been a matter of historical importance. For many centuries there have been struggles for the regeneration of Buddhism and to unite the monks on agreements on the basics of Buddhist Dharma. In fact, the act of getting Buddhist monks together to agree on moral issues goes back to the origins of Buddhism itself and the times of the historical Buddha, as well as the great days of Buddhism under Dharmasoka of India. Unity between the monks was considered essential element of maintaining the influence of the religion in order to uphold the high moral standards within society
Buddhism differs from many other religious in its insistence of the priority of moral standards. Many other religions base their primary emphasis on the worship of gods and the maintenance of various kinds of pioustic traditions. However, the wheel representing the Buddhist dharma represents the basic moral norms of society.
Dharmasoka as one of the greatest emperors of all times realised the great role that Buddhism was playing in afflicting the moral standards of the day, and by adopting and supporting Buddhism, Dharmasoka taught a lesson in history on the duty of the ruler to uphold the norms of humanity. Dharmasoka is considered a rare ruler in the history of the world due to this approach as a ruler who was concerned with establishing the moral norms of society. He was opposed to the concept of power for power’s own sake.
Thus, the convention of the Buddhist Sanga, which was called by the Prelates, was an attempt to revive this great tradition of bringing in concern for high moral standards within society. Often the discussion on morals in Sri Lanka has been limited to issues such as the prevention of the use of liquor and issues of sex. However, greater morals in society are about the rules of the peoples’ participation in society. These are about the ways in which human dignity is maintained by human beings participating in the social discourse, and determining the type of society within which they live. The truly great contributions of religion are to those issues which determine the moral standards relating to the manner in which societies govern themselves. Thus, the theme chosen by the convention for the discussion on the revival of democracy and good governance are within the framework of great concerns that great religions have always been concerned with. Thus, the convention could have been a high watermark in the attempts that have been made in the past in order to bring the involvement of religions to strengthen the moral foundations of Sri Lankan society
However, the manner in which this attempt was denigrated and the initiators of the denigration were quite visible on the television and radio. Government ministers and monks combined in order to characterise the prelates of the three great orders as persons who had been mislead. The term “mislead” has in the past been used to describe youth who like those who were involved in the JVP rebellion of 1971 and thereafter, and the Tamil militants that formed the LTTE. The people who were involved in those movements were characterised as being misled. The monks supporting the government used the same terms against the Mahanayakes of the three great orders.
Some went to the extent of saying that one of the signatures had been taken from Sanganayake by misleading him and by forgery. A representative of the Mahanayake later condemned this attempt and explained to the public that the Mahanayake was very much saddened by this because he came to support the meeting after due consideration and a full knowledge of the importance of the decision.
The use of television and radio for blackmailing political opponents has now become routine in Sri Lanka. All political opponents are being blackmailed in the worst types of allegations. The most glaring example was the blackmail of Sarath Fonseka, the common candidate for the opposition in the presidential elections.
He was blackmailed by statements such as that he conspired to kill the president and his family, that he was engaged in an attempt to stage a military coup, and many other such allegations which later were abandoned by those who propagated them. That even the Mahanayakes of the three great orders of Buddhism are being treated in this manner is an indication of the depth of the repression that is taking place within Sri Lanka.
Circumstances leading to the postponement of the convention was explained by Executive Committee Member of the Sangha Convention, the Chief Incumbent, Mihintale Rajamaha Viharaya, Ven. Walawahengunuwewe Dhammarathana Thero in an interview published in Sunday Leader:
The group of monks initially threatened the Mahanayake by saying that they would leave the sect if the convention was not cancelled.
“The Mahanayake said that it was nothing new, and that in the past monks have left the sect,” Dhammarathana Thera claimed.
“Realising that such threats will not get the Mahanayake to cancel the convention, this group telephoned the President, who personally spoke to the Mahanayake, urging him to cancel the convention, but the Mahanayake had been adamant about holding the convention,” Dhammarathana Thero said.
“The group had then asked whether the Mahanayake would like to see two or three bombs go off at the ‘Mahamaluwa’ and whether he would take the responsibility if the Temple of the Tooth is damaged,” Dhammarathana Thero claimed.
He said that such threats led to the postponing of the convention.”
Today, throughout the country there is the development of abysmal lawlessness. This involves attacks on any person who asserts any kind of independence. Abysmal lawlessness is accompanied by the relegation of all individuals into a zero status. Nobody is considered to have any kind of dignity and therefore no one is immune from threats, intimidation and blackmail. Even the prelates of the three great orders are no exception to this.
SRI LANKA: Diary of terror – Part 16, 25th February 2010
Sri Lanka Human Rights Watch
Disabled soldier abducted and told to make false statement about General Fonseka
(February 25, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) A former soldier, J. Asoka Kumara, gave an interview about his abduction and the incident that followed to Lanka E-News. This was published on the 23rd of April 2010. J. Asoka Kumara was a sergeant attached to the military and suffered serious head injuries during the war with the LTTE, as a result of which he has a metal plate inserted in his skull. During the presidential election he helped the former army general, Sarath Fonseka, who was an election candidate, and he worked in the office of the General during that time. Later Kumara worked at Fonseka’s district office for the election at Gampaha.
J. Asoka Kumara’s interview with Lanka E-News follows. The interview raises many questions about the type of society that Sri Lanka has rapidly become. This soldier is an innocent citizen living his own private life. He is the sort of person that any society would have had the highest sympathy and consideration for. As a soldier he has suffered a permanent head injury and carries the burden of that experience in his own skull by way of a metal plate and severe scarring due to bullet injuries inflicted by the enemy.
This permanently disabled soldier is being watched and followed by officers of the very same armed forces that he served. He is spied on and followed, not for any offense, but merely because he participated in an election and supported the very man who led the army that he fought for. He was waylaid on the road and abducted by persons who acted like police officers and abducted him. He is given something to drink by his abductors which sent him unconscious. When he awoke in some unknown place the person who spoke to him identified himself as a colonel. Thereafter, the people who dealt with him were persons that he identifies as higher ranking officers.
The purpose of the abduction and subsequent interrogation was to get him to make a false statement involving his former commander in criminal and some mean activities. The purpose of that exercise was to be able to show him over the television making such a statement against his former commander who has now become a politician. His former army is utilised in an attempt to discredit the former commander by way of a false statement.
All this happened with the use of expensive vehicles, officers moving here and there and inside what he thinks to be an expensive hotel.
All this is not a Bollywood movie. It is real life in the capital of Sri Lanka.
The soldier has identified himself and given the details of what happened to him in an interview which has been published. His photograph was also published. If the story is not true the government may deny it.
In any country where there is law, this would be a criminal activity of the highest proportions and as the persons involved in the act are alleged to be high military officers it would also be an offense under military law.
The Inspetor General of Police is under obligation to investigate the allged crime. The commander of the armed forces is obliged to investigate the alleged military offense. Both the top officers of the police and the military will be answerable to the law in the manner of the way in which they react to this incident. In a rule of law country the head of the state and the executive will be held responsible for the manner in which they deal with such a situation.
However, in Sri Lanka, in all likelihood nothing will happen. It is one more incident of the highest illegality and criminality that goes without being investigated or acted upon.
That is the nature of the terror that today prevails in the country. While the law is manipulated to punish political opponents others who commit crimes on behalf of the rulers are not held legally accountable in any way.
The Interview:
On the 11th February I went to the transport ministry to meet Minister Dalas when I was coming out of the ministry two people wearing police uniforms came and escorted me to a jeep and asked me to get in. I got in. I was taken for about 5 km to near an air force camp when the jeep stopped. At that point I was shown another van and told to get in. The people in the van were in civilian dress.
One person in the van was drinking from a bottle so I also asked for some water. I was given an unopened bottle. I drank one or two mouthfuls and that is all I remember. When I regained consciousness I was on a bed. When I tried to open the door of the room a person who had a cloth around his face came in. He told me “son don’t be afraid I am” then he gave me enough to eat and drink. He said he had to ask me some questions about general Fonseka. He wanted to take a statement from me saying that I was in charge of the General’s armoury. He said I will be provided with the arms to corroborate that and that after I am released they will protect me.
I was also asked to say that General Fonseka and the former parliamentarian [name 4.40] had an illicit affair with the actress during the period of the presidential election. I was also told to say that the General wanted me to allow him to have a sexual relationship with my wife in return for an adjustment my retirement pension.
When I refused to make such a statement to the media they gave me some documents and tried to force me to sign, I refused. They hit me on my head and hands.
I was then taken out of the room and introduced to some people in civilian dress. They took me to an area by the sea and told me that I was at Ambalangoda – the village of the General.
The people who questioned me did so with their faces covered with clothes. Before questioning me they asked whether I wanted to be questioned in Singhalese or English, I told them Singhalese. I was taken out of the room and questioned in a place that looked like a hall. While questioning me there were two people behind me taking down the statement.
The people who questioned me referred to each other as Commandant, Colonel, Air Marshall, Brigadier, ASP and such titles.
I asked them why they had taken me, they said when they question me I will find out the reason. I later learned that they abducted me to get to know about the protest regarding the bringing of war heroes to Colombo and to get information about General Fonseka.
In the room that I was kept there was a TV, a desk, a bed, a table, there were clothes and good kinds of drinks -it was a hotel near the sea, the room was on an upper floor. While being questioned I was taken out of the room. I saw rooms on both sides. Although I did not see any other people, I heard the voices of others shouting “do not hit me” several times.
I was then taken in a red vehicle which had numbers on it. They had land cruisers which may have a value of Rs. 5 million to 10 million, there were about 5 vehicles.
They told me that if you are needed we will not give you 48 hours, if we need we will not give you over 72 hours, we can send you to the other world.
The people who had their faces covered handed me to a group of civilians. Before I was released they took me to a place that looked like a 5 Star hotel and gave me something to eat. I have a feeling that this may have been the Galadara Hotel.
After taking me to Colombo, they said I can tell anybody I want. I can recognise the people in civilian clothes. Due to the assault on the side of my head and the subsequent operation that whole area is numb.
# # #
About AHRC: The Asian Human Rights Commission is a regional non-governmental organisation monitoring and lobbying human rights issues in Asia. The Hong Kong-based group was founded in 1984.
Robert Sturdy Conservative MEP. Dev Raj Conservative MEP & Liam Fox shadow defence secretary.
U N, British Government tried their best to stop the final assault by the Srilankan government when 40000 Tamils including women elderly children were killed. British Foreign secretary visited Srilanka twice. He was ashamed and sent back with the title ‘white tiger’.
When a child does not behave, parents teachers advise the child & guide the child. If the child does not listen and continue to behave badly the next step is to withheld or withdraw privileges expecting the child to change and behave better. This concept is accepted by all irrespective of who you are.
This simple logic is been applied to Srilanka. I wonder why the above three are not in favour of UN decision to stop GSP plus. I do not think it is conservative party policy.
It is for purely personal financial gains over Tamil people lives, killings, atrocities, torture, rape torture camps, withholding food and medical supplies.
My dear Politicians what you are behind is blood money. Please stay away.
Thank you
Dear Robert Sturdy,
With the end of the war the international community expected the Sri Lankan governent to focus on addressing the issues that gave rise to the armed struggle by the Tamil people. Instead the Sri Lanka government is spending its energry on premature elections whilst over 100,000 Tamils are still held in concentration camps against their will. It is spending billions on its all Sinhala troops of 100,000 strong, in the Tamil’s homeland to hold on to that territory which belongs to the Tamil people. The Sinhala government will continue to terrorise the Tamil people until the international community take effective measures to stop this. Zimbabwe is isolated by the IC because of its human rights records. The same standard should be applied to the Sinhala regime which is intent on changing the island into a monolithic Sinhala Buddhist country.
Dear Mr Sturdy, I understand your concern. But, at the same time I can say that your concern is misplaced. If you understand Sri Lanka and its’ politicians who run the country, you will understand why Tamil dispora is advocationg the western countries to a) Stop the GSP Plus tax concessions b) Don’t buy Sri Lankan made gaments and gods c) Stop all sports activities particularly Cricket with Sri Lanka d) Don’t go to Sri Lanka as tourists. You may ask why. The reasons are: The war is over, and LTTE has been completely eradicated. Even now, Sri Lankan (SL) government is not prepared to resolve the cause of ethnic strife and the war. SL govt. has never used the money made by all the western aid and tax concessions to develop the country, and never will. We, the Tamil people are requesting you to support the above 4 aims to put pressure on the SL govt. to negotiate with Tamils in Sri Lanka, and agree a solution to the ethnic problem so that the Tamils in Sri Lanka can live in peace with dignity. Is it too much to ask. If you have any Singhalese constituency, please ask them what they value most in the UK. I am sure that they will say – living with digniny and equality. Why not the Tamils in their own country cannot have it?. Kind regards. Sutha.
Dear Mr Sturdy, I understand your concern. But, at the same time I can say that your concern is misplaced. If you understand Sri Lanka and its’ politicians who run the country, you will understand why Tamil dispora is advocationg the western countries to a) Stop the GSP Plus tax concessions b) Don’t buy Sri Lankan made gaments and goods c) Stop all sports activities particularly Cricket with Sri Lanka d) Don’t go to Sri Lanka as tourists. You may ask why. The reasons are: The war is over, and LTTE has been completely eradicated. Even now, Sri Lankan (SL) government is not prepared to resolve the cause of ethnic strife and the war. SL govt. has never used the money from all the western aid and tax concessions to develop the country, and never will. They lined their own pockets, and used it to kill Tamils. We, the Tamil people are requesting you to support the above 4 aims to put pressure on the SL govt. so that they negotiate with Tamils in Sri Lanka, and agree a solution to the ethnic problem so that the Tamils in Sri Lanka can live in peace with dignity. Is it too much to ask. If you have any Singhalese constituents, please ask them what they value most in the UK. I am sure that they will say – living with digniny and equality. Why not the Tamils in their own country cannot have it?. Kind regards. Sutha.
> I am concerned about the impact that the removal of these trade concessions will have on development in Sri Lanka. Trade is the principal means for development and by taking away their GSP + status, you are limiting the country’s ability to grow.
Your statement assumes a government that is willing to invest in people. Sri Lanka’s divide between the haves and have not has grown tremendously. The primary beneficiaries of trade are the bureaucrats in the form of bribes and the business owners. The common man needs to wake up and demand good governance. Without it there will be no development. Now that the country’s woes cannot be blamed on the war, let the rulers show good governance before the EU lines their Swiss bank accounts.
Thank you
Dear Mr Sturdy,
This effort by the European Nations to halt Trade concessions to Sri Lanka is not meant to starve the People of that Island Nation. In fact that land is a misery of Human rights abuses just as the Apartheid South Africa was. This measure is a limited form of sanction on the Sri lankan Govt. to bring them to some realisation that all human beings in that Land should be treated equitably. Therefore please do understand why sanctions are necessary as it is needed in South africa and more recently in Zimbabwe.
Dear Mr. Sturdy,
First of all thanks much for your concern over the innocent people of Sri Lanka.
EU’s effort, let’s hope will help to goad Sri Lanka on the right track.
The immediate problems of the people of Sri Lanka is not starvation or famine.
They are facing a very dictative government, that tries to show off as a democracy.
Your concerns may be misread by the Sri Lankan Government as support to their undemocratic ways.
Please give all the support to EU’s effort so the people of Sri Lanka can live under democracy.
continue to work hard, sir.
This is Robert Sturdy’s response:
Owing to the volume of response to my comments, I feel a clarification is in order. From the outset I would like to reiterate what I have said many times before, that allegations of war crimes should be properly investigated and anyone found guilty brought to book. My statements should not, and cannot, be read as support for any alleged war crimes by either side in the recent Civil War. They were merely an attempt to speak for those whom I felt had been given inadequate consideration, such as those who are employed in the textile industry, many of whom are women and the sole bread winner in their household. If they were to lose their jobs, it would be through no fault of their own and could have dire consequences for their families and communities. We do not want to make the situation worse; of course the EU can use trade measures for political ends, but we should take into account all effects that such actions will occasion.