NPC: Assassination is the Antithesis of Democratic Rule of Law
March 10th, 2008
Statement by National Peace Council of Sri Lanka
The assassination of TNA Member of Parliament for the Jaffna District, K Sivanesan on his way home to his family and four children after in voting in Parliament is an abominable crime. He was killed in a claymore mine explosion within LTTE-controlled territory in the Wanni where his home was. The National Peace Council condemns this assassination of an elected Parliamentarian. So far three TNA parliamentarians have been assassinated since the resumption of fighting in 2005. This continuing pattern is the antithesis of the democratic rule of law that Sri Lanka needs to attain.
[Sivanesan MPs sons and daughter garlanding the remains of their father-pic-TN]
The LTTE has claimed that the killing was by deep penetration units of the Sri Lankan military. This has been denied by the Sri Lankan military who have claimed that the LTTE is responsible. The inability of the institutions of law and justice in the country to ascertain the facts in a credible manner is a great weakness that requires remedial action.
In this context of continuing impunity, NPC regrets the departure of the Independent International Group of Eminent Persons who were invited to Sri Lanka by the government to give much needed credibility and technical assistance to the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into Serious Human Rights Violations. The IIEGP statement that they did not receive the necessary cooperation and respect by the Sri Lankan authorities is a matter of serious concern, as much hope was pinned on it in putting the brakes on the impunity that currently prevails.
In these circumstances, NPC reiterates its call to the government to implement the 17th Amendment to the constitution which will enable the establishment of credible and independent institutions of state, including the police, judiciary and Human Rights Commission. In the absence of such national institutions, we are left with no choice but to join the growing chorus of calls for a credible international human rights monitoring mechanism to be established in the country.
Executive Director
On behalf of Governing Council
National Peace Council
Entry Filed under: Full Text of Press Release
8 Comments Add your own
1. EEroppe Sinhaya | March 10th, 2008 at 6:45 pm
THESE NGO BOYS SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL MISHAPS HAPPED TO SRI LANKANS.
2. Ragavan,Wellawatte | March 10th, 2008 at 9:42 pm
If the Military says that they are not respnsible for the killing of Mr. Sivanesan because it happened in LTTE area
they should not also point the finger at tigers for the incidents that are happening in the south because it is happening in the area under Govt.Control.
3. Easwaran | March 10th, 2008 at 10:06 pm
Clearly the work of the LTTE, summoned at the behest of the sun god in short notice and picked with precision deep in the tiger terrirtory there is no doubt, rumors also abound about some high level leaks of locations of strategic tiger targets by those with easy access to both goverment and tiger territory,tna mps fit the bill.
4. PinGona | March 10th, 2008 at 10:37 pm
Jehan, can you please re-print your condemnations of the assassinations of Laksman Kadirgamar and DM Dassanaike and other prominent democratically elected politicians in the south? did you call for a credible hr monitoring mechanism when Tamil Tigers were killing people one by one? Just dont think we are all pingonas. As Douglas Devananda said, Tiger Nominated Agents(TNA) defend Tiger terrorism everyday. Those who do that cannot expect any different,.
5. adrian | March 11th, 2008 at 7:42 am
No. 2
Dear Ragavan
In SL govt controlled areas many tamils live with sinhalese & LTTE crooks get that advantage to plant bombs where as in LTTE held areas no sinhalese at all & where Vanni Butchers big bosses hide, no tamils dwellers even.
Please argue with true facts & spirit.
6. Justin | March 11th, 2008 at 8:11 am
The National Peace Council (NPC) says “The inability of the institutions of law and justice in the country to ascertain the facts in a credible manner is a great weakness that requires remedial action”
It is good that NPC admits the inability of the institutions of law and justice in the country to ascertain facts.
That being the case, NPC should ask the Human Rights Council to send a Human Rights Monitoring Mission to be based in Colombo, to bring out the truth, so that the criminal soldiers responsible would be punished severely.
7. adrian | March 12th, 2008 at 8:39 am
Before talking about Human rights, press freedom, cost of living, social justice, economic indicators & similar qualified melodies, first we will get rid of Vanni Butchers.Then more than 99% of the prob is over.
First eliminate the root cause than distorting the facts & hiding in shells with disguised masks for sheer monetary gains & selfish agendas.
8. Bad boy | March 12th, 2008 at 10:20 pm
In reply to #7
If we want to get rid of the root cause we should properly identify this so called root cause that everyone is trying to point out.
The Tigers came about because there was resentments from the Tamil youth not vice versa. Why was there resentment? Unfair treatment from the so called “Aryan” descendants. It is still there in the way the Army treats Tamils. I know a girl who has had her bag thrown on the ground and verbally molested by the Army for no other reason than being a Tamil. Is that fair?
Selfish agendas? I think you may ask that question from the Rajapakse three or four now? Root them out. then people everywhere can live well in SL. Mr Adrian don’t hide in your shell!. Admit you are a rascist!
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