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Debate on restoring security is diverted to suit political ends

Late Mr. Tarzie Vittachithe, winner of many prestigious awards for journalism, had a favourite saying that, “Everything is about something else”. In a similar manner, the parliamentary discussion on two no-confidence motions is also clearly about other issues, rather than the brutal carnage that took place on Easter Sunday and the causes thereof. The government is looking at these motions to prevent its fall from power, while the opposition is looking at them with the view to topple the government from power. No one is debating the factors that led…

Facing not merely a security problem but also an acute constitutional crisis

Although there was a two day parliamentary debate held to discuss the Easter Sunday carnage caused by the bombs that were exploded in three churches and several tourist hotels, no consensus has yet emerged as to the primary causes that led to the complete breakdown of the security situation and such an abject failure on the part of the state to protect the lives of the people. If there is to be a solution to such colossal failures, there has to be a consensus in the political establishment, as well…

Facing not merely a security problem but also an acute constitutional crisis

Internal Causes for Easter Sunday Carnage

Much is talked about the external factors behind the worst attacks on human lives experienced in Sri Lankan history within a single day. This search for understanding the external causes, the organizations and the individuals within, is amply justified. However, that does not explain why it was possible to organise the attacks on that day. Preparations for further attacks have also been discovered in many parts of the country. The question is how was all that possible without the knowledge of the Government and its security apparatus? An associated paradox…

Sri Lanka mourns worst attack since civil war and other stories in JUST ASIA

This week Just Asia begins with Sri Lanka, which has been traumatized by a series of coordinated bombings on Easter Sunday. More than 350 people were killed and at least 500 wounded in the deadliest attack in Sri Lanka since the end of the civil war 10 years ago. The dead included at least 45 children. The blasts targeted three churches, as well as four hotels. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe acknowledged there was a prior warning about the bombings, and Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando and IGP Pujith Jayasundara have been…

Expression of solidarity with the people of Sri Lanka

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) condemns the brutal attacks on several churches in Sri Lanka, which killed a large number of persons attending Easter Sunday mass. There were also attacks on several tourist hotels, killing about 32 foreign tourists. This tragedy has shocked and distressed the entire nation, with lamentations heard from so many families and their loved ones. While politicians are talking about preventing such attacks in the future, there have been no serious reflections on what made such a widespread attack possible. The AHRC for many years…

Recognising the missing legal system

A well-functioning legal system can be measured by its response to daily crimes and complaints. This is a much better test in fact, rather than a country’s constitution (in Sri Lanka’s case, the 1978 constitution still remains a major barrier to the functioning of a legal system), or statutes, or judicial presence, all of which are often portrayed as an indicator of a good system. Several such crimes and incidents occurred in the last few days, which did not receive their due publicity and national attention. It was reported from…

Open letter to the Honourable Speaker of the Parliament on the murder of two businessmen Rathgama Bussa area and General state of murder in the Island

SRI LANKA: Open letter to the Honourable Speaker of the Parliament on the murder of two businessmen Rathgama Bussa area and General state of murder in the Island We reproduce below an open letter written by the Asian Human Rights Commission to Honourable Speaker of the Parliament in Sri Lanka. Honourable Speaker, the Asian Human Rights Commission is taking this extraordinary step of writing to you about the murder of two businessmen in the Rathgama Bussa area, allegedly by some police officers of the Special Crime Investigating Unit of the…

Sri Lankan police arrested in death of two businessmen and other stories

This week Just Asia begins with Sri Lanka, where investigations are ongoing into the abduction and murder of two businessmen from Rathgama. Until now, two police officers have already been arrested. Sri Lanka’s Criminal Investigation Department has revealed that the two businessmen, Manjula Asela and Rashin Chinthaka were abducted and murdered, and their bodies were then burnt. Just Asia speaks to Basil Fernando, Director of Policy and Program Development, AHRC, for details. Next, in the Philippines, Senator Leila de Lima marked her second year in detention last Sunday. She was…

From enforced disappearances of rebels to businessmen

The discovery of body parts of two businessmen from Rathgama, Bussa area, who were abducted, disappeared, and later killed, allegedly by several policemen, including the Officer-In-Charge of the southern province special crime investigating unit, is major news in Sri Lanka these days. According to the newspapers, the two businessmen were kidnapped from Rathgama Bussa area, taken to a house in Akmeemana, where they were detained, beaten and finally killed. Their bodies were then taken to a forest reserve in the Walasmulla area, where they were burnt and buried. This was…