Presidential Adviser on Reconciliation Counters Channel 4 Film
Posted on March 15th, 2012
Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha, Presidential Adviser on Reconciliation,
In a statement from Geneva, Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha, Presidential Adviser on Reconciliation, responded to claims in the latest Channel 4 film on Sri Lanka. Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha is currently Chair of the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats and was re-elected leader of the Liberal Party of Sri Lanka.
Responding to Channel 4ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s recent claims, Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha explains that ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-[ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦] the deaths of civilians occurred largely because of the strategy of using civilians as human shields, and then fighting from amidst them. [ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦]We did keep asking the ICRC to tell the LTTE to stop using this tactic, but while they said they would continue to remind both parties to the conflict of their obligations, they pointed out that ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”not having been agreed upon by both parties to the conflict, the zone as such is not specifically protected under International Humanitarian LawƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚
Discussing Channel 4ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s point on theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ deliberate shortages of supplies by the Sri Lankan Government, Prof. Wijesinha highlighted that: ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-The Sri Lankan government has indicated the supplies that were sent, in accordance with the figure supplied by the UN. Many people calculated the possible figure in different ways, and many got it wrong, but the Commissioner General of Essential Services worked always to the same figures, while also ensuring that extra medicines were sent. I myself saw bags of rice that had been used to make bunkers, which suggests that if there were shortages, it was not due to us.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚
Referring to the picture of the dead body of PrabhakaranƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s son, he said: ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-In fact that picture has been in the public domain since 2009. While of course the matter should be investigated, the efforts to connect it with the President are absurd.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚
Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha is a Sri Lankan Member of Parliament and former secretary-general of the Secretariat for Coordinating the Peace Process (SCOPP). He has served as Secretary to the Lankan Ministry of Disaster Management and Human Rights and has been appointed as adviser on reconciliation to the President of Sri Lanka.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Full Statement of Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha
The viciousness of Channel 4 in its pursuit of regime change
The latest Channel 4 film on Sri Lanka dwells on four points, most of them expanded versions of what it claimed previously. Once again, actual evidence in the form of documents dating from the period concerned, indicate how selective it is.
Channel 4, following the Darusman report, talks of bombardments on a UN camp from January 23rd on. Unlike Gordon Weiss, who mentioned the same incident but without a date, attributing information to retired Colonel Harun Khan, from the UN Secutiry Office, Channel 4 now finally mentions its purported informant, an Australian called Peter Mackay.
There was no Peter Mackay in the list of those going on the convoy supplied to the army. Apart from Harun Khan, the only UN officer supposed to be in the convoy was a local employee called Mr Suganthan.
In contradiction it seems of the Channel 4 claim, the UN Security Chief wrote to the Security Forces on January 24th as follows ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”I would like to thank you and your staff for excellent support in all the UN movements to dateƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ (it must be noted that Harun Khan had stayed behind without authorization, when the rest of the convoy left on January 20th, in order to persuade the LTTE to let local staff who were working in the Wanni leave).
Another letter of du ToitƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s of January 31st, after Harun and his small group had got to safety, joining an ICRC convoy on January 29th as suggested by the army when the LTTE was delaying their escape, reads as follows, with regard to the local staff, ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”My office is keeping the SF HQ regularly updated as events unfurl on the battle field in their immediate vicinity and I can report that we are most pleased with the professional response and cooperation with SF HQ.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢
So who was Mackay, where did he come from, and where did he get his footage? He may well have been there, but the fact that his presence was never informed to officials is suspicious in itself, given too his position at UNOPS which had had a number of staff with LTTE sympathies, for whom the UNOPS head had apologized (for instance Benjamin Dix whom Amnesty had taken round Geneva in a show and tell performance during an earlier sessions of the UN Human Rights Council).
It should be added that the deaths of civilians occurred largely because of the strategy of using civilians as human shields, and then fighting from amidst them. We were aware of this from the start, given the evidence of the Bishop of Jaffna who wrote on January 25th that ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”We are also urgently requesting the Tamil Tigers not to station themselves among the people in the safety zone and fir their artillery shells and rockets at the ArmyƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢.
The 25th was the first day in which Tamilnet, which I had monitored carefully from the Peace Secretariat, claimed casualties of more than 20 from army action (the total of civilian casualties alleged by Tamilnet in the last 7 months of 2008 had been 78). On the 26th we had three figure allegations for the first time, but that was when we also got an SMS from the head of the UN in Colombo to say that they believed most of the firing came from the LTTE. That SMS was kept on my phone for a few months so that I could show it at the next session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, when the usual suspects made their extravagant allegations.
What the LTTE was doing did raise serious moral problems, and I believe that in general our forces dealt with these in a humane way. We did keep asking the ICRC to tell the LTTE to stop using this tactic, but while they said they would continue to remind both parties to the conflict of their obligations, they pointed out that ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”not having been agreed upon by both parties to the conflict, the zone as such is not specifically protected under International Humanitarian LawƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢. Civilians of course continued to be protected under IHL, but this does not take away from the right to fire back when under attack.
A letter from the UN head of security, Chris du Toit, indeed makes the dilemma obvious. He wrote on 20th January that ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”artillery and mortar bases have been established in the general area of our communications hub from where they deliver fire to your forces. I therefore request that you inform your respective ground commanders and artillery commanders not to deliver any artillery, mortar or small arms fire into the general area of the hubƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢.
In other words, the LTTE is firing from you, using us as a shield, but please do not fire back.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Du ToitƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s concern for his staff is admirable, but it is a form almost of giving the LTTE a blank cheque. But our forces did exercise maximum care, and no one in that UN convoy was hurt. Indeed, not one of the UN workers who were forced by the LTTE to stay behind was hurt, except for one person whom the UN head, Neil Buhne, told me in Geneva was probably injured by LTTE action, and whom the forces looked after immediately.
Secondly, Channel 4 talks about deliberate shortages of supplies, and invokes the sacred evidence of David Miliband in this regard, a man who, according to Wikileaks, had been concerned about Sri Lanka for selfish electoral purposes. The Sri Lankan government has indicated the supplies that were sent, in accordance with the figure supplied by the UN. Many people calculated the possible figure in different ways, and many got it wrong, but the Commissioner General of Essential Services worked always to the same figures, while also ensuring that extra medicines were sent. I myself saw bags of rice that had been used to make bunkers, which suggests that if there were shortages, it was not due to us. But in any case the figures speak for themselves. Mr MilibandƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s calculations suggest that everyone would have been dead if so little food was sent in that period, but we know that over 250,000 escaped. In addition, I have seen the medicines that were in the hospitals, and doctors who worked there, including in the LTTE hospitals for their cadres, told me they had adequate supplies including anaesthetics.
Thirdly we have the same old Channel 4 video, which we have conclusively proved was doctored. Beginning with the original claim that the scene was filmed in January 2009, which was the date the US State Department also put to us in its document of allegations, there has been fraud and sleight of hand. Ridiculously, Channel 4 now brought to corroborate its claims a member of what is called Journalists for Democracy, which had originally supplied them with the video. So much for independent witnesses! The UN has also indicated that the second film shown was edited, and edited backwards, while the zooming suggests it was done by a video camera, rather than the mobile phone that was claimed.
Certainly, as the LLRC recommends, we should investigate further, but to do that Channel 4 must cooperate by at least sending us the original ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” which they refused to do even to the UN, which then got a different version from Journalists for Democracy for its own investigations. Why such suppression of evidence and blatant falsehoods, if they believe this is genuine.
I should note that another gruesome picture showed was one I first saw in Australia, when I pointed out one of the people purportedly doing the torturing was in rubber slippers, suggesting that this was an LTTE effort. Subsequently the slippers have been cut out when the picture is shown, but I do still have that original version.
Finally, they show the picture of PrabhakaranƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s son, and claim he was killed on orders from higher up. In fact that picture has been in the public domain since 2009. While of course the matter should be investigated, the efforts to connect it with the President are absurd. This is not like what happened when Osama bin Laden was killed in cold blood, clearly on the orders of the American Commander in Chief, since he was privileged to have a birdƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s eye view of the proceedings. The Americans may have thought the killing of Osama was justified, as revenge, or what they see as justice, but it was not a killing in combat, and was certainly not just. But one does not see any claims that he should be held accountable, for the simple reason that, as Mao Tse Tung once said, power comes out of the barrel of a gun, and the guns used against what is termed Islamic terrorism are larger than those of anyone else.
I should add that there were more horrors connected with the death of Osama bin Laden, including the justification offered by the celebrated Nazi hunter Elie Wiesel, who claimed that, though children had been put in harmƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s way, and ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”children are never guilty. Still, it was bin Laden himself who placed them in harmƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s wayƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢.
I hope we never use such justifications, and that any allegation of killing will be looked into. But when America provides such glib justifications for its actions in executing bin Laden, surely there should be greater stress on the wickedness of the Tigers in the systematic use made of civilians as human shields. But, in its relentless efforts to target the Sri Lankan leadership, this is not an issue for Channel 4.
Finally, I should note that Channel 4, while throwing blame on the President and the Secretary of Defence and General Shavendra Silva and General Prasanna Silva, leaves out Sarath Fonseka from its demands for retributive justice. Fascinatingly, the Amnesty Spokesman Sam Zarifi stresses the responsibility of the first two, which underlines the political motivation behind the allegations. He absolutely omits Sarath Fonseka, who was the only major figure to have been cited in the US State Department report as meriting criticism.
They claimed that ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”A media outlet reported on July 18 that at a celebratory event in Ambalangoda, Army Chief General Sarath Fonseka stated that the military had to overlook the traditional rules of war and even kill LTTE rebels who came to surrender carrying white flags during the war against the LTTEƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢. In fact the cached version of that claim goes further and says that he declared that ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”- ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”I managed the war like a true soldier. I did not make decisions from A/C rooms. I was under pressure to stop the war even during the final phase. I got messages not to shoot those who are carrying white flags. A war is fought by soldiers. They do so by putting their lives on the line. Therefore, the decisions about war should be taken by the soldiers in the battlefront. Not the people in A/C rooms in Colombo. Our soldiers have seen in life the kind of destruction carried out by those people before they decided to come carrying a white flag. Therefore, they carried out their duties. We destroyed any one connected with the LTTE. That is how we won the war,ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢
I believe government was wrong not to investigate this claim. It is possible that the claim is untrue, but it is also possible that, as with other matters one had to deal with during that period, such as the declaration that government planned to increase the size of the army by 100,000, Fonseka was advancing his own ideas which were at odds with government policy. It is even possible that he wanted to take credit for things with which he had no connection. But while I find strange the evident determination of the forces to shield him from inquiry in this regard, I find even more bizarre the manner in which the Americans have now taken him to their hearts. I was told by a senior politician that a senior American diplomat claimed that they had now found a new weapon with which to threaten government, namely Sarath Fonseka, and that explains his apotheosis into an admired Presidential candidate soon after the Americans had laid their evidence about him on the table. But such weapons have a habit of backfiring. That Channel 4 and Sam Zarifi now leave him out of their cries for vengeance and concentrate on civil leadership makes it crystal clear what the current agenda is.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
March 15th, 2012 at 3:38 pm
“While of course the matter should be investigated”
Nothing else to do ?. Sri Lanka behaves like an individual with low self esteem.
If some one accuses us for something. We forget everything happened to us and that becomes immaterial and we accept to investigate and correct what we were accused for. We try to act always defeated or beaten. Will they give us a break. Because their motto is if falls down beat more until the total subjugation. See what is happening to the middle east and to Arab countries.
Poor Sri Lanka.
See how much a few foreign countries of the western block, their affiliated NGOs and the part of the Sri Lankan Church are trying to subjugate us to do their agenda.
We are in the defensive. We don’t have courage to talk about how we suffered. We can not and we don’t talk about what is happening to us.
I feel sick.
March 15th, 2012 at 3:42 pm
When are we going to feel that we are being oppressed.
How can there be a forced reconciliation or demand reconciliation ?
Why don’t we another name to that. For me, it is just a Mantra.
March 15th, 2012 at 3:58 pm
I think, SL president did not understand the Post war situation very well. Did not understand who would be the next line of enemies. Probably, did not have a vision even for the final scenario and may be just floating here and there looking for a place to anchor. In that journey, post war experience is a mess and we are making mistakes.
First every thing should have planned to aconsidering the influence of the West (particularly US), NGOs, India and the LTTE rump.
I think, facing the problem as it comes type of approach did not work.
Because, every one of them is clear in their approach. Sri Lanka is not clear about how they achieve the finally what Sri Lanka wants.
The way, we go finally, war may become just a futile exercise. All along, Sri Lanka gave priority to political needs. Look like it did not work.
March 15th, 2012 at 4:17 pm
What is there to investigate?
This is the problem with our diplomats. They don’t know the IMPLICATIONS of their words.
He AGREED to investigate this. Now the UNHRC will demand an investigation and another investigation and another.
He died during war. Fullstop. How many children died in the war. he was JUST A NUMBER.
If Rajiwa has given such a factual and confident answer this pestering rubbish won’t be there.
March 15th, 2012 at 8:49 pm
‘I managed the war like a true soldier. I did not make decisions from A/C rooms. I was under pressure to stop the war even during the final phase. I got messages not to shoot those who are carrying white flags. A war is fought by soldiers. They do so by putting their lives on the line. Therefore, the decisions about war should be taken by the soldiers in the battlefront. Not the people in A/C rooms in Colombo. Our soldiers have seen in life the kind of destruction carried out by those people before they decided to come carrying a white flag. Therefore, they carried out their duties. We destroyed any one connected with the LTTE. That is how we won the war,’
ABSOLUTELY !
Problem is this true soldier turned his back to mother lanka and sold all these to USA. He became the president of Lanka Betryers Party.
Can this coward say the same words in front of USA ? Then Rajapakses can easily say ” We have delegated all powers to Army Chief(thief). We never discuss these minor matter about surrndering Tigers. It is up to the Army Commander”.
This will expose Sarath Fonseka.
March 16th, 2012 at 3:22 am
LTTE tamils have done nothing new with this channel 4 video.
I have a booklet that was published by Canadian – LTTE tamils in 1998. That is to sling mud at Sri Lanka on it’s 50th after independence year. That book also gives the same story including previous presidents and prime ministers photos, photos of buddhist monks and temples, photos related to Tamil – Sinhala riots and Tamils died hanging onto lamp posts (tamils killed by LTTE as Sinahal work).
I don’t think anyone outside care about this video except those who already have released press briefs just for political needs.
The question is who took and who allowed to take these photos knowing these photos related to the war may be used for the wrong purposes ?
March 16th, 2012 at 6:42 am
It is fairly useless to depend on outside sources for real help to heal Lanka.
We think we should secure the country from within. Getting advice or other forms of help from different sources is alright once the basic structures within the country are secured. I will attempt here to put some facts together in a simple way.
Best do what is life supportive for everyone concerned, i.e. ban ethnic based (and religion based ones at a future date) political parties. Ethnic base political parties drag outside sources to interfere in Lanka matters in an inimical manner. Also, deport all illegal migrants and stop all illegal migration in future. As things stand, Lanka appears to be offering itself as a sort of sacrifice on the alter for various troubled sources all over the world, and get bullied to distraction.
There are, of course, other aspects that must be improved greatly such as writing in new Laws or removing old ones in the Constitution, particularly those imposed on Lanka by outside sources. Election processes have to improved on, with MPs having to be better educated and the number of political parties on the register reduced to about 20 (from over 100 at present). Corruption must stop at all levels. An Oath of Allegiance to Lanka a must by all citizens here.
As things are, Lanka is just only waiting for the ghastly inevitable to happen, piecemeal. Once divided or taken over, Lanka will never be the same again, nor will we able to put it together again. Change is inevitable in a lot of ways, but change for the worse should not be tolerated by any Lankan.
March 16th, 2012 at 6:54 am
Also, judging by the fact that Britain recently deported some Tamil people seeking false refugee status there, it appears that the west is getting tired of bogus Tamil Refugees and wanting Lankans (and India ?) to formulate a permanent solution to this problem. In the meantime, it appears they also want gain some control over the SE Asian region too.
March 16th, 2012 at 10:23 am
Please see the original of the video which shows Sinhala soldiers being shot by LTTE. This video was later dubbed to appear as if Sinhala soldiers are killing Tamils. This has been sent to so many people including the GOSL. However our authorities do not seem to have used it yet. This is the best proof that the CH4 is a fake. This video was originally in Facebook and just before LTTE removed it someone managed to rescue and put it on a private web site where it is safe.
http://www.terrorinlanka.com/ch4uk/
March 16th, 2012 at 11:10 am
Glad to see you are back Prof. Rajiva. Real patriots were looking forward for you to come and whack the sorry LTTE paycheck earners’ backsides with facts.
This is the hour that we need people like you on the floor in Geneva, where there is a well funded and oiled multi-pronged attack is taking place against Sri Lanka on concocted grounds by people (or should we call scumbags) with various vested interests.
Thank you Prof. Rajiva (and Dr. Dayan Jayatilleke) for coming back to save Sri Lanka!
March 16th, 2012 at 1:38 pm
Thank you Sir, for your contributon. I feel you & Dr. Dayan jayatilleke & other patriots who write & have knowledge of how West & Int. Community works, should get together and advice our politicians, diplomats in this need of the hour.
It is time to forget any communal, racial or relegious differences & UNITE to fight the enemy from outside. We should be prepared to undergo hardships, in the name of our Motherland.
I wish other writers to Lankaweb, and other newspapers must get together and plan a concerted, cordinated respponse to West & LTTE supporters who depend on LTTE payroll.
Even expats in Canada, UK, Europe & Austarlia should band together to save our country, from foreign intervention.
Thanks again sir, I wish many others will join your call & help Sri lanka in this hour of need. Just expressing my views…~ Gamunu, retd engineer~ CANADA
March 17th, 2012 at 12:36 pm
Sri Lankans are well aware of how unbelievably arrogant and vicious the Brits are they after all have a long history of this kind of behaviour. Ch.4 is Brit Imperialist propaganda scum. Sri Lanka should firmly tell the Brits hands off Sri Lanka, Sri Lankans don’t want to be colonised by them again. So Channel 4 should go to hell where they belong.