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Perpetrators as preachers and now as illegal investigators!

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By M M Zuhair

Parliament was told recently that the US Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and the Australian Federal Police were working with the Sri Lankan Criminal Investigations Department (CID) in the investigations into the April 2019 Easter Sunday attacks.

Sri Lankan lawyers – deemed officers of Court – do not have access to police investigations, except when police file reports of investigations in Courts. The presence, participation or involvement of foreign police personnel in local investigations are illegal, because under our law, the responsibility and accountability for all local investigations are vested in the OIC of the police station or unit, though there are exceptions not relevant to this discussion.

Investigations by foreign personnel who are not accountable and not subject to the jurisdiction of Sri Lankan Courts will taint the credibility of the CID investigations and affect the due process of rendering justice.

The draft Counter Terrorism Act, which was to replace the controversial Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act of 1979, ran into strong opposition, because inter alia the draft had a vague provision legalising foreign involvement and interventions in local criminal investigations. That provision in the draft law is obviously obnoxious. Foreign interests invariably conflict with local interests. These interests certainly do not coincide due to geo-political factors.

Foreign participation in Sri Lankan criminal investigations is entirely different to obtaining INTERPOL assistance to track suspects or receiving foreign intelligence, which are subject to local evaluations, credibly assessments and cross investigations. Evidentiary value in Courts of Law of such tainted investigations will adversely affect the credibility of the prosecution version. It will certainly be exploited by the defence.

The Island

of 7th June 2021 editorially referred to some of these countries and the damning role of some of these ‘Perpetrators as preachers’ of human rights violations. Now, the police from one of those prolific perpetrator countries are here as investigators, in a mission violative of Chapter XI of the Code of Criminal Procedure Act! ‘Perpetrators as preachers’ are here, now as illegal investigators!

We have heard claims that Sri Lanka is the only country in the world to defeat terrorism. Substantially true! It does not mean, however, that powerful countries do not know how to end wars on terror! It is in their national interest, as producers of arms and ammunition to continue the wars for as long as possible. Vietnam (18 years) and Afghanistan (20 years) are typical examples of the rich enriching themselves while the poor were blood wrenched and pauperised, the rich not forgetting thereafter to donate a little blood and their lending agencies not hesitating to help with loans, of course under wide publicity so that the atrocities are soon forgotten by the oppressed. The point is that the true interests of arms producing countries are diametrically opposed to those of developing nations, struggling to stand on their own feet.

The Americans and Australians may have been asked to manage and direct the CID because the Sri Lankans have no credible answers to the question of who happens to be the ‘maha mola karuwa’ of the Easter Sunday attacks! We really do not know.

The FBI may not investigate the globally publicised assertion of respected Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith in his speech on 21st July 2019 on the somber occasion of the re-consecration of the Katuwapitiya St Sebastian Church that, “Easter Sunday mayhem was an international conspiracy and not merely the work of Islamic extremists”. The Archbishop also referred to a report that ISIS leader AL Baghdadi was in a military camp run by the “most powerful nation in the world” and that “We are worried that ISIS leaders are being used by this powerful nation to fulfill their vested interests”. What these ‘vested interests’ are, soon we will know. The FBI will not have any doubts at whom the finger is pointed at but will never find the Easter attacks’ maha mola karuwas in the US or its virtual 51st State, Israel!

Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) leader Rauf Hakeem told Parliament the other day that the Israeli connection needs to be probed. Michael Bar-Zohar who had served in the Mossad, spent nine years besides Israel’s founder David Ben-Gurion and fought in four Israeli-Arab wars, in his book, ‘Mossad: the greatest missions of the Israeli Secret Service’ co-authored with Nissim Mishal, (21st Jaico Impression 2019), leaves no room for readers not to believe that there is any major strategic security event occurring anywhere in the world without Mossad’s involvement!

Australia, the Indo-Pacific Quad partner of the United States on the other hand, may find it uncomfortable to investigate possible radicalisation of suicide bomber Zahran Hashim from the New Zealand Christchurch mass shooting on 15th March 2019, a month and days before 21/4, killing 52 Muslims at Friday prayers in two mosques. It is well known that the Christchurch perpetrator happened to be a 28-year-old Australian! This mass shooting was debated in Sri Lanka’s Parliament as one of the immediate causes that may have advanced and triggered the Easter Sunday attacks.

It is also very unlikely that the FBI will evaluate the report of Sri Lanka’s Parliamentary Select Committee or the more recent report of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry on the Easter Sunday attacks both of which referred to the emergence of majoritarian extremism (both reports had chapters unacceptably titled ‘Buddhist extremism’) as also having “provided a fertile ground for people like Zahran to prosper”, PCOI report page 362. It will, however, be worthwhile to look at the Norwegian role, following the defeat of the LTTE in May 2009, in brainwashing selected groups of majoritarian innocent persons against the Muslims, the only Tamil speaking minority whom the LTTE perceived as obstructionists to Tamil Eelam.

Investigators may also look at the follow-up actions taken on the advance warnings given to the authorities by the Muslim community as early as, late 2014 of the radical inclinations of Zahran Hashim, long before the alleged RAW reports of 4th April 2019 and thereafter. Muslims also complained to the then IGP and also the then Attorney-General through the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) to take action on matters that were contributing to the perceived radicalisation.

One of those who complained to the then IGP is well known Muslim civil activist Azath Sally, who is under arrest and completing three months detention on 16th June 2021, under the controversial Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act of 1979, though it is equally well known that he had nothing to do with the Easter Sunday attacks or damaging the Mawanella Buddha statues!

There are other aspects to the US FBI and its Quad partner, Australia, illegally investigating crimes in Sri Lanka. One is the United Nations -Human Rights Council (UN HRC) resolution of March 2021, which has authorised the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (UN HCHR) to set up special mechanism to monitor not only the alleged war crimes during the last phase of the separatist war but also about ongoing violations of human rights, including the forced cremations.

Dr Tush Wickramanayake, a National Health Service medical practitioner in the UK and daughter of Ratnasiri Wickramanayake, former Prime Minister of Sri Lanka who was also one time elected President (1955) of the ‘Ceylon Students’ Association of UK’ in an interview with the Daily Mirror, 9th June 2021 has said:

“The monumental mistake was appointing a geologist to the COVID Task Force who promulgated mythological facts about the virus entering underground water system. This was utilised as a tool to encourage ethic conflict by disallowing burials in Sri Lanka contrary to WHO guidance. In fact, all 12 Fundamental Rights petitions against forced cremations were disallowed on the basis of the fabricated evidence of the Geologist …. Such heart-breaking human rights violations resulted in UNHRC resolution taking a firm stance on Sri Lanka”. The burial issue remains to be fully resolved. The dismissal of the cremations petitions may also come under UN HCHR’s focus.

The other is Resolution 413 of 18th May 2021 pending in the US House of Representatives commented upon in many articles published in The Island . The proposed resolution asks the United States to explore “investigations and prosecutions pursuant to the recommendations of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights” and urges the US to work with the UN General Assembly, the UN Security Council and the UN HRC to establish international mechanism for accountability for grave crimes committed during the war in Sri Lanka.

It looks as if Sri Lanka had already facilitated the setting up of an FBI base here to handle the coming issues of the UN HCHR even before Resolution 413 was adopted by the US House of Representatives! Probably, the CIA with a history of toppling foreign governments not in line with the US, may also path-find its way with great ease, if they are not here already.

The processes set against Sri Lanka in the UN HRC originally by the US and now by the UK are serious enough for any responsible government to understand. Lord Michael Naseby in his speech in the British House of Lords as recently as 19th May 2021, refuted allegations of genocide and figures of 40,000 deaths in Sri Lanka but put the maximum deaths at between 6,000 and 7,000. More importantly he also said, “If the UK chooses to dictate, then let me be clear: there is a clear risk to our Indo-Pacific strategy on Sri Lanka.”

The Indo-Pacific strategy as I see it, is the four US and Quad countries backed by the UK and NATO countries, preparing South Asia as the battleground for the next chapter in the unceasing wars already strategised by Western arms industries. The strategic conflicts unfortunately may commence soon enough, likely within the next few years and possibly last for the next three to four decades to ensure their factories unceasingly produce arms that kill.

They need only a pretext and they are creating it! Past pretexts include communism, Islam and now China! Let us not forget that not a decade had passed during the last 500 years without the Western countries fighting wars originally amongst themselves and now with others in the third world, one country or a few at a time. We cannot afford to ignore that the agendas of arms producing countries are clearly and eternally opposed to countries like ours yearning for peace. The composition of the foreign investigators and their extra-territorial operations need to be watched.



Features

Issues in ‘terror’ refusing to go away

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It’s the biggest single loss of life from terrorism in Moscow since Chechen separatists took hostages in 2002 at the Nord-Ost theatre, where at least 170 people, including the dozens of attackers, died during a botched rescue mission.

The hearts of sensitive people the world over are bound to be with the Russian people in this their hour of profound grief. Those 140 or more men, women and children who were brutally killed, besides others who were seriously wounded, at a concert hall in a Moscow suburb recently by rampaging gunmen, were part of the peace-loving ‘silent majority’ of Russia. Their agony is bound to make all righteous hearts bleed for them in empathy.

The mindless act of terror will stand condemned by all right-thinking people and it would be correct for civilian publics and governments the world over to increasingly and unanimously decry the maniacal burst of brute force and stand in solidarity with the Russian people.

This is a time of formidable challenge for the Putin regime. The domestic and international issues growing out of the tragedy are numerous and wide-ranging and the impartial analyst would be right in taking up the position that ‘course correction’ by the regime is needed in a number of areas. To begin with, the question needs to be asked whether President Putin did right by stating unreservedly that ‘radical Islamists’ were behind the attack.

It could very well have been that the attackers were driven by some sort of fanatical religious zeal but considering the harm it could do to the religious susceptibilities of peace-loving followers of Islam, the term ‘Islamists’ could best have been avoided by the Russian President. Former US President Donald Trump resorted to phrases, such as, ‘Islamist terrorists’ quite often and the practice, as could be seen, did not do the world any good.

The likes of the Russian President ought to know by now that indiscreet and controversial labelling of people has the effect of alienating them and eventually radicalizing them against governments and polities.

However, what the world needs now is reconciliation and bridge-building among communities. Putin’s words could result in Muslims further distancing themselves from the wider Russian public. The consequences of such distancing could be distressing for the Russian people.

Such labelling could also have grave implications on the foreign policy front for the Putin regime. If the ISIS was indeed the mastermind behind the concert hall carnage, Putin’s pronouncement could only further antagonize ISIS and other such outfits that have been waging wars of attrition against the Russian state in the Middle Eastern theatre in particular.

If some intelligence agencies are apprehensive about more terror attacks inside Russia they could very well be correct because the Putin regime, even at this juncture, is not perceiving the advisability of following a reconciliatory course in its foreign relations. The Putin regime is obliged to halt in its tracks and take cognizance of the possible fallout on the Russian people of its policy indiscretions.

Interestingly, intelligence failures are currently occurring in what seem to be the most security conscious states of the world. There was the case of Israel in October last year and now Russia. If the Russian state thinks that rule in perpetuity by President Putin could bring it enduring stability, the recent bloodbath has proved it wrong.

Apparently, national security could not be the sole key to good governance. While national security is indispensable for effective governance, good governance is also a coming together of a number of major elements, such as, redistributive justice and cordial coexistence among communities and religions. A policy of attaching priority to national security could enable repressive governments to remain in power for some time but it would not help the people concerned much.

On the question of intelligence failures, the Putin administration seems to have attached too great an importance to ‘national pride’ and not taken into consideration intelligence information coming from the US. Going by current reports, the Russian security establishment had been warned of an impending ISIS terror attack by its counterparts in the US but had failed to act on the warning. If this is true, the security of the Russian people has not weighed heavily with the Putin regime. Well-wishers of the Russian people are likely regret such neglect on the part of the regime.

Given the complexities of the issue of ‘terror’, there is unlikely to be an international consensus on its definition and on ways of resolving it any time soon but states could cooperate for the time being on managing the conundrum effectively. Accordingly, Russia could cooperate on this basis with the US and vice versa, for example. Information-sharing should not be fought shy of, besides other ways of cooperation.

Right now, the world has no choice but to collaborate on managing ‘terror’ until long term solutions are found to it. What needs to weigh on governments’ minds is the fact that ordinary publics pay a prohibitive price for their blunders in handling ‘terror’.

This is a crucial point that the political and security establishments in small Sri Lanka as well need to keep in mind, particularly in relation to the Easter Sunday bombings. In the latter case, governmental blundering and negligence of duty at the highest levels of the state brought catastrophic consequences for the people. To make matters worse, the wrong-doers in this crisis are yet to be brought to justice.

With the allegation that Ukraine had collaborated with the perpetrators of the concert hall carnage, President Putin seems to be in an attempt to deflect accountability for the blood-letting from his regime to an external quarter. This allegation, though, remains to be proved. Moreover, the fact remains that a massive intelligence failure on the part of the security agencies of the state brought about the devastation.

These attempts to point to an external source for the current tribulations of the government should also be seen as part of the Putin regime’s strategy to remain powerful at home. The strategy has been tried out time and again by repressive governments that are apprehensive about their power ebbing away from them in the wake of internal crises. The ploy enables political strongmen to resoundingly rally the people behind them, while giving the impression that they are remaining strong and in total control of the state.

If civilized norms are to be given a chance to prosper in international relations, democratic development needs to be prioritized by governments and the world community under the leadership of the UN. ‘Terror’ has its roots in mainly socio- economic deprivations and the world has no choice but to strive towards ending them.

Repressive rule, however, is no guarantor of social and economic equity and it is only democratic dispensations that aim at socio-economic equity or democratic development that could bring about this state of affairs to at least a degree.

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Kate, the brave!

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Kate and William

By Dr Upul Wijayawardhana

BBC viewers were in for a great surprise when the main news bulletin at 6 pm on Friday 22nd went straight to a video of Kate, Princess of Wales, without the customary mention of news headlines. Dressed in a long-sleeved white top with narrow black bands across and light blue jeans, seated on a bench in the +-Windsor Castle with spring blooms in the background, what she told whilst nervously moving her fingers and faltering voice at times, shocked the nation. Many an eye would have been wet by the time she finished her two-minute statement wherein she explained that following the planned surgery she had in mid-January, a cancer had been detected unexpectedly and she is in the early stages of having preventive chemotherapy. She added:

“This of course came as a huge shock, and William and I have been doing everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family. As you can imagine, this has taken time. It has taken me time to recover from major surgery in order to start my treatment. But, most importantly, it has taken us time to explain everything to George, Charlotte and Louis in a way that is appropriate for them, and to reassure them that I am going to be ok. As I have said to them; I am well and getting stronger every day by focusing on the things that will help me heal; in my mind, body and spirits.”

It would have taken enormous courage to declare to the whole world that she is being treated for cancer at the age of 42 but it would have been even more difficult for Kate to explain to their three young children aged 10, 8 and 5 years that she is afflicted by a disease that usually affects much older people. The public announcement coincided with the start of the Easter break in schools, which may have been done purposely to protect the three young royals. There was a tremendous outpouring of public sympathy not only because of her predicament but also for the graceful manner in which she delivered her message. Many thoughts that her staff may have written the message but it transpired later that she had written the message herself and the recording had been done in one-go by BBC studios.

She won the hearts of many families affected with cancer as she ended her message with the following: “At this time, I am also thinking of all those whose lives have been affected by cancer. For everyone facing this disease, in whatever form, please do not lose faith or hope. You are not alone. “

At the time of a great personal tragedy, thinking of others similarly affected showed the great humane qualities of the Princess and it becomes even more significant considering the horrible period she went through.

On 17 January, it was announced that the Princess of Wales had undergone planned abdominal surgery for an undisclosed medical condition that was not cancer, at The London Clinic and that she had postponed all of her public engagements and duties until after Easter. Around the same time, King Charles was admitted to the same hospital for planned prostatic surgery and it was later announced that an unrelated cancer had been detected during the procedure. As the King was to have a course of treatment for this, he too was forced to withdraw from public duties but he continued to conduct the affairs of state including the weekly meetings with the prime minister. The absence of two of the most senior royals from public duties piled the pressures on Queen Camilla and Prince William.

On 27 February, a thanksgiving memorial service was held for King Constantine II of Greece, the last monarch of the country and godfather to Prince William, at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle where Prince William was due to give a reading but he withdrew at the last moment citing ‘an urgent family matter’. Rumour mills went to overdrive to explain all these and conspiracy theories abounded. In addition to extensive media attention, social media were full of inuendoes.

To calm the waters, a photograph taken by Prince William showing Princess of Wales embraced by her three children was released on Mother’s Day, 10 March, but it was a disaster, mostly due to an overreaction on the part of news agencies. As the photograph seem to have been edited, they issued a ‘kill’ notice in spite of many commentators pointing out that almost all royal photographs released since the time of Queen Victoria have been edited! Wonder whether there was a secret hand behind this action!

To her credit, Princess of Wales, who is a keen photographer issued an immediate apology admitting that she, like many amateur photographers, “occasionally experiments with editing”. But it was not enough to stem the tide in the sewer of social media and Kate had no choice but to come out with the statement which, hopefully, would make conspiracy theorists leave her in peace for recovery from a major unexpected illness.

Associate editor Camilla Tominey’s comment in the front page of The Daily Telegraph of 23 March on this is hard to better:

“We already knew that social media was a sewer, occupied by faceless rats intent on infecting others with their disease of hatred. But their cruel treatment of Kate since it was announced she was undergoing abdominal surgery in January has been sickening beyond belief. From the peddling of hurtful conspiracy theories to the propagation of unsubstantiated lies, the keyboard warriors have inflicted an unnecessary amount of suffering on a woman now undergoing chemotherapy after a major operation. Shame on them.”

Whilst Kate received numerous messages of support from ordinary folk as well as world leaders, perhaps the best being from President Macron, the message from her estranged brother-in-law and his American wife is most intriguing: “We wish health and healing for Kate and family, and hope they are able to do so privately and in peace.”

In addition to increased awareness of prostatic problems and cancer due to King Charle’s illness, Kate’s diagnosis has raised the issue of cancer in the young. Many experts are expressing the opinion that cancers in the young are on the rise and this may be due to environmental factors. I am sure, when she returns to active duties, Kate would actively support further research in to this issue, in addition to continuing her many charities.

Our hearts go out to you Kate and we wish you a rapid and complete recovery!

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Mother…her pillar of strength

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Chit-Chat

Minanga Abeyesundere

Over the past few weeks, I’ve had readers inquiring whether it’s possible for me to do a little Chit-Chat scene with the spotlight on some of our models as that would also make interesting reading, they say.

Well, why not…and this week I’m doing just that, with more to follow.

01. Tell me something about yourself:

My name is Minanga. I’m 20 years old. My close friends and family call me Mini. I have completed my degree in Visual communication and currently focusing on my modelling career. I’m the youngest in my family. I am a person who sets certain goals for myself and will definitely try my very best to achieve them the right way. I generally don’t give any thought to people’s negative words and opinions. I love to travel with my family and cherish my time spent with them.

02. What made you decide to be a model?

I have always liked to do modelling for as long as I can remember. Then, as I grew older and taller, than most people my age, my friends and relatives kept telling me to go into modelling. This made my desire stronger to pursue this field. I decided to first start my studies and then, subsequently, start my modelling career. I must state that it was Brian Kerkoven who saw my potential and gave me a chance to show my talents and capabilities. My first runway show was modelling one of Brian’s designs. I will always be thankful to my mentor and agent, who has taught me everything I know about this field. He is always willing to give his feedback whenever I ask him.

03. What do you think sets you apart from other models?

I would say I give my 100% to every show and photo shoot and am always willing to learn from my senior models. I can adapt to different styles and looks, whether it’s high fashion, casual, or even themed shoots.

04. What clothing do you prefer to model?

As a model, one cannot really have a preference, but I prefer not to model very revealing clothing. That is my personal preference.

05. What do you think is the most important aspect of modelling?

I believe that as a model, you must always remember to model every outfit to do full justice to the hard work that has gone into making it by the designer and their team.

06. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

Minanga: Currently focusing on her
modelling career

I don’t really want to change anything about myself. I am very happy with myself. My flaws, despite their imperfections, are what make me who I am.

07. School?

Holy Family Convent, Bambalapitiya. I was in the basketball ball team for a short period.

08. Happiest moment?

There have been so many wonderful moments in my life that it’s hard to choose just one! But if I had to pick, I would say one of my happiest moments was when I achieved a personal goal that I had been working towards for a long time. It was such a fulfilling feeling to see all my hard work pay off, and to know that I had accomplished something meaningful to me.

09.What is your idea of perfect happiness?

My idea of perfect happiness is doing what I’m passionate about and living in the present moment because, if you really think about it, that’s all we have. It’s always only that present moment. It’s all about being happy in that moment and making the best of it.

10. Your ideal guy?

A person who is confident enough in himself to give me the freedom to follow my dreams and goals.

11. Which living person do you most admire?

The person I admire the most is none other than my mother. She has always been my biggest motivator, supporter, and pillar of strength. She has always supported me in following my dreams and never discouraged me from pursuing my interests, providing me with invaluable advice whenever needed. My mother has such a significant influence on every aspect of my life. She has been there for me through thick and thin, guiding me and teaching me valuable life lessons. I will always be grateful for her presence.

12. Which is your most treasured possession?

My most treasured possession, up until now, is an emerald ring I got from my mum, which she had from her childhood. As we are both May born, we share the same birthstone.

13. If you were marooned on a desert island, who would you like as your companion?

I would love to have my brother and sister as my companions. They’re always there for me, and we have so much fun together. We could keep each other company, come up with creative ways to survive, and keep each other’s spirits up.

14. Your most embarrassing moment?

It’s a secret for me to know and you to find out.

15. Done anything daring?

Not anything as of now but there are some on my list, like sky diving, travelling overseas alone which I would love to do.

16. Your ideal vacation?

Spending a weekend at Kandalama Hotel. I love the vibe there. I also love the architecture of the hotel and how it blends into the jungle around it. It’s so calming and peaceful.

17. What kind of music are you into?

I like pop music and even music from the ’80s.

18. Favourite radio station:

I don’t really listen to the radio. If I do, it’s in the car with my family, and we listen to Gold FM. I would say I am an old soul when it comes to music.

19. Favourite TV station:

I’m also not a person who watches TV. I watch Netflix movies, and movies at the cinema. I love watching movies with my mum. She is my movie buddy.

20. Any major plans for the future?

Yes, first, I want to be a supermodel, here in Sri Lanka, then model internationally and bring pride to my country. I also want to start up my own business in Merchandising.

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