What lies beneath?

"Due to heavy international pressure, Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe announced another appointment of a commission of inquiry by President Mahinda Rajapaksa to investigate the alleged serious violations of human rights in the country since August 1, 2005, and report to the President."
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By Keerthi Ratnayaka

(November 03, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) According to the statement of Sri Lanka Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama now it is evident that the CDS General Sarath Fonseka who is at present in the United States, has received a letter from the US Department of Homeland Security , calling him for an interview at 3.00 p.m. on Wednesday 4 November in Oklahoma City, in the State of Oklahoma. Moreover, he has also received a telephone call on 28 October during which a DHS Attorney had stated that the objective of the interview is to use him as a source against human rights violations done by Secretary of Defence Gotabaya Rajapaksha.

It is worth to note US statement department is gravely concern the assassination of TNA MP Nadarajah Raviraj and Sunday Leader editor Lasantha Wickramatunga,thus US state department possess with salient evidence on the hands, agenda and bravo of the slaughter. Further as soon as taken place this bloods, US categorically condemned it by a statement from the US embassy in Colombo, and urged from SL Government to initiate impartial inquiry. Exact quote of same,

“The United States deplores the assassination of Mr Nadarajah Raviraj, who have been unjustly robbed of his energy and talent. It is critical that crimes such as the murder of Nadarajah Raviraj not go unpunished. We urge the government to begin an immediate investigation into the circumstances of his killing and to find, arrest and prosecute those responsible on the most urgent basis” "The United States strongly condemns the murder of the Sunday Leader Editor Lasantha Wickrematunge, deplorable acts . The murder of Lasantha Wickrematunge is a shocking blow to independent media in Sri Lanka. The United States is deeply concerned that such attacks undermine efforts to build a united and democratic Sri Lanka where the rights of all people are protected. We call on the Government of Sri Lanka to investigate these attacks expeditiously, bring the perpetrators to justice, and take all possible measures to protect freedom of expression for members of the press".Further addressing some Media reps,former ambassador Robet Blake mentioned his observations, "Both were assassinated in broad daylight on a busy road. the manner of the assassination of Mr. Wickrematunga bears a carbon copy of the manner of the assassination of the TNA parliamentarian N. Raviraj.Further said, both are political assassins which caused by same agenda".

Replying, President Mahinda Rajapakse was instructed Inspector - General of Police Victor Perera to conduct a speedy probe into the killing. Rajapakse has also initiated steps to bring in Scotland Yard detectives from Britain to assist in the investigation.Thus Where he ordered immediate posting to DIG Pujith Jayasundara who exactly identified the killer of Raviraj . In fact there are no ‘unknown gunmen’ as such.subsequently It appeared that Scotlandyard also did its bit in assisting the local authorities. Alas, no one has a clue about what happened to its findings.

Due to heavy international pressure, Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe announced another appointment of a commission of inquiry by President Mahinda Rajapaksa to investigate the alleged serious violations of human rights in the country since August 1, 2005, and report to the President. He labeled it as `hybrid commission' - headed by a Supreme Court Judge and its work will be overseen by an International Independent Group of Eminent Persons (IIGEP) headed by former Chief Justice of India P.N. Bhagwati - he said ,is the best mechanism put in place anywhere in the world. Samarasinghe argued that besides the 15 specific instances of human rights violations listed including Raviraj assassination, the commission was free to investigate any other issue it deemed fit. Later International independent group headed by former chief justice P.N.Bhagwati left the island with great disappointment and expressing their dismay towards the Government ploy, which played covering "Hybrid commission".

Very recently Former High Court Judge Mahanama Thilakaratne, president of the presidential commission of inquiry (CoI) by submitting his COI proceedings told to media , that police have filed charges against two soldiers on killing Joseph Pararajasingham, MP, without finding any evidence.Mr. Pararajasingham was shot dead by unidentified gunmen as he was attending a Christmas mass in Batticaloa in 2006."Police even did not know whether a T56 rifle or a pistol was used for the killing," he said.He expressed disappointment over the conduct of police in a serious investigation.Further he said he will keen to advise the president to hand over the probe to another body.

Again, Last month Mahinda Rajapaksha announced another independent committee to comprehensively examine and provide recommendations with regard to the report by the US Department of State to the Congress on "Incidents During the Recent Conflict in Sri Lanka".Now Gen.Fonseka also subject to answer this issue, Later Gotabaya Rajapaksha.It a matter of time.Hence Mahinda Rajapaksha is ought to wait his turn.

(The writer, editor of the Rawaya.net)

-Sri Lanka Guardian