Army tells Channel 4, NGOs and Tamil Diaspora :
‘Present allegations to LLRC with evidence’
Chamikara WEERASINGHE
‘Channel Four should present the allegations they make against Sri
Lanka Army with evidence to the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation
Commission (LLRC) instead of dramatizing their old video clips taken
from open sources of pro-LTTE websites’, the Sri Lanka Army yesterday
said. “NGO activists,such as, Pakiasothy Sarawanamuttu, Sunila
Abeysekara, Nimalka Fernando and Sunanda Deshapriya from Sri Lanka,
could have done the same, if they had any true interest in Sri Lanka’s
human rights situation”, states the Army.
Sri Lanka Army Spokesman Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasekera said, Channel 4
as a rule telecast anti - Sri Lankan material under the influence of the
pro - LTTE diaspora. Their new video footage, which is supposed to be a
follow up of their first one, is full of “shocking comments”
synchronized on their old collection of material from open sources.
Asked why Channel 4 would do that against Sri Lanka, the Brigadier
said, “ I do not want to speculate why they do this, but this is their
second attempt to paint a horrible picture against an Army that has
removed one of the ruthless and internationally banned terrorist group.”
“Yet, they may present their allegations to the LLRC with evidence
for rightful action,.”he said. Asked if the Sri Lanka Army would take
action upon such evidence provided by Channel 4, Brig. Wanigasekera
said, “the Army had appointed a Board to act upon the LLRC, to
investigate and punish any perpetrator in accordance with military law.
“Who is leveling charges against whom” does not matter as long as
there is credible evidence against the perpetrators,” he said.
“The surfacing of the renewed version of Channel 4 video has a close
bearing with members of the Tamil diaspora living in European countries
who are now being asked to return to Sri Lanka,” he pointed out.
“These people have not undergone any hardships during the war. Most
of them had sought asylum in European countries by virtue of the war.
“Raising funds under the banner of helping the Tamil public and the
LTTE has been a lucrative trade for them until Sri Lankan Security
Forces eradicated the LTTE,” he explained.
“They are unable to generate funds from foreign agencies as they used
to, or continue to live comfortable lives in Europe without showing
valid cause to do so in these countries. Hence, they have resorted to
this option of “Sri Lanka’s accountability on war crimes’’ to create an
“euphoria” which will prolong their comfortable living standards in the
West”, he said.
On being asked to comment on the situation of NGOs that have
criticized Sri Lanka at the United Nations Human Rights Council, Brig.
Wanigasekera said, these NGO activists have been enjoying the democratic
rights of Sri Lanka whole inflicting damage on the country’s peace.
“They are exercising their freedom of speech and right to expression
at the UNHRC as they have been doing so in Sri Lanka”, he added. |