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Source: TCHR - December 28, 2005
TAMIL CENTRE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS - TCHR/CTDH
CENTRE TAMOUL POUR LES DROITS DE L'HOMME
(Established in 1990)
(UN accredited NGO to the World Summit on Information Society – Tunisia, 2005)
www.tchr.net
Mahinda Rajapaksa's military agenda commenced
"Mahinda beating war drums" – these were the very words said by slain Joseph Pararasingham, to the Colombo English newspaper, "Daily Mirror" published on 06 September 2005.
When then Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa was chosen as the SLFP
presidential candidate last September and Rajapaksa was signing
anti-Tamil election campaign agreements with openly racist Singhala
political parties, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and Jathika Hela
Urumaya (JHU) in the South, the Daily Mirror in Colombo contacted Mr.
Joseph Pararajasingham for his comments on Rajapaksa's move against the
Tamils in the island. Being the leader of the parliamentary group of
the Tamil National Alliance – TNA, Pararajasingham said, ‘’……We can say
the Prime Minister is beating war drums by agreeing with the JVP……’’ .
As soon as this was published, then Prime Minister Rajapaksa telephoned
Pararajasingham’s home in Colombo and argued with Pararajasingham
demanding him to withdraw the statement made to the Daily Mirror! As a
man of principle, Pararajasingham refused Rajapaksa's demand and
disappointed Rajapaksa concluded his phone call saying that, ‘’……once
the presidential election is over, you will see my true colours’’. This
was considered by Pararajasingham as a statement having double meaning
and as a threat. This telephone conversation was witnessed by
Pararajasingham’s wife Mrs. Sugunam Pararajasingham. Mr.
Pararajasingham recorded Rajapaksa’s telephone conversation with the
Executives of TCHR as this was considered a serious threat.
On 24 December 2005, Mr & Mrs Pararajasingham participated in the
midnight Christmas Eve mass in their home town Batticaloa. When they
were ready to receive Holy Communion from the Bishop of Batticaloa -
Mr. Joseph Pararajasingham was shot dead by unidentified gunmen, within
the Cathedral. His wife Mrs. Sugunam Pararajasingham was taken to the
Batticaloa hospital in a critical condition. Until today no one has
been arrested nor has a proper inquiry been held on this cold-blooded
murder of Pararajasingham and attempted murder of Mrs. Pararajasingham.
TCHR is appalled and dismayed by the heinous assassination of veteran
and courageous human rights defender Mr Joseph Pararajasingham, inside
the cathedral during the Christmas Eve midnight mass.
This is the type of democracy people in the NorthEast have been
experiencing for a very long time. In recent days Jaffna
Parliamentarian Mr. S. Gajendran was assaulted by Sri Lankan soldiers.
The unwillingness of the Sri Lankan President to accommodate the
aspirations of the Tamil people and to solve the country’s bloody
national question in a peaceful negotiated settlement, is crystal clear.
Many unanswered questions surround the assassination of Mr.
Pararajasingham and the attempted murder of Mrs. Pararasingham. As a
security precaution Mr & Mrs Pararajasingham were living in
Colombo, not visiting their home town in the recent past. So who
encouraged them to visit their home town Batticaloa? The
Parliamentarians of Tamil National Alliance – TNA had a meeting with
President Mahinda Rajapaksa and all top Military brass on 21st December
2005. Mr. Pararajasingham was encouraged to visit Batticaloa in this
meeting.
Who encouraged them to go to the Cathedral? The answers point to the
government of Sri Lanka which has efficiently carried out many other
similar killings in the past.
Mr Pararajasingham, aged 71, was Member of Parliament for Batticaloa
District. He was also Executive Member of the Commonwealth
Parliamentary Association, the SAARC Parliamentary Association and the
founder member of NESOHR in Killinochchi. For years, as senior
parliamentarian, he brought the human rights violations of the Sri
Lanka government armed forces to the attention of Parliament.
The East, including Batticaloa, is an area where Sinhala Colonisation
has extensively been carried out since Independence. Many massacres of
Tamil civilians have continued to take place there. The details of
these have been well documented and have been brought to the
International Community by Mr Pararajasingham.
Human Rights Defenders who attend international forums to explain the
human rights situation in Sri Lanka are not spared by the government of
Sri Lanka. Prominent Lawyer Mr. Kumar Ponnambalam, veteran journalists
Mylvaganam Nirmalarajan, Aiyathurai Nadesan, Dharmaretnam Sivaram
"Taraki" and many others have been killed in the same style. Until
today none of these killings have been properly investigated nor have
the culprits been brought to justice. The killing of Human rights
defenders continues with impunity in Sri Lanka.
Mr. Kumar Ponnambalam participated in the UN Commission on Human Rights
in Geneva and other EU forums in Brussels and Strasbourg. Mr.
Dharmaretnam Sivaram "Taraki" was briefing the US state department and
many other international forums. Mr. Joseph Pararajasingham who had
been to Australia, New Zealand, US, Canada, Switzerland, Britain,
France and many other countries and met with several dignitaries is the
latest victim.
Since 19/11/2005 when Mahinda Rajapaksa became President of Sri Lanka –
29 civilians have been killed, more than 45 injured, there have been 7
incidents of serious violence against women including one gang-rape and
murder, 15 villages in NorthEast were subjected to cordon and search
operations in which several youths were arrested, detained and
disappeared and 7 Journalists were attacked by the security forces.
These are major cease-fire violations. Many other violent incidents
were reported in various parts of Sri Lanka.
On 19 December 05, the Vice Chancellor of Jaffna University Prof. C.
Mohanadas and many other Professors and senior lecturers were severely
beaten and assaulted by the Sri Lankan military in Jaffna.
A young woman, Ilayathamby Tharshini, aged 20, was brutally raped and
strangled to death by the Sri Lankan Navy in Punguduthivu in Jaffna on
16 December 05.
We, TCHR, along with many other members of Civil Society from various
countries strongly condemn the brutal killing of Mr. Joseph
Pararajasingham and the government of Sri Lanka and especially
President Mahinda Rajapaksa who should take the responsibility for this
cold-blooded killing which was carried out in a religious place of
worship during a special religious service.
TCHR with many other solidarity organisations express our deepest
sympathy and condolences to Mrs. Sugunam Pararajasingham, children,
family and friends.
We observe that President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s military solution to the
island's long-standing bloody conflict has commenced, as he had
promised in an agreement to the Singhala racists political parties JVP
and JHU in the South.
We kindly request the international community and members of civil
society around the world to condemn the brutal killing of Mr. Joseph
Pararajasingham and to pressurise the Sri Lankan government to uphold
and fully implement the Ceasefire Agreement in order to build a
conducive environment in which peace talks for a durable and negotiated
political solution to the island's conflict can start.
HEAD OFFICE:
Tamil Centre for Human Rights - TCHR/CTDH
9, rue des Peupliers - 95140 Garge les Gonesse - FRANCE
Contact person : S. V. Kirubaharan – General Secretary
Tel/Fax: + 33 1 42 67 54 36
Email:
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TCHR-UK:
Tamil Centre for Human Rights - TCHR/CTDH
PO Box 182, Manchester M16 8ED,
UNITED KINGDOM
Contact person : Deirdre McConnell – Director International Programme
Fax: + 44 161 860 4609
Email:
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TCHR-NETHERLANDS:
Tamil Centrum voor Mensenrechten- TCHR
Steelingmolen 43
1703 TE Heerhugowaard, THE NETHERLANDS
Contact person : Sinniah Indiran
Fax : + 31 - 72 - 57 15 801
Email :
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TCHR-SWITZERLAND:
Tamilen Zentrum fur Mensenrechten - TCHR
P. o. Box : 319
8172 – Niederglatt, SWITZERLAND
Contact person : Thabirajah Genegatharan
Email :
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Ref :AZ057/PR/2005
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