A coalition of human rights groups have condemned the appointment of Sri Lanka's former military general, Shavendra Silva, to the Special Advisory Group on Peacekeeping Operations, as "outrageous on many levels".

In a joint statement from Washington, released just before the appointment was announced, SPEAK Human Rights and Environmental Initiative, the UNROW Human Rights Impact Litigation Clinic at American University Washington College of Law, the Center for Justice and Accountability and the Center for Constitutional Rights, said that such an appointment "would send an appalling message to the world: accused war criminals are legitimate authorities on peace."

Highlighting the Sri Lankan military's shocking record of abuses and sexual violence whilst being UN peace-keeping forces in Haiti, the rights groups called on the UN secretary general, Ban Ki Moon, "to reject or rescind" any such proposal "in the interest of human rights, justice and accountability".

The appointment was made despite overwhelming calls for an independent investigation into Silva's role in the conflict.

In November of last year, ten international human rights organisations, including those mentioned above, urged the UN to suspend the diplomatic credentials of Silva as Sri Lanka's Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN.

The groups included: SPEAK Human Rights and Environmental Initiative, UNROW Human Rights Impact Litigation Clinic at American University Washington College of Law, Center for Constitutional Rights, Allard K. Lowenstein International Human Rights Clinic at Yale Law School, Human Rights USA, World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights, TRIAL, Campaign Against Criminalising Communities, Society for Threatened Peoples.

Shavendra Silva is also facing a lawsuit filed against him by the American University College of Law's UNROW Human Rights Impact Litigation Clinic, for allegedly perpetrating and orchestrating war crimes during the final stages for the conflict. 
 
The full text of the statement, dated 27 Jan 2012, is reproduced below:

Sri Lankan and international news outlets have reported that Shavendra Silva—a former military general in the Sri Lankan army who stands accused of war crimes and torture—has been selected for a position in U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s Special Advisory Group on Peacekeeping Operations. 

This appointment is outrageous on many levels, according to a coalition of human rights groups including SPEAK Human Rights and Environmental Initiative, the UNROW Human Rights Impact Litigation Clinic at American University Washington College of Law, the Center for Justice and Accountability and the Center for Constitutional Rights.  Silva played a central role in the Sri Lankan Army’s brutal military campaign against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, which caused up to 40,000 civilian deaths and incalculable suffering, and violated fundamental principles of international humanitarian and human rights law. 

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A delegation from the Omani government has discussed ways to support Sri Lanka in the event of a crisis due to sanctions placed on financial institutions dealing with Iranian crude oil, according to a Sri Lankan official.

"The two ministers discussed in detail how Oman could assist Sri Lanka in the event of a crisis, if Sri Lanka is unable to import crude oil from Iran," a ministry official with knowledge of the talks between Petroleum Minister Susil Premajayantha and Mohammad bin al-Rumhy told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

Omani Oil Minister al-Rumhy is thought to have offered the sale of Omani crude to the Sri Lankans.

Sri Lanka imports nearly all its crude from Iran and it is restricted in where they can import their oil from. Its refineries were built in the 1960’s and can only process Iranian light sweet crude or the similar Arabian Light.

US sanctions will make oil trade with Iran nigh impossible for Sri Lanka and the government is frantically searching for alternatives and reassessing its financial options.

Sri Lanka may be forced to reduce ties with one of its closest political allies due to the restrictions imposed on its fourth-biggest export destination by the US due to concerns over Iran’s nuclear programme.

“This is a very decisive day for us because last night I got a call from the defence secretary. He told me that we only have a small chunk of land left to capture. Do whatever it takes- finish it off the way it has to be done."

Sri Lanka's press freedom is continuing to deteriorate according to the World Press Freedom Index.

The annual report, compiled by Reporters without Borders (RSF), saw Sri Lanka drop to 163rd place out of 178 countries that are ranked, placing it below countries such as Pakistan and Azerbaijan, and just one place above Somalia.

"In Sri Lanka (163rd), the stranglehold of the Rajapakse clan forced the last few opposition journalists to flee the country. Any that stayed behind were regularly subjected to harassment and threats. Attacks were less common but impunity and official censorship of independent news sites put an end to pluralism and contributed more than ever to self-censorship by almost all media outlets," the RSF statement said.

Eritrea and North Korea made up the bottom of the list, but the report highlights Vietnam and China as 'worsening considerably' during the last year.

Finland and Norway topped the list, while Syria, Bahrain and Yemen have received their worst ever ranking.

South Sudan entered the index for the first time at 111th place, while the country it separated from, Sudan was one of the worst countries ranked at 170.

See related articles:

‘Sri Lanka's woeful January way-points’ - CPJ (11 Jan 2012)

Sri Lanka places conditions on unblocked website (16 Dec 2011)

"Sri Lanka Navy expresses deep concerns over the malicious allegations repeatedly accusing the navy of harassing Indian fishermen,"

"As we explore possible solutions, we must ensure that there is no use of force against the fishermen and that they are treated in a humane manner."

R.G Sakthi Saravanan, the head of the oldest consumer cooperative society, the TUCS (Triplicane Urban Coopoerative Society) has instructed the chain of affiliated shops to remove products from Sri Lanka, following increasing pressure from Tamil activists on the ground.

Two activists from the Boycott Sri Lanka Team in Tamil Nadu made their representations to Saravanan after finding Sri Lankan biscuits on sale at TUCS outlets.  In a written complaint to the TUCS, the activists drew attention to the resolution passed by the Tamil Nadu government last year urging economic sanctions against the government.

The written complaint read,

“We were shocked to know that TUCS stores in Chennai are selling products such as biscuits and chocolates that are made in Sri Lanka.

You must be aware that the Tamil Nadu government has already passed a resolution in Tamil Nadu assembly recommending imposition of economic embargo on Sri Lanka because of the genocide committed by Sri Lanka on Tamils."

“Therefore it is duty of Tamils to ensure that we do not buy or sell any Sri Lankan products inside Tamil Nadu. Please stop selling of Sri Lankan products at the earliest from all TUCS stores.”

Daily Mirror 24/01/12

Sri Lankan daily newspaper, the Daily Mirror, illustrates its conclusions of India's external affairs secretary's visit to Sri Lanka.

Related articles:

Satiated by hot air, Krishna leaves (19 Jan 2012)

India hopes (17 Jan 2012)

TNA tells India 'no progress' on talks (16 Jan 2012)

Not content with the military running hotels and conducting whale watching tours, Sri Lanka's Immigration and Emigration Department announced Tuesday that a permanent monitoring unit would be established to keep track of Sri Lanka's tourists.

The decision came after 161 Muslim tourists who had overstayed their visas and engaged in activities "other than tourism", were asked to leave.

The department's head, Chief Chulananda Perara, said,

“They must leave on or before January 31 and we have no intention of extending their visas. We have unconfirmed reports that they have been engaged in various activities other than tourism and some of the allegations had religious connotations,”

“This will not affect genuine tourists. We do not want to spoil their stay here in any way. They will be free to enjoy their stay while in Sri Lanka,”

More than 180 Tamil political prisoners have been moved from Magazine prison in Welikada after clashes between prisoners and guards led to at least 31 people having sustained injuries.

The Tamil prisoners were moved to the main complex of the prison and were reportedly transferred to another jail for their own safety, after riots took over Magazine prison.

Previous prison riots, notably in 2000, 1997 and 1983, have resulted in Tamil political prisoners being murdered by Sinhala mobs.

Several buildings have been set alight by the prisoners as they flung stones at prison guards, who retaliated by opening fire. There were also unconfirmed reports that three prisoners had been killed by the gunfire.

The violence erupted after guards launched a crackdown on drug smuggling inside the prison, with inmates claiming that food brought by relatives to the prison were banned. Prisoners were seen on the roof holding a banner calling for the removal of the prison chief.

“In 2011, accountability remained a dead issue, the media faced increasing censorship, and the long-standing grievances which led to the conflict were not seriously addressed.”

“The abuses by government forces detailed in the UN Panel of Experts report are strangely missing in the LLRC’s findings.”

“Even the LLRC’s useful recommendations seem destined to join those of other Sri Lankan commissions that got filed away and ignored.”

“deeply flawed, does not meet international standards for such commissions, and has failed to systematically inquire into alleged abuses.”

“Security in the region remained poor, with alarming incidents reported of gender-based violence and enforced prostitution.”

“The heavy military presence in the north and east was a continuing source of distrust among the largely Tamil population.”

“The government has barely made an effort to address the grievances of the Tamil population."

"Instead of the government facilitating greater dialogue, Tamil political representatives are subject to threats and harassment.”

“India has not been able to get the 13th Amendment implemented even after 25 years.”

"I think it goes without saying that Article 13 plus (should) be implemented in a very visible manner."

“The President does not need an Indian Minister to express his stance. He can make his stance known.”

“India is trying to exploit Sri Lanka’s vulnerable position.”

"It was a shame to allow a minister of another country to hold a news conference here."

“The sexual abuse of a female Dutch national at a guest house in Matara can be considered a ‘terrible’ incident and the authorities must act upon any incident that concerns the safety of tourists arriving in the country.”

The headteacher of a school in Galle, E.K. Premasiri, was served an interdiction last week by none other than the Ministry of Education, after it emerged students at the school had performed a short school play with a comical portrayal of Sri Lanka's president, Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Premasiri however, has protested his innocence, stating that he was the one who sensing imminent danger to the reputation and character of the president, not only intervened, bring the play to an abrupt end, but also reported the incident to the police.

Premasiri explained,

“Since the teachers were busy correcting term test papers as most schools do, the students are given some extra activities. We had asked the students to enact short dramas or some performance. Small groups teamed up and practiced for about three to four days. There were no scripts as such,”

“On the final day I was invited as the chief guest for the event. One of the items on the programme was a short drama. I saw a student dressed in a national costume with a Satakaya coming up on stage and kissing the floor. He was addressed as ‘Nayakathuma’ (leader),”

“I thought since the teacher had seen a rehearsal there shouldn’t be a problem, but within a few minutes I felt suspicious and feared that the President could be insulted. I immediately called the teacher who was conducting the programme and got the act stopped,”

“They told me during rehearsals the drama was a comedy with the main actor being a director. I was told that the costume and the Satakaya too were additions,”

According to Sri Lanka's Sunday Times newspaper, the headteacher's misfortune is part of a wider smear campaign intigated against him since he refused entry to 11 children sent by a MP from the district.

Premasiri lamented,

"What I want is an impartial inquiry into the incident. It is I who complained to the Provincial Education Director and the Police that the mini play staged with the character of the President was a conspiracy. But instead of carrying out a full investigation I have been interdicted”.

Sadly, when you've upset one of the king's henchmen or been party to such sacrilege against Rajapaksa, no good deed goes unpunished.

“In Sri Lanka, the Buddhist kingdom, with great desire of peace and development the lotus is considered as the flower which symbolises pure, clean and honest.”

A special session was held at the UN on the 27th January, Holocaust Remembrance Day, or International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust.

Speaking at the event, the UN secretary general, Ban Ki Moon said,

"Today, as we remember all those lost during the Holocaust, young and old alike, I call on all nations to protect the most vulnerable – regardless of race, color, gender or religious belief."

"Children are uniquely vulnerable to the worst of humankind. We must assure them the best this world has to offer."

Navi Pillay, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, also urged "learning from the past". In a statement, Pillay said,

"The Holocaust serves as a reminder of the perils of discrimination and intolerance, of just how powerful the incitement to racial hatred can be, and of the importance of intervening early to prevent such a tragedy from occurring again."

"In remembering the Holocaust and condemning the atrocities committed there, we renew every year our condemnation of all manifestations of intolerance, incitement, harassment or violence against individuals and entire communities, wherever they occur."

Guatemala’s former dictator, Efrain Rios Montt, has been charged with genocide and crimes against humanity by Judge Carol Patricia Flores on Thursday.

Rios Montt ruled the country in 1982-83, after a military coup. A 36 -year civil war with leftist guerrillas, which ended in 1996, cost more than 200,000 lives, of which 93% were caused by state and paramilitary forces, according to a UN report.

The former dictator is accused of being involved in the deaths of over 1,700 and the displacement of 29,000 indigenous Guatemalans during his reign.

The forces under his command are accused of wiping out entire Mayan villages through murder, abductions and rape because they were perceived to be supportive of the leftist insurgency.

Human Rights groups welcomed the charges and hailed it as a historic day.

"The justice system is settling debts it had with indigenous people and society for grave human rights violations," said Eduardo de Leon of the Rigoberta Menchú foundation.

However the defence counsel accused the judge of violating due process and passing judgement without hearing testimony on the allegations.

"The judge's duty was to report the resolution. The fact is that she talked for an hour as if the case had already been prosecuted," said Danilo Rodriguez Galvez, the defence lawyer of Rios Montt.

Calls for the secession of South Yemen have resurfaced and are on the increase as Yemen's political unrest continues.

Graffiti calling for secession, such as "Freedom for South. Aden Get Up", is cropping up across the south, along side prominent displays of the old flag of South Yemen.

The Yemeni security forces have attempted to crack down on such calls since the 1990 pact that unified the North and South.

A former general in South Yemen's army and leading members of the current secessionist movement, Nasser Al Tawil, said,

“We are becoming stronger and stronger because of the political situation,”

“Our point of view is becoming stronger and stronger.”

“We will not stop,”

“We are going to escalate our political activism in a greater way. We want our rights."

Southerners allege long-standing marginalisation, with decreased job opportunities, development, land grab, and an unequal distribution of the country's oil revenue.

"I was expecting that the American judiciary would sentence this person to life in prison and that he would appear and confess in front of the whole world that he committed this crime, so that America could show itself as democratic and fair."

"Words cannot express my sorrow for the loss of your loved ones. The truth is, I don't believe anyone in my squad ... behaved in any way that was dishonorable or contrary to the highest ideals that we all live by as Marines."

The former military leader of the Guatemalan army, Efrain Rios Montt, has been summoned to appear before a Guatemalan court on Thursday as the first step towards facing genocide charges for his role during the massacres committed by the army in the Mayan highlands during 1982-1983.

General Rios Montt, now 85 and elected into Congress in 2000, was so far shielded from prosecution. However, that immunity ended earlier this month as his term in office expired.

An UN-backed commission deemed that over 200,000 people were killed or disappeared during the 36-year civil war.

General Rios Montt is the latest in a string of on-going prosecutions of war-time leaders.

See related articles:

Discovery of bodies raise possibility of further war crimes investigations - Guatemala (24 Nov 2011)

Former Guatemalan president wanted for genocide (15 Oct 2011)

Guatemalan war criminal to be extradited to US (05 Sep 2011)

Former Guatemala army chief charged with genocide (15 Jul 2011)

Genocide charges - thirty years on (18 Jun 2011) 

"Turkey is committed to taking all the necessary steps against this unjust disposition which reduces basic human values and public conscience to nothing."

"When I say total rupture I include things like I can leave definitively."

"You can also expect that now diplomatic relations will be at the level of charges d'affaires not ambassadors anymore."

"This day will be written in gold not only in the history of friendship between the Armenian and French peoples, but also in the annals of the history of the protection of human rights."

The European Union has imposed severe new sanctions on Iran due to its refusal to suspend its nuclear activities.

Sanctions include a ban on all new contracts to import Iranian oil to EU member states and the freezing of assets of Iran’s central bank in the EU.

In a joint statement, David Cameron, Angela Merkel and Nicholas Sarkozy supported the sanctions and called on Iran to abide by international obligations.

“[…] The Iranian leadership has failed to restore international confidence in the exclusively peaceful nature of its nuclear programme. We will not accept Iran acquiring a nuclear weapon.

"Iran has so far had no regard for its international obligations and is already exporting and threatening violence around its region.

“We call on Iran’s leadership immediately to suspend its sensitive nuclear activities and abide fully by its international obligations. The door is open to Iran to engage in serious and meaningful negotiations about its nuclear programme.

"Until Iran comes to the table, we will be united behind strong measures to undermine the regime’s ability to fund its nuclear programme, and to demonstrate the cost of a path that threatens the peace and security of us all.”

Iran responded to the increased pressure by threatening to close the Strait of Hormuz, a vital trade route for global oil supplies.

"If any disruption happens regarding the sale of Iranian oil, the Strait of Hormuz will definitely be closed," said Mohammad Kossari, deputy head of the Iranian parliament's foreign affairs and national security committee.

The US responded to Tehran’s threat by pledging to keep the Strait open.

"The Strait of Hormuz needs to remain open and we need to maintain this as an international passageway," Ivo Dalder, US Ambassador to NATO told the BBC.

"We will do what needs to be done to ensure that is the case."

No sooner had the Arab League annonced its decision to seek support from the UN Security Council to bring about a peaceful end to Assad's rule through a national unity government and elections held within 6 months, than the Assad regime declared it was rejecting it.

According to Syria's official news agency, SANA, the Assad regime has rejected the Arab League's proposals outright as a "conspiratorial scheme".

In a statement, broadcast on SANA, the regime said,

“Syria considers these decisions a violation of its national sovereignty, a blatant interference in its internal affairs and a flagrant violation of the objections for which the Arab League was established,”

“Syria condemns this decision, which came in the framework of the conspiratorial scheme hatched against Syria which have been exposed to our people and the Arab Homeland.”

Meanwhile, the Saudi foreign minister has threatened to withdraw its observers.

In a statement, Prince Saud el Faisal said,

“My country is going to withdraw its observers.”

“We are not going to accept being used as witnesses to crimes or to hide their crimes."

“We are calling on the international community to bear its responsibility and that includes our brothers in Islamic states and our friends in Russia, China, Europe and the United States.”

"What would happen if a thousand, ten thousand or a hundred thousand gathered around Eiffel and said 'there is no genocide'? What would the French justice do? Would it be able to convict ten thousand or a hundred thousand people? I don't think so."

"This will create a lot of noise and difficulty in Turkey's overall relationships with France and other EU states that will complicate that effort."

"Today's apprehension of Stankovic significant for the victims of the grave crimes he has been convicted for."

"I hope that this arrest reflects an increased commitment of the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina to support the process of bringing to justice those responsible for the grave crimes committed on their territory in the early 1990s."

Anti-government protesters came out onto the streets of Sanaa to celebrate the departure of Yemen's ousted president, Ali Abdullah Saleh, on Sunday.

According the Yemeni government's spokesperson, Muhammad Albasha, Saleh was travelling to New York for medical treatment, with a possible detour via Oman.

Amidst the calls to prosecute the former president for alleged violations of human rights, the US State Department was sure to stipulate the precise nature of Saleh's visit.

In a statement, the US State Department, said,

“the sole purpose of this travel is for medical treatment and we expect that he will stay for a limited time that corresponds to the duration of this treatment.”

In November, Saleh, signed an agreement relinquishing power to his vice president,  Abed Rabbo Mansour al-Hadi, with immediate effect.

The agreement, facilitated by Saudi Arabia and supported by the US, will signal the end of Saleh's 33 year rule of Yemen, following months of protests.

The agreement allowed Saleh many face-saving measures, including the retention of his title and certain privileges until new elections are held next month. It also granted him immunity from prosecution, however protesters have demanded that he faces justice.

“Through this ceremony, Mali wishes to reaffirm its unfailing commitment to human rights and the ideals of international peace and justice on which the ICC was founded.”

“This is a modest, symbolic contribution from Mali to assist the Court in best serving its mandate, in particular in the fight against impunity for international crimes the world over.”

“The enforcement of sentences is a crucial element of a well-functioning justice system, and the ICC is grateful to every State Party that expresses its willingness to accept persons convicted by the Court.”

US weapons will not be sold to Vietnam until the country reverses its "backward movement" on human rights, said US senators on Friday.

Following a recent visit to Vietnam, the US delegation "specifically stated to the Vietnamese that our security relationship will be directly impacted by the human rights issues", said John McCain, who was a member of the delegation.

McCain added,

"There has not been progress on human rights issues, in fact there has been some backward movement on it."

"There's certain weapons systems that the Vietnamese would like to buy from us or receive from us and we'd like to be able to transfer these systems to them, but it's not going to happen unless they improve their human rights record,"

"It is the right time to say yes to an understanding of our past, to say yes to constitutional change, and to say yes to a future more united and more reconciled than we have ever been before.

It is going to require each and every one of us involved in politics to find it in ourselves to be our best selves, to advocate this case for change with the maximum degree of unity."

"For many Australians, the failure of a referendum on recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples would result in confusion about the nation's values, commitment to racial non-discrimination, and sense of national identity."

"This is a time when truth and respect for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples needs to be achieved in our, through the recognition in our constitution. Strong leadership and our national interest are critical for our nation to go forward."

A Chinese sovereign wealth fund, China Investment Corporation, bought a 8.68pc stake in the UK's Thames Water, owned by Kemble Water.

The deal, believed to be worth around £500 million, was agreed, shortly after the British chancellor, George Osborne, paid a visit to China last week and urged the government to invest China's extensive foreign exchange reserves, estimated to be over $3.18 trillion, into UK investment projects.

Welcoming the news, Osborne said,

"It is a vote of confidence in Britain as a place to invest and do business. This investment is good news for both the British and Chinese economies."

The China Investment Corporation, formed in 2007, holds $410 billion of China's sovereign wealth fund.

Writing in the Financial Times, at the end of last year, the corporation's chairman, Lou Jiwei, described Chinese investment in British infrastructure projects as a "win-win" situation.

See Whither 'string of pearls'? (21 Feb 2011)

Thames Water provides water to over 8.8 million consumers in the London and Thames Valley region, and sewerage services to upto 14 million.

"It coincides with what the Netherlands saw as a possible option to get Faber behind bars.”

"It's high time that Mr. Faber ends his peaceful and tranquil life in Ingolstadt and is incarcerated for his heinous crimes."