Mahinda Rajapaksa's Military Agenda Commenced

by Tamil Centre for Human Rights, December 28, 2005

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 have been subjected to cordon and search operations in which numerous youths have been arrested, detained and disappeared and 7 Journalists have been attacked by the security forces. These are major cease-fire violations. Many other violent incidents have been reported in various parts of Sri Lanka.

"Mahinda is beating war drums" – these were the very words said by slain Joseph Pararasingham, MP to the Colombo English newspaper, the 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, MP 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 a 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 a 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 he considered it a serious threat.

On 24 December 2005, Mr & Mrs Pararajasingham participated in the midnight Christmas Eve mass in their home town of 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 assassination of Pararajasingham and the 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 had been living in Colombo, not visiting their home town in the recent past. So who encouraged them to visit their home town of Batticaloa? The Parliamentarians of the Tamil National Alliance 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 the Pararajasingams 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 a 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 have been subjected to cordon and search operations in which numerous youths have been arrested, detained and disappeared and 7 Journalists have been attacked by the security forces. These are major cease-fire violations. Many other violent incidents have been 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 with the Singhala racists political parties, the 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 push 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. 

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