Sri Lanka - Contaminated water leads to protests, deaths

[Ronan Kelly]

This situation bears watching - Contaminated water has lead to sickness in some villagers. Unhappy with the government response, protests led to violent clashes with military personnel and the deaths of three protesters. The first article is from Human Rights Watch. The second, from the Sunday Island, gives a timeline of the events leading up to the protests with links to TV news reports - follow the link to read the details. The additional reports provide background. - Ro

Sri Lanka: Investigate ?Clean Water? Protest Deaths
Independent Inquiry Needed, Not Government Spin

AUGUST 9, 2013

(New York) ? The Sri Lankan government should stop issuing misleading information and promptly create an independent and transparent inquiry into the deaths of protesters at Weliweriya on August 1, 2013, Human Rights Watch said today. At least three people were killed and several injured after security forces fired live ammunition at protesters who were demanding access to clean drinking water.

According to news reports, soldiers fired on local residents and Buddhist monks who were demonstrating for clean water on the Colombo-Kandy Road in Weliweriya, Gampaha district, about 25 kilometers from Colombo. The government of President Mahinda Rajapaksa claims that the soldiers reacted in self-defense against protesters who hurled rocks and petrol bombs and shot at them. The unclear circumstances leading to the deaths and injuries, as well as government statements exonerating the solders involved, highlight the need for an independent inquiry.

?It?s undisputed that security forces killed three protesters, but the Sri Lankan government?s kneejerk reaction is to deny possible wrongdoing,? said Meenakshi Ganguly, South Asia director. ?Instead of promoting the military?s version of events, the government should order an independent investigation and prosecute anyone who violated the law.?

It is not clear why soldiers were deployed so soon without giving the police and local authorities a chance to handle what had been a peaceful protest. Video footage shows soldiers with military assault weapons approaching the protesters. The protesters begin running from the scene, some throwing sticks and other objects, before the soldiers appear to fire first in the air and then at the protesters.

Some protesters sought safety in a local church, whose exterior walls were at some point struck by bullets. Church officials and eyewitnesses told journalists that armed soldiers entered the church and physically and verbally abused people hiding inside. Church staff were warned against supporting the protesters, with one nun being held at gunpoint, and journalists had their cameras broken. After the incident, journalists reported being threatened by military personnel against reporting.

The government?s immediate response to the shootings was to defend the army?s actions. Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said the army was deployed at police request, promised an investigation, but warned that, ?There are elements resentful of the popularity of the armed forces and President Rajapaksa. We are mindful of their strategy.? Earlier, insisting that the troops fired in self-defense, Nimal Siripala de Silva, the Leader of the House, said investigators would look into whether there were ?external forces or parties, behind that incident, instigating people against the security forces personnel? ? which in Sri Lanka carries the connotation that a militant group was involved.

The Ministry of Defense posted an article on its website making similar assertions and claiming that video footage of shooters in uniform were demonstrators, not soldiers. The article, ?Attempting a Sri Lanka Spring Through a Civil Coup d?Etat,? says: ?Let us also not forget that while the accusing finger points at the army there are also plenty of army deserters who continue to possess military fatigue?. So there is no ruling out of such individuals also being used.?

In the face of mounting public pressure, on August 3 the army announced a commission of inquiry to look into the protests. The National Human Rights Commission also announced an inquiry. Neither of these institutions are in a position to conduct impartial investigations that would be viewed as credible. The army commission is headed by Jagath Dias, a former general whose 57 Division was implicated in war crimes during the final year of Sri Lanka?s 26-year-long armed conflict. The National Human Rights Commission?s independence has in recent years been severely curtailed by the government.

Human Rights Watch called on the government to ensure that security forces responding to protests abide by the United Nations Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials. The principles provide that security forces, including military personnel, shall ?apply non-violent means before resorting to the use of force and firearms,? and that ?whenever the lawful use of force and firearms is unavoidable,? law enforcement officials use force in proportion to the seriousness of the offense and the legitimate objective to be achieved, and minimize damage and injury. The intentional lethal use of firearms is only permitted when ?strictly unavoidable in order to protect life.?

?The authorities? decision to send soldiers armed with assault rifles to secure a demonstration is deeply worrisome,? Ganguly said. ?The government needs to rethink its whole approach to ensure that people can peacefully and safely protest.?
http://www.hrw.org/news/2013/08/09/sri-lanka-investigate-clean-water-protest-deaths

Anatomy of a Sri Lankan Spring in the making
August 10, 2013, 7:23 pm


If the events of the past few weeks centred around several villages in Rathupaswela in the Gampaha district is anything to go by, we may be seeing the beginnings of the Sri Lankan spring. We saw the snowballing of an issue that did not exist in June this year into an event that has shaken the nation to its very foundations - all in less than two weeks. Things happened so fast, that many people are still unclear as to what really occurred. One way to get our bearings would be to review TV coverage of this issue over the past three weeks. We give below the internet links to the relevant TV news bulletins on the Rathupaswela case along with a description of the footage. This incident shows how a ?Sri Lankan Spring? will burst upon this country some day.
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http://www.hrw.org/news/2013/08/09/sri-lanka-investigate-clean-water-protest-deaths

US expresses concern over Sri Lankan military?s fatal shooting of 3 protesters

By Staff The Associated Press

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka ? The United States has expressed concern over the Sri Lankan military?s fatal shooting of three civilians and attack on people seeking protection in a church during a recent protest demanding clean drinking water.

In a statement dated Friday, State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said ?there was no excuse for violence, especially in a house of worship.?


Residents of the town of Weliweriya, northeast of Colombo, and surrounding villages protested Aug. 1 against a factory that allegedly discharged toxic waste, polluting drinking water.
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http://globalnews.ca/news/773066/us...kan-militarys-fatal-shooting-of-3-protesters/

Investigations with little breakthrough
By Arthur Wamanan, Sandun Jayawardana and Chamara Sumanapala Sunday, 11 August 2013 02:30 DharmathilakeWeliveriya Dipped Products claims valid EPL license

Dipped Products PLC yesterday denied allegations that its factory in Weliveriya was functioning without the approval of the Central Environment Authority (CEA).
Responding to allegations that Dipped Products Factory in Weliweriya is operating without a valid Environment Protection License (EPL), its Managing Director Dr. Mahesha Ranasoma in a media communiqu? said the CEA had granted the license on November 20 last year and was valid until the end of October.

?We wish to enlighten all our stakeholders, interested parties and the General Public that the said Factory operates with a valid Environmental Protection License (EPL). The Factory received its most recent license on November 20, 2012 which was issued by the Director General of the Central Environmental Authority and the Director - Environment Management of the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka and is valid until October 31, 2013,? he said.
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- See more at: http://www.nation.lk/edition/news-o...little-breakthrough.html#sthash.dm3hTuOx.dpuf

Sri Lanka main opposition to participate in mass protest to demand justice for Weliweriya deaths
Sat, Aug 10, 2013, 08:25 pm SL Time,


Aug 10, Colombo: Sri Lanka's main opposition United National Party (UNP) said it would take part in a mass protest organized by a people's movement to protest the government's military crackdown on a protest in Weliweriya and demand justice for the persons killed and injured in the attack.

A newly formed people's movement comprising members of opposition political parties, intellectuals, artists, religious leaders and trade unions, will hold a mass rally in Colombo on Wednesday (14) at 2 p.m. opposite the Fort Railway Station to demand rights for people.

Accusing the government of trying to misdirect investigations into the Weliweriya protest to blame the people, Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremasinghe has said that a continuous protest was the only means to get redress for the people of Weliweriya who had "faced bullets for demanding clean water."
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http://www.colombopage.com/archive_13B/Aug10_1376146537CH.php

 

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Sri Lanka - Contaminated water leads to protests, deaths

These articles (follow links to read in full) give an idea of the split that the events Weliweriya have caused. - Ro

Laboratory that revealed acidity in Rathupaswala water closed
FRIDAY, 09 AUGUST 2013 18:32

The laboratory of the Divisional Service Center of the National Water and Drainage Board at No. 438/4A at Kadawatha that revealed to the country that the water at six villages including that of Rathuapswala and Weliweriya had a low PH value and was not suitable for consumption has stopped testing water bringing in by the public and it has been closed down says its Asst. Gen. Manager Ms. M.K. Bandara.
A large number of people from Gampaha District had turned up at the laboratory yesterday (8th) to get the water samples from their wells tested to find out whether they were suitable for consumption. However, they had to leave without any tests as the officer on duty at the gate had told them that the relevant official was absent and no testing could be done.
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http://www.lankatruth.com/home/inde...a-water-closed&catid=42:smartphones&Itemid=74

Another Rathupaswala in the making?
WEDNESDAY, 07 AUGUST 2013 21:32 1 COMMENTS E-MAIL| PRINT |PDF
People in Dorape area at Bogahagoda in Galle too experience environmental issues similar to ones that tormented people at Rathupaswala say reports. The people in the area are severely inconvenienced due to a factory that exists there say residents.

The students of Dorape Vidyalaya have to wear masks when engaging in sports and educational activities. They are tormented by diseases such as fainting, cough, headaches, nausea and vomiting. There are many cancer patients in the area and residents complain of contaminated water. They have also observed withering of plants and disappearance of birds and animals from the area.
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http://www.lankatruth.com/home/inde...-in-the-making&catid=42:smartphones&Itemid=74

Weliweriya worsens Govt.?s woes worldwide

By Our Political Editor

Cardinal?s charge of sacrilege hits international headlines, while Muslim leaders work out complaint to Islamic world
Gampaha district police forbidden from using weapons against protestors; Army called in
It is ironic but true. The UPFA Government, through default, is adding to its list of woes over newer rights issues. That it would draw the attention of the international community through next month?s sessions of the UN Human Rights Council and thereafter is in little doubt.

The latest issues relate to both human rights and the right to worship, both guaranteed by Sri Lanka?s Constitution. The former, amidst other accusations, is the army firing in Weliweriya last week. As more and more evidence unfolds, the serious nature of the incident and its far-reaching ramifications are becoming clearer. The Catholic community including His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, the Archbishop of Colombo, are incensed over troops entering St. Anthony?s church in Weliweriya. His remarks in a statement ?that it is a sacrilege for anyone to enter such sacred precincts with arms in their hands and behave in a violent manner there? are already reverberating in Catholic churches and their community in important world capitals. He added: ?We wish to reiterate at this point that we do not accept attempts to resolve questions by either taking the law into one?s own hands and engaging in causing disruption to people?s normal way of life or by using one?s power in a repressive manner to suppress protests, even if they get out of control. For every question the best way out is the way of peaceful discussion and dialogue?.?

Formulating a full report to OIC

This week Muslim parliamentarians of the UPFA including cabinet ministers met in the Parliament complex. The subject of discussion was reported attacks on mosques and an alleged incident where pork was thrown inside a prayer area in the mosque.
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http://www.sundaytimes.lk/130811/columns/weliweriya-worsens-govt-s-woes-worldwide-57400.html

Weliweriya Water Protests : Answering more important Questions
Weliweriya Water Protest and Clash

- by Shenali D Waduge -

It has become a habit to politicize selective events but ignore the core issue. Before everyone is conveniently taken off track by politicized versions what needs to be reiterated is that the key issue was WATER, the people went on to the streets because of WATER and what resulted was because of WATER? or was it? Why are the finger pointers not demanding action from authorities about the WATER? Why has the water been shoved into the background? From the commentaries that abound the shift is focused towards portraying the impression that the Sri Lankan military purposely went armed to fire upon ?unarmed? civilians drawing parallels with May 2009 war effort. If we are to accept this stretch of imagination would the army ?intentionally? kill only 3? Using that very stretch of imagination would the OIC Weliweriya and 8 soldiers also have injured themselves when the protesters were very much unarmed and peaceful? Moreover, how could the Defense Secretary who is accused of giving orders to shoot at unarmed civilians have given such an order when he was convening a meeting at the Defense Ministry with all the stakeholders on 1 August 2013 from 3p.m to 6:30p.m ? would these people not have been witness to such an order to shoot?

Let us look at some of the questions that need to be answered before drawing up biased conclusions.
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http://www.onlanka.com/news/weliweriya-water-protests-answering-more-important-questions.html

 

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Sri Lanka - Contaminated water leads to protests, deaths

This article is posted on the Sri Lankan Ministry of Defence and Urban Development website. It clearly implies US involvement.


Last modified on: 8/6/2013 8:38:44 PM
Weliweriya: Attempting A 'Sri Lankan Spring' Through A Civil Coup D'etat - OpEd
By Shenali Waduge

The tragedy that befell Weliweriya has been an early Christmas for those who have been splitting hairs wondering how to serve their sponsors to showcase a state of chaos in Sri Lanka. The usual coterie of anti-Sri Lankan destabilizing operators some of whom are columnists were quick to action writing aggrieved accounts about the incident claiming they could not sleep thinking about the 3 deaths. We wonder how they slept through 3 decades of terror with people blown to pieces virtually every day or their lack of sleep about the fatalities that occur daily as a result of reckless driving. However, we need to separate the issue of Weliweriya by first identifying the factors that led to the demand for unpolluted drinking water, which the residents of the area had every right to do and then to establish what mischief took place after an agreement was reached following extensive discussions between all stakeholders initiated by the Defense Secretary and it was agreed to test the drinking water and conduct necessary investigations and provide temporary drinking water supply for the people deprived of proper drinking water.

When the same lot of people gang up together and come up with the same set of notions joined by the US embassy quick to issue a statement we have to wonder that there is something far more than protesting against drinking water. This is the very country responsible for over 50 covert operations that have overthrown legitimate governments and propped puppet dictators and some of the locals pointing finger are direct recipients of funds meant to facilitate regime change in Sri Lanka. We cannot therefore disassociate these realities from the tragedy that took place in Weliweriya.

Let us therefore, first disentangle the issue from the eventual tragedy and look at the issue itself.

Post-Weliweriya has turned to be everything but solving the drinking water crisis. The headlines were easy to decipher. The aim was to build up a notion that the Sri Lankan military was not the "disciplined" force it projects itself to be, the "water crisis" was no different to "Mavil Aru" that set off the end of the LTTE, Thursday Black July was sufficient to draw the gavel of guilt on Friday Black July, the "shootings" were enough reason to conclude that the army is guilty of war crimes, shooting at people who raise their hands in surrender and inside a Church was a dead giveaway - all these similes were meant to juxtapose the Weliweriya event with May 2009, and the icing on the cake came with a newspaper claiming that the supposedly "extremist Buddhist monk" associated with the Bodhu Bala Sena gave orders for the army to enter Weliweriya and thus diminish the status of the army while showing Buddhist extremism at its height with Buddhists ordering the killing of Buddhists - a new phenomena being established to distance the public from their war heroes.

The commenting coterie also happens to be the same set of people who were LTTE sympathizers and there i s sufficient material available that depicts their open sympathy for the LTTE though it is irrelevant for the present discussion. Nevertheless, they are all going along the same garden path and that is what is relevant. The same set demand police and land powers for the Northern province, incidentally the party contesting were also representatives of the Tamil people in other provinces but the campaign propaganda did not rest on land and police for these provinces as is the case presently. This is why at every turn situations like Weliweriya are twisted to conclude what they said was right and what the army did was wrong. If according to their recipe of governance - to get rid of the Government, what next is never answered? Alll the nations that fell for this slogan are today feeling sorry for being na?ve to buy the lies - just ask any Egyptian, Libyan and even those from Kosovo or Haiti. Let it be also known that these very commentators defended these "liberation" movements too and did not speak a word on the atrocities being committed by US and NATO in Iraq, Afghanistan or on the unmanned drone attacks killing scores of civilians.

Who provoked whom?

The answer to this question can be revealed in the video footage that is now under judicial review and probably under military investigation too. Nevertheless, what needs to be ascertained from the images is to differentiate who were the residents and who were not. This will be a vital clue as to pin point the elements that turned a "peaceful" protest into one of mayhem. As for mayhem situations it is not difficult for any to throw a stone and for that action to become contagious corresponding with a few emotional lines. Not too recently we heard of how school children went amok and totally ruined the new principal's vehicle.

Human beings are emotional, the people of Weliweriya came out to protest on 27th July 2013, the meeting with the Defense Secretary took place on 1st August 2013 reaching an amicable conclusion - there was enough time to galvanize forces and create the planned "Spring". Therefore, the authorities must look at the footage and reveal all persons not associated with the water issue who turned up to create the eventual mayhem. Let us also not forget that while the accusing finger points at the army there are also plenty of army deserters who continue to posses military fatigue and many of the recent crimes that have taken place have been led by these army deserters. So there is no ruling out of such individuals also being used.

Armed "peaceful" protestors

Be that as it may just like July 83 was conveniently turned to project the notion that the Sinhalese Buddhists burnt and destroyed Tamil homes which was far from the truth, the army cannot be held responsible if protestors are provoking an onslaught. A photo of a man aiming a blunt weapon at a soldier from behind and others carrying poles give much to the imagination. Just as a son mourns the death of his father, a soldiers son is also human and we cannot expect soldiers to stand and take onslaughts without defending themselves. Their job is not to stand still and watch petrol bombs thrown at them just to please a set of people who had all through 3 decades wanted the army to function as guinea pigs for LTTE weapon tests!

Much of what can be answered will be answered when the judicial inquiry concludes therefore the questions that needs to be answered will probably emerge in a few days time. However, we need to first ascertain how far "protestors" can be defined as "peaceful" if they use any type of weapon that can create harm to another. How can protestors carry bottles, Petrol bombs, swords, stones, if it is a peaceful protest?

Possession of such does not meet the criteria for peaceful protestors. However, what must then be ascertained is whether the people in possession of these "ammunition" were in fact residents of Weliweriya or whether they were thugs brought in by vested interest groups to create the necessary Spring that is now part and parcel of crisis situations all over the world. In Asian and African continents it is somewhat difficult to use white regime change operatives at the fore front of situations and therefore the planning goes on interior and the locals are generally paid to do the dirty work. Let us not forget that it took just ONE CIA man to overthrow a democratic Government in Iran and place the Shah in power and he did the job by paying Iranian men to stage public protests and put up placards and posters against President Mossadegh who was deposed. So when US issues statements we hope that US does not think that we do not know or remember its history of deposing legitimate governments.

The US issuing a message of concern to Sri Lanka may like to kindly refer to the investigation undertaken by law clinics at NYU, Fordham, Harvard, and Stanford has concluded, after eight months of study, that the NYPD abused Occupy Wall Street protesters and violated their rights on numerous occasions during the 2011 protests. "According to journalist David Lindorff, the FBI planned to assassinate the leaders of the now moribund Occupy movement 'via suppressed sniper rifles," In the latest example of racism following the verdict in favor of Zimmermen a wave of protests throughout the US also turned violent and these "peaceful protestors" were arrested by the US police wearing heavy body armour!

Media's history of distorting facts

Weliweriya was certainly a curtain raiser and was just perfect for the necessary conclusions that have been quick to reach print and these are certainly perfect as a backdrop to the arrival of the UNHRC head ever ready to issue statements against Sri Lanka and the hosting of CHOGM for despite confirming their presence foreign parliamentarians must sing for their additional perks through veiled threats that are meant to turn the heat on Sri Lanka's organizers who should be wondering for what reason a former colony should be commemorating the brutalities that were part of colonial rule but then even the Opposition Leader wanted the country to celebrate the arrival of the Portuguese oblivious to the crimes committed during Portuguese rule!

The media to regain its credibility must first accept its foul methods of fooling the public. We are well aware of how the mainstream media had lied about the Iraq War, the fabrications of bombings and attacks in Syria, how they had not even been at the scene of crimes but used false footage to reveal lies to gullible watchers and how even photographs had been used over the years to fool the people. In this context we cannot accept as the TRUTH all that the media relays and people should not be naive enough to accept these notions either.

Authorities are at fault - Politicians are to blame

Weliweriya incident also shows the authorities how easy it is to turn innocent situations into uncontrollable events. The Welweriya incident would never have taken place had the authorities who were paid to do their jobs did their job properly and officials must take direct blame for the situation including politicians. The President must ensure that the present manner Provincial Councilors and local authorities function improves without excuses - all people ask is drinking water, a road, proper facilities - is that too much to deliver?

Regularly we see numbers of protests rising in Sri Lanka. Some of these have very valid reasons and they all conclude to one simple fact. Public service mechanism is in disarray - Public officials are not taking decisions that they are paid to take, politicians are ruining the country by thinking that once elected they can do what they like, when they like and to whom they like. Now these are the factors that all political parties now need to wake up and change. People are not prepared to be pushed around from one table to the other, to be frustrated by their lethargy and waste. Giving safe drinking water is a fundamental right of all citizens of Sri Lanka. If the residents claim that a factory located in the area is contributing towards the pollution of the water, these residents would have made the necessary complaints over a number of years. Why has no action being taken? Waste by factories contributing to water pollution is even written and taught in school text books therefore, the authorities concerned should have investigated the complaints far before it reached this level and taken action. Does the factory have necessary approvals by local authorities, was the waste of their glove manufacture discussed before approvals were given, where was this waste water to be diverted and did the authorities look at the possibilities of the well water of the residents getting affected BEFORE approvals were given to set up the factory or was the fact that a big investment was being made sufficient enough to overrule all criteria that should have been looked into especially the needs of these residents? These are the questions that people should be asking and not the innuendoes that are being thrown for they provide no answers but attempt to create further chaos and incite emotional elements into action.

The issue is the water problem - can we return to that problem and solve it without taking the issues in all sorts of directions. The people of Weliweriya have no requirement for the political debates juxtaposing one incident with another nor do they need to be told that the army of the police is against them simply because it suits other people's agenda. Drinking water was what brought the residents to the streets in protest having exhausted all other avenues, therefore this is what the lethargic officials need to wake up and address. In the meanwhile, the investigations into the mayhem that caused the deaths must take its course and the rest of the public must be appraised of the handful of miscreants who are being outsourced to create mischief no different to the imported "public" that caused the fall of Libya and now Syria

Courtesy : Eurasia Review News and Analysis
http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname..._Through_A_Civil_Coup_D'etat_OpEd_20130806_08