The much-hyped visit of Navi Pillay

By Manjula Fernando

The visit of UN Human Rights High Commissioner, Navi Pillay was a much- hyped event for those who were angered by the Government’s unilateral decision to bring peace to the country by eliminating LTTE terrorism.

There were protests in Colombo demanding her to leave the country and stop criticising Sri Lanka, a country battered by a 30-year-war-on terrorism and also protests in Jaffna criticising the UN for not protecting people. Events that were obviously staged to grab the UN envoy’s attention and some unscheduled closed door meetings were not impeded by the Government although those meetings went beyond diplomatic protocol and may have compromised her security.

Much earlier to her arrival in Colombo the pro-LTTE websites whipped up stories that her visit would have far reaching consequences. It was wishful thinking for some quarters and for the TNA, the UN Human Rights High Commissioner's visit was part of their election campaign.The meeting with TNA candidate, Ananthi Sasitharan, the wife of one time hardcore LTTE leader, Elilan was also one of such happenings. Her aspiration to meet the visiting envoy was given wide coverage, in the LTTE and pro-LTTE websites months before the scheduled visit.

The UN High Commissioner who arrived in the country on Sunday began her visits and meetings the following day. Her first-ever official meeting was with Chief Justice, Mohan Peiris at his Chambers in the Superior Court complex. Then she met Attorney General, Palitha Fernando, Justice Minister Rauff Hakeem and later National Integration and National languages, Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara at his Buthgamuwa Road, Ministry.The same evening she boarded an Air Force flight from Ratmalana to depart to Jaffna where she paid a visit to the Jaffna teaching hospital on arrival. Tuesday began with a breakfast meeting with the Northern Governor G.A. Chandrasiri at his official residence at Chundikudy.

She then attended a meeting of the Northern Province Government Agents and District Secretaries at the auditorium of the Jaffna library. A video presentation was held to familiarise her with the on-going development projects in the Northern province by Provincial Council Chief Secretary R. Vijayalakshmi. A meeting of civil society and religious leaders took place at the Jaffna UNHRC office later.

The meeting of civil society members in Jaffna were part of Pillay's scheduled program but the TNA candidate Ananthi's inclusion in this interactive group was made at the last minute and how it was made remains unknown. Then the UN Envoy left for Mullaitivu by road on a field visit where she toured Maullivaikkal, Pudumathalan, Wellamulliwaikkal and Keppapilavu and met the civilians resettled and interacted with some of them.

She flew to Trincomalee on Tuesday evening and became the first foreign dignitary to use the Iranamadu airstrip which was built by the LTTE and used exclusively to launch air raids on civilian targets before 2009.The Eastern Governor, Rear Adm. Mohan Wijewickrema hosted her to Breakfast on Wednesday after which she gave a hearing to the district Secretaries and Government Agents on the on going projects to restore livelihoods, develop infrastructure destroyed by the LTTE and during the liberation fights.

While in the Eastern province Pillay held a closed-door meeting with a group led by a pastor. The media was barred from covering this meeting and even her security deployment was asked to stand outside. Despite grave concerns the meeting was allowed in keeping with the Government's assurance that the UN Envoy will have free access to meet anyone and visit any place.On Thursday morning, Pillay met External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris and the LLRC Task Force officials headed by President's Secretary Lalith Weeratunga at the Presidential Secretariat followed by Special Envoy on Human Rights, Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe, in Colombo.

During the 90-minute meeting with her, Prof. Peiris had addressed many of her concerns including the reasons behind the decision to place the Police Department under a different Ministry. He said, “The creation of a new Law and Order Ministry under which the Police Department is now placed is in line with the LLRC recommendation.”

Regarding her comments on the Prevention of Terrorism Act, the Minister had said that some countries have provisions in their domestic legislation far beyond those of the PTA. He had explained the revised PTA is used for the time being as a precautionary measure since the country was yet to forget its turbulent history marred by terrorism.

He reiterated Sri Lanka's firm resolve to work with the United Nations but added that there was a perception in the country about the lack of objectivity and fairness meted out to Sri Lanka. “There has been prejudgement and we are disappointed,” the Minister said adding that many countries have been taken aback by the disproportionate focus on Sri Lanka.He had thanked the High Commissioner for accepting the invitation to visit Sri Lanka and the High Commissioner appreciated the invitation and facilitation of her visit before departing to meet officials at the National Human Rights Commission.

On Friday she met the TNA leader and Defence Secretary, Gotabaya Rajapaksa following which she attended a youth program at the National Youth Services Council in Maharagama.She met the Opposition Leader and Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa on Friday afternoon. She called on President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple trees at 5.00pm before meeting the families of disappeared persons at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute and families of the persons Missing in action at the BMICH.

The UN Envoy is scheduled to depart this morning.

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What is the fate of the hundreds of Tamil children forcibly recruited by Elilal and remain missing todate?

Ananthi was a state employee attached to the Kilinochchi GA’s office until 2009. Other reports say that she has taken leave to run for the Northern provincial council as a TNA candidate. She claims her husband went missing after his surrender in 2009.

One of three candidates representing the TNA in the Jaffna district, she says her objective is to be a voice for the ‘thousands of women and children affected by the war’.

But her claims contradicts the work her husband Elilan was associated with.

According to Defence sources in 2003/2004 he had worked as the head of Vavuniya political unit of the LTTE. Then till 2006 he worked as the Trincomalee political wing leader.

When the Trincomalee district was liberated in 2006 by the military forces, he returned to Vanni.

In November 2007 Tamil Selvan was killed in an Air Force raid. The LTTE Police Chief Nadesan succeeded as the Political Wing head and Illango was appointed to Nadesan’s office.

Elilan succeed Illango as the leader of policy progressing unit. This unit was in charge of disseminating terrorist recruitment material among the public, especially the Tamil youth.

His unit was entrusted with radicalising youth. Their tasks involved maintaining book shops and organizing street dramas, etc. They recruited cadres directly and was tasked with running the Anbu Base for newly recruits. The camp situated at Wattakachchi, Kilinochchi served as a transition camp.

Ananthi's wish to meet Pillay was to seek news of her husband, but can anyone tell the fate of the hundreds of Tamil children whom he recruited forcibly and remain missing todate.