Human Rights
“MR PRESIDENT, “YOU’VE BEEN SERVED”
WASHINGTON DC, 1 OCTOBER 1330hrs: In a press release titled “Mr President You have been served, lawyers for the Plaintiffs in the Torture Victims Protection Act case against
A scanned copy of the summons
Sri Lanka’s President Mahinda Rajapakse has said the world’s media may become part of a ground breaking legal action.
President Rajapakse is being accused of extrajudicial killings.
The Plaintiffs in the case are seeking damages in excess of $30 million against President Rajapakse for actions allegedly occurring under his command responsibility as Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
The complaint alleges that President Rajapakse held command responsibility for the extrajudicial killings of Ragihar Manoharan, the son of Plaintiff Dr. Kasippillai Manoharan, Premas Anandarajah, a humanitarian aid worker for Action Against Hunger, and first husband of Plaintiff Kalaiselvi Lavan, and four members of the Tevarajah family, all relatives of Plaintiff Jeyakumar Aiyathurai.
The motion to the United States District Court, which was officially filed just minutes ago is seeking court authorisation to serve the summons by alternative means through publication in newspapers of general circulation in Sri Lanka, and through additional means, as all conventional methods have been rejected or evaded by President Rajapakse.
“It (the motion) may mean the President can be served via the Internet, Facebook and Twitter
President Rajapakse is accused of alleged war crimes
and email. The President can no longer claim he is unaware of the charges alleged against him,” Plaintiffs’ Attorney Bruce Fein told Lanka Standard.
International human rights groups and advocates for press freedom have already indicated they would monitor Sri Lanka’s media and any Government reaction to the possible publication of the summons, motion and other documentation related to the complaint.
Fein said “news outlets who publish this complaint in Sri Lanka have my full admiration for their courage in the wake of an oppressive regime who have stifled free speech and continue to act with impunity.”
Up until now all attempts to serve the summons on the President have been refused or rejected by Sri Lanka’s head of State including those under the Hague Convention, but international pressure on the regime is mounting.
Only hours after President Rajapakse addressed the UN General Assembly last week, Sri Lanka’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, Major General Shavendra Silva, was served on charges relating to war crimes by a U.S. Court.
10 Comments to ““MR PRESIDENT, “YOU’VE BEEN SERVED””
October 17, 2011 at 11:33 pm
srilankan budhist majority say they are all religious but they are not, if they are relegious does budhism says
a) to kill and rape the minorities?
b) have no respect for human beings?
c) burn your opponents alive?
d) white van abduction?
e) grease man assaulting the innocent tamil women?
f) have no accountablities
g) have no responsiblities
h) keep on denying the the fact and truths
I) have no respect to people who follow other religions
J)kill the minorities in the name of war against rebels?
k)abduct and remove kidneys ,liver other vital organs from innocent tamils including todlers
L)malign innocent minority tamils as terrorist.
M)practice dictatorship in the name of democracy
October 4, 2011 at 3:04 am
Malanie this is true, but the very fact that it has been filed is a great thing and shows that it can be done and there could be justice
October 4, 2011 at 3:03 am
Well he has not been served yet you have to wait to see if the courts allow this method
October 4, 2011 at 3:02 am
I’m really happy to read this website which I found from infolanka. It is really balanced because it gives different sides even when they are extreme. keep up the good work
October 4, 2011 at 3:00 am
Sierra I think you may be saying this tongue in cheek. You can’t be serious. ANYWAY this is not the US that is filing a case it is an individual filing under US law and everybody knows that LLR is just a joke to propagate the govt position
October 4, 2011 at 2:59 am
I don’t think the US has any right to stand in judgement over Sri Lanka let them first go to gitmo and see what’s taking place there. They killed Anwar and it was an extra judicial killing. Bush admitted he tortured people and there is pressure to take him to courts as well. Let someone file a case against their own US citizens. We have got the LLRC to look after our people
October 4, 2011 at 2:56 am
I often wondered what had happened to Sonali Saamrasinghe, the journalist par excellence. I always knew she could not be kept down for long. How proud Lasantha would be.
October 4, 2011 at 2:54 am
This is just what we need , let’s see if US courts has the guts to be progressive
March 2, 2012 at 3:52 am
It is ralely tragic even the general public take political agendas in to the field of cricket. For people who are uneducated on the game of cricket and perhaps who has never touched a bat this is about establishing political supremacy. For people like Nihal and Nivantha it might give them an utter pleasure knowing and seeing their political figures bulling the only real pride most of other Sri Lankan have.Talk about the greatness of SANGA and SANATH. Sanga SanathTest(Avg) 55 401 Day 36 3220/20 31 24Besides Sanga is an unflapable strategist and a real batsman with plenty of strokes at disposal for any ball, baller, or pitch. He is a real a real cricketer. How many of you can tell about sanatha the same way. And can even Sanath speak proper and articulate English in the same capacity as Sanga.Guys, Sanath is a unique cricketer. Admit that. We cant take away what he has done. I used to be proud of him. Now I have ralely lost the respect for him. He deserve it. When the dust settles we all know Sanath is several leagues below Sanga and Mahela. Look at what Sanath doing. His greed stops prolific new youngsters take the stage. Give Thisara more time, why can’t we. Because of Sanath. These players shown us what they got. They deserve more chances. Finall what I must say, if Sanga leave now, forget about SL Cricket Dominance for a while to come. Sanga, Mahela, Dilshan must be there till Mathews and Kapuwa ready to leaders. If Sanga (Modern day Arjuna), Mahela (Modern day Aravinda) and Dilshan (No comparison and there never will be) clicks be ready to embrase another world cup next year. They are the key to our success next year. To win any given match 2 of these player must click with the help of youngster like Mathews and Chamara. SANATH, LEAVE! WE WILL REMEMBER YOU FOR THE GREAT ENTERTAINER YOU WERE. BUT IF YOU DELAY YOU WILL BE ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED AS A LOOSER. (0)
October 4, 2011 at 2:53 am
Sonali I saw this and thought how much we need people like you back home.