MR.
KUMAR PONNAMBALAM
(TCHR Report 2000)
JANUARY
5, 2000
Mr.
Ponnambalam presented the human rights situation in Sri Lanka in the last (55th
Session) of the UN Commission on
Human Rights
Mr G.G.
Ponnambalam Jnr. (known to everyone as Kumar Ponnambalam) was
involved in human rights for many years. He was a leading lawyer in Colombo.
Gunmen assassinated him in cold blood on 5th January in Wellawatta
in Colombo.
Mr
Ponnambalam, as a prominent expert and able criminal lawyer defended
thousands of Tamil people, over many years, who suffered gross and systematic
violations of human rights at the hands of the Sri Lankan government security
forces - the Special Task Force, the Army and the Navy. The Attorney-General
Department has stated that Mr Ponnambalam held 98% of the (PTA) cases, which
went
through their department, which is virtually equivalent to the entire number
of cases fought by the Crown Prosecution Service.
Mr
Ponnambalam filed many reports on important human rights cases. These include the internationally known case
of gang-rape and murder of Krishanthi
Kumaraswamy, which led to the eventual revelation of the eighteen mass
graves, including Chemmani, in the Jaffna Peninsula.
His work became a challenge to the Sri Lankan government, which with its
record of massive human rights violations amounting to genocide, met in him a
force
to be reckoned with.
Mr
Ponnambalam was a brave and tireless champion of civil and political
rights, and fundamental human rights. He was not afraid to speak out on
Human rights and this has cost him his life. His
assassination marks a tragic loss for all
who strive for the cause of justice and human rights.
( Incidents are quoted in date sequence)
Freedom
of Expression (TCHR report to the 55th Session)
In
March 1997, Mr. G. G. Ponnambalam was requested by certain NGOs to make
representations on behalf of the Tamils, at the 53rd Session of Commission on
Human Rights. On his departure from the international airport in Sri Lanka, an
army of customs and police
officers rummaged through his personal belongings, as if in search of a rat, to
get at his papers.
Harassment
of a Lawyer (TCHR report to the 55th session)
Mr. Kumar Ponnambalam, a
leading Criminal Lawyer and General Secretary of the All Ceylon Tamil Congress,
the first Tamil Party in Sri Lanka was interrogated by the Criminal
Investigation Department (CID) on 13 January and 20 January 99.
According to the CID, Mr.
Ponnambalam was deemed to have committed a crime under section 2 (1)(h) of the
PTA during his interview with the Swarnawahini TV channel. Mr. Ponnambalam
stated that nowhere in the Swanavahini interview did he say anything to offend
that section 2 (1)(h) of the PTA.
This is considered as
political revenge by the Government on Mr. Kumar Ponnambalam for exposing the
fallacies in Sri Lankan President Chandrika's interview to the South African
Television. In this TV interview, President Chandrika Kumaratunga had said : "They
are wanting a separate state - the minority Tamils who are not the original
habitants of the country".
Kumar
Ponnambalam denied travel to Jaffna
Mr. Kumar Ponnambalam was denied an air ticket to Jaffna on August
27th 1999 because he had not obtained
permission from the Ministry of Defence for visiting the north.
Mr. Ponnambalam had pointed out to officials at Heli-Tours, the firm
that currently operates civilian flights between Jaffna and Colombo, that he as
a Sri Lankan citizen does not need any permission or clearance to travel
to any part of the country.
Mr. Kumar Ponnambalam then
contacted an Army officer at the Ministry of Defence and explained to him that
it was not necessary for him under Sri Lankan law to obtain the army's
permission to visit Jaffna or any other part of the country.
Mr. Kumar Ponnambalam wanted to participate in the court proceedings on
Chemmani on August 30th 1999.
AN
OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT KUMARATUNGA BY
THE
LATE KUMAR PONNAMBALAM
I
refer to your Victory Speech of 22-12-99 on your election, once again, as
President.
I write as a Tamil Eelavan. But more importantly, I write as an unalloyed and
unrepentant supporter of the political philosophy of the LTTE and as one who,
with that conviction, lives in the South. I write as one who has publicly
stated this position of mine not only within this island but also without, and
both verbally and in writing. I write as one whom you have recognized in your
speech. And, I write as one who refuses to be deterred by the naked threats
that dot your speech.
Permit
me to tell you that your speech reflects the hatred that you have, only too
readily, recognized in others.
Your
speech is nauseatingly replete with one word - "peace". But the tenor
of your speech is anything but one that is, in any way, conciliatory or given
to peace.
You
have sent a clarion call to all your "Tamil brothers and sisters"
with outstretched hands of friendship. This shows your stark insincerity if one
only recalls your speech made many moons ago when you inaugurated the Sama
Tawalama at Anuradhapura with the unacceptable posture that this island is
Sinhala land and Buddhist country.
You
refer to 18th December 1999 as "the night that will go down in history as
the night this land was touched by the hand of darkness one too many times".
You indulge in this rhetoric because it happens to concern you. Do you not
realize that there are thousands of widows in Tamil Eelam to whom certain
nights have gone down, in their own lives, as nights that have been touched by
the hand of darkness caused by your machinations as Commander-in-Chief of your
armed forces?
You have challenged "those who doubt (your) resolve to lift the curse of
hatred and death that has fallen upon (this) land" to look you in the face
now and voice our doubts about the sincerity of the desire to forge permanent
peace. I hasten, with this letter, to say just that to you with all the
vehemence I command. I am fortified in this statement by your victory speech
itself.
You
want to finish the LTTE. Please do so, if you can. With that will go, for all
times, any prospect of permanent peace in this island. Your election results
shows ruthlessly that all Tamils, not only Tamil Eelavar but also the Upcountry
Tamils, not only do not want you because they do not trust you anymore, but also
do not want a political solution from you. This is an indictment on all your
postulations of wanting to forge permanent peace.
Just
take your peace packages. There were three in as many years, during the first
three years after the commencement of your tenure. For the next two years,
there was not a murmur about those packages. Even those three packages were
diluted with each subsequent appearance! Surely, anyone who has a genuine
desire to bring about a political solution will not trifle with packages every
summer? One stands or falls with just one.
You
say that you see very clearly "the enemy that walks so freely" in
this island, and you identify that enemy as "hatred". No, the enemy
you see are the Tamils in this island. Thank God this is reciprocated by every
Tamil worth his salt. This has also been evidenced by the election results.
You
boast that "the entire LTTE terrorist enterprise will fail" against
you but, in the same breath, you contradict yourself pathetically by wanting
the Tamils to bring Prabakaran to the negotiating table. You have played ducks
and drakes for far too long about whether you want to talk to the LTTE or not.
Political maturity demands that you and your Government finally state whether
you want to talk to the LTTE, unconditionally, or not. It is only when this is
known definitely will anybody move in this matter.
If
talking to the LTTE at the negotiating table is your honest position, then your
outburst about "cowards of the LTTE" and "terrorist
cowards" or your urge to wipe out the LTTE, must surely be counter
productive.
By
all means "clear away the culture of terror and death", which has
become the way of life in this island thanks to the Sinhalese who first showed
everybody the way in June 1956. But you will realize immediately, as everybody
in this island realizes, that you will have to start doing so at your very own
doorstep in the first instance, before you decide to go anywhere near the LTTE!
May
I close by referring to your constant refrain about bringing about peace. If
you are hoping to bring about peace through any one of your packages, please
forget it. The Tamils have shown unmistakably that they are not interested in
you or in your peace packages.
In
fact, if the Tamils are worth their salt, they will not want anything dished
out by you, or for that matter, by your adversary. Why should we? We Tamils
were not born to depend on the "benevolence" of the Sinhalese or on
what they choose to dish out to us. A part of this island rightfully belongs to
the Tamils, in as much as the other part rightfully belongs to the Sinhalese.
This must be appreciated by the Sinhalese.
As
far as the Tamils are concerned, they in turn, must appreciate that if their
aspirations hold that as a Nation they have the right to self-determination and
that that right is inalienable in that it is born with them, then they must
have the political wisdom, strength and sagacity to exercise that right and
decide their own political future themselves. They have, for far too long,
looked to peace packages, negotiating tables and anything offered or dished out
by the Sinhalese. This beggarly attitude must go. The sooner it goes, the
better it is for the Tamils.
The
Tamil Nation has, through the Delegation of the Tamil People, solemnly informed
the world about its aspirations in August 1985 at Thimpu. To go back on that
position will be tantamount to compromising future generations of Tamils yet
unborn. The present generation does not have the right to compromise future
generations. Any signal that would give the Sinhalese the idea that the Tamils
are not serious about their aspirations, or that they are climbing down, will
be an act of treachery. The present generation does not seem to tolerate such
treachery or to take kindly to traitors.
May
I end by saying that, on the basis of what I have just stated I, personally,
have got disgusted and tired of talks, third party intervention, etc. My
considered conviction is that a political solution to the Tamil Problem is in
the hands of the Tamils themselves and only in their hands and that the
Sinhalese and Tamils can continue to live in this island and in peace only if
they live in two definite and distinct compartments each minding their own
business unfettered by the other. Only such an arrangement will prove relevant
that great quotation on peace you have used in your speech:
"Peace
is a battle. Peace is never given freely, never acquired. Its conquest is the
result of courage and of respect for others. It demands awareness and
commitment from everyone. Peace is not the law imposed by the mighty, but that
which is founded on equality and dignity of all peoples."
G. G. Ponnambalam Jnr. 23rd
December 1999
Kumar
Ponnambalam shot dead
A Criminal Lawyer and the President of the All Ceylon Tamil Congress Mr. Kumar Ponnambalam was shot dead
while driving his car at Wellawatte by an unknown gunman.
Police sources said that Ponnambalam had been shot with a revolver while he was
driving his blue Benz car at a
by-lane off Ramakrishna Road. Police suspect that an unidentified man who was
riding in Ponnambalam's car was responsible for the shooting.
According to information received by the police the suspect gunman had
visited
Ponnambalam at his home at Queen's Road earlier in the morning.
After a brief talk both Ponnambalam and the suspect had got into the Benz and
while Mr. Ponnambalam took the wheel the other man rode beside him. Ponnambalam
was found dead in the car with gun shot wounds in his head and neck. He had
died instantly.
Police said the man who rode with Ponnambalam is missing and they are looking
for him. At the time of writing police were unable to say why Ponnambalam who
was driving
down Ramakrishna Road had turned into Ramakrishna Lane where he was shot. (The
Island 6 January 2000)
6 January 2000 - An organisation calling itself 'National Front
Against Tigers' claimed responsibility for the
killing of Kumar Ponnambalam, the president of the All Ceylon Tamil Congress.
In a note in Sinhala faxed to leading media institutions in Colombo
the group said it is warning all those who support and help the Liberation
Tigers. Such people were "traitors" the group said. The note was signed "Wijayaranabahu,
Commanding Officer". This organisation is considered to be the front
organisation of the Sri Lanka government.
Son Mr. Gajendra Kumar gives evidence
14 January 2000 - "My father Kumar Ponnambalam, wearing black trousers and
a white T-shirt with black stripes, left the house on that fateful morning with
one 'Shantha' saying that he would proceed to Wellawatte and return within half
an hour. "But that was not to be. He thereafter never came back home
alive. We only saw him lying dead at the wheel of his blue Mercedes Benz."
Thus stated Barrister Gajendra Kumar the only son of All Ceylon Tamil Congress
leader Kumar Ponnambalam at the Magisterial inquiry into the death of Kumar
Ponnambalam before Mount-Lavenia Magistrate K.H.Sumathipala.
Witness Gajendra Kumar continued that his father had left home that day around
10 a.m. He and his father were to bring a vehicle from the garage. But on
hearing that there was a bomb blast at Flower Road, they changed their plans
and his father went to Wellaaatte saying he would get back in half an hour.
He said he wanted to advise his father not to go out because of the bomb blast
but before he could do that, his father had driven out. He also believed
another person was in the car.
Referring to the mysterious 'Shantha', Mr. Gajendra Kumar said he had come to
the residence that morning and had also called several times earlier. Shantha
spoke in Sinhala and he believed he was a Shinhalese.
He said after he received the call from the Sun FM Station, he had telephoned
his father on the cellphone but had got only a recorded answer. Later when he
went to the scene, with Mr.Thomas, he saw his father fallen inside the vehicle.
Both windows of the air-conditioned Benz were open and the automatic gear was
at parked position. The cellphone number 077311922 was missing.
ASSASSINATION OF A
HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER IN COLOMBO - TCHR
On 5th
January 2000, the Tamil Centre for Human Rights TCHR issued an Urgent
Press release, which read as follows :
Mr G.G.
Ponnambalam Jnr. (known to everyone as Kumar Ponnambalam) was
involved in human rights for many years. He was a leading lawyer in Colombo.
Gunmen
assassinated him in cold blood this morning in Wellawatta in Colombo. The
post-mortem carried out tonight revealed five revolver shots behind his right eye and one bullet in his
shoulder.
According to his family members and friends, Mr Ponnambalam had been
contacted by a Sinhalese person in recent times, who had arranged to meet him
today.
He had told the person that he would be at home and would not be going to the
Courts, so the person came to his home at 10.00am this morning. They both went
to Wellawatta. He never returned.
Mr Ponnambalam, as a prominent expert and able criminal lawyer defended
thousands of Tamil people, over many years, who suffered gross and systematic
violations of human rights at the hands of the Sri Lankan government security
forces - the Special Task Force, the Army and the Navy. The Attorney-General
Department has stated that Mr Ponnambalam held 98% of the (PTA) cases which
went
through their department, which is virtually equivalent to the entire number
of cases fought by the Crown Prosecution Service.
Mr Ponnambalam filed many reports on important human rights cases. These
include the internationally known case of gang-rape and murder of Krishanthi
Kumaraswamy which led to the eventual revelation of the eighteen mass graves,
including Chemmani, in the Jaffna Peninsula.
His work became a challenge to the Sri Lankan government, which with its
record of massive human rights violations amounting to genocide, met in him a
force
to be reckoned with.
Mr Ponnambalam spoke out for human rights also in the international arena.
He denounced the torture, arbitrary detention, disappearances and
extra-judicial killings of Tamil people at the hands of the Sri Lankan
government's
security forces, in the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in 1997 and
1999.
Amongst many important international bodies, he addressed members of the
European Parliament in Brussels and the Royal Institute in London-U.K
In December 1998 Mr Ponnambalam was threatened with being arrested by the
present government of Sri Lanka. The Tamil Centre for Human Rights brought
this to the notice of human rights organisations and international bodies.
Eventually, he was interrogated by the Sri Lankan Police in his home.
Everyone knew that Mr Ponnambalam had been facing a threat by the Chandrika
government for a long time. On certain International platforms Mr Ponnambalam
stated openly that President Chandrika Kumaratunga was "after his
blood".
Recently he stated that the government was "looking for his blood".
Today
this has become a tragic and sad reality.
Mr Ponnambalam was also a devoted husband and father. He leaves his wife Dr.
Yogi, his daughter Mrinalini aged 27 and his son Gajendrakumar aged 26.
Mr Ponnambalam was a brave and tireless champion of civil and political
rights, and fundamental human rights. He was not afraid to speak out on Human
rights
and this has cost him his life. His assassination marks a tragic loss for all
who strive for the cause of justice and human rights. We appeal to all
individuals and human rights organisations to strongly condemn this callous and
heinous act.
TAMIL
ASSASSINATION A TRAGEDY SAYS MEP
7
January 2000 - Labour Member of the European Parliament Robert Evans said that
the death of Kumar Ponnambalam was a
tragic loss for Sri Lanka and the Tamil community. Mr Ponnambalam, a
Tamil lawyer, was assassinated in Colombo yesterday.
Speaking in London Robert Evans MEP, said 'I considered Kumar Ponnambalam a
friend of mine. I had met him several times and visited him only a few months
ago in his house in Colombo. I am devastated that he should have died in this
way.
'Mr
Ponnambalam was never afraid to speak out and was always conscious of the
safety of others. His personal courage was such that he knew he would always be
a possible target but his concern was always for other people. This was
especially so when I went to his home.'
'Kumar was also a realist,' said Robert Evans. ' He knew from years of personal
experience that the freedom struggle of the Tamil people could not rely solely
on the democratic process. He was also prepared to point a finger of blame
for atrocities at the Sri Lankan military and the Sri Lankan government. ''Above
all he recognised, like me, that the only lasting solution to the war would
come from discussion and dialogue between the two parties to the conflict with
international mediation.’’
As a human rights' lawyer Kumar Ponnambalam spoke of the situation in Sri Lanka
at forums around the world. 'Only recently he was in Brussels meeting with
MEPs. He drew attention to the amazing lack of coverage of the Sri Lankan civil
war in the European and world press.'
'The contrast' commented Robert Evans, ' between the lack of coverage of the
situation in Sri Lanka and Chechnya is very stark. The war in Sri Lanka is
different but equally violent. The Sri Lankan government suppresses the
coverage and Kumar was exposing this and many other aspects of the Tamil case.'
'His loss is a devastating blow to the whole Tamil community. Our thoughts
today must surely be with his family. The best lasting tribute to Kumar
Ponnambalam will be if the struggle for peace in Sri Lanka continues in the
wake of his tragic death.
LTTE
Headquarters Tamil Eelam 6 January 2000 - The Liberation Tigers of Tamil
Eelam (LTTE) wishes to express its deep shock and profound grief over the
brutal killing of Mr. Kumar Ponnambalam, a courageous Tamil leader who
fearlessly exposed the hypocrisy of the Sinhala state and audaciously
championed the cause of the Tamil nation.
We accuse
the Sri Lanka government and the Tamil quisling groups of masterminding and
executing this heinous crime to silence a brave, daring voice of reason that
defended the rights of the Tamils. Mr. Ponnambalam's sudden death is a great
and irreparable loss to the Tamils, a monumental tragedy that has befallen the
Tamil nation at a critical historical time.
Faced with constant threat to his life and property, Mr. Ponnambalam lived in
the heart of the Sri Lankan capital and boldly challenged his racist
adversaries. His speeches and writings, which touched on extremely controversial
issues, expressed his truthfulness, genuiness, uprightness and
indomitable spirit for justice. He pleaded for the rights and liberties of
thousands of innocent Tamils in Colombo who were subjected to constant
persecution at the hands of the tyrannical Sinhala state. He also voiced for
the Tamils rights at international forums.
Mr. Ponnambalam was the only Tamil leader who openly and fearlessly supported
the armed freedom struggle of the Liberation Tigers. He endorsed the policy of
the LTTE as the authentic political project based on the right to
self-determination of the Tamil people. By his gallant and heroic life in
advancing the legitimate cause of the Tamils amidst all dangers, Mr.
Ponnambalam has earned the respect and admiration of his people as a true Tamil
patriot. (Released by the International Secretariat of LTTE, 211
Katherine Rd, London E6 1BU, United Kingdom.)
PONNAMBALAM
HONOURED
COLOMBO: Prominent Tamil leader Kumar
Ponnambalam, 61, assassinated by an unknown gunman, last Wednesday, was
cremated in a heavily attended ceremony at the Colombo general cemetery on
Sunday. While the police has so far been unable to crack the mystery behind the
killing, it has become the centre of a political controversy here.
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil
Eelam (LTTE) in an unprecedented
development on Sunday posthumously bestowed the outspoken Ponnambalam,
with an award of “the most eminent person” - Mamanithan. Commending
him on his ”leadership, dedicated patriotism and outstanding
contribution to the cause of Tamil liberation.” (by Charu Lata Joshi 9 January
2000)
IF IT WAS NOT DONE BY THE LTTE
POLICE
WOULD NOT SPEND TIME IN INVESTIGATING - TIC
6 January 2000 - The Tamil Information Centre (TIC)
espresses deep concern over the rapidly deteriorating human rights situation in
Sri Lanka. Insecurity and violence are spreading fast. The Killing of Kumar
Ponnambalam, president of the All Ceylon Tamil Congress and a leading human
rights lawyer on 5 January 2000 has shocked the Tamil community. The brutal and
callous murders of Kumar Ponnambalam and chief editor of Tamil weekly,
Thinamurasu and Tamil Member of Parliament Ramesh Nadarajah on 2 November 1999
have posed further threats to the freedoms of expression, assembly and
association. The government is unable to prevent deliberate killings. Its
believed that "deaths squads" freely operating in the capital Colombo
are responsible for these killings.
The TIC calls upon the international community to monitor the situation in Sri
Lanka, urging the government to conduct a public inquiry into the killings of
Kumar Ponnambalam and Ramesh Nadarajah. The Tamil Information Centre
understands that Police Officers who came to the scene of the killing of Ramesh
Nadarajah had told concerned MPs that they would not spend time in
investigating the case as it was not done by the LTTE and that they have no
interest in the case.
Politics of the gun
The brutal
killing of the leader of the All Ceylon Tamil Congress Kumar Ponnambalam in Colombo
yesterday is a pointer that the politics of the gun has gained precedence over
democracy. It is no doubt condemned by all those who believe in democracy. A
member of an influential political family and lawyer, Mr. Ponnambalam was a
well known personality and had a large number of personal friends belonging to
all communities. In keeping with the dynastic politics of the country he was
carrying his father's mantle as the leader of his political party.
(
Extracted from the Editorial “The Island” 6 January 2000)
KUMAR WAS
KILLED ON 5 JANUARY 2000
The
assassination on January 5 of Kumar Ponnambalam, might have been planned by the
Sri Lankan government “eight months previously”!
A condolence letter by President Chandrika Kumaratunga was sent to
Ponnambalam's widow, dated
May 6th 1999.
According to Mrs. Yogi
Ponnambalam, the President sent the condolence letter through one of her
security officers on the evening of January 7th. It has raised
suspicions as to whether President Kumaratunga's letter has been dated May 6th 1999 by mistake or
the assassination had already been planned last year.
The date was not a mistake as the chances are minimal for such an error to
happen in a letter, especially a condolence message, from the country's highest
administrative office, the Presidential Secretariat. Mrs.Ponnambalam and other
family members consider that the letter appears to be deliberately intended as
an insult.
WHY WAS
“SHANTHA” IN THE PSD NOT QUESTIONED?
The media in recent times has
been full of allegations about an individual call “Shantha” who is
allegedly a member of the Presidential security Division. He has been
“credited” with several acts of violence against civilians
considered as enemies of this government. But the police so far have not
interviewed this gentlemen in this regard! (“The Sunday Leader
February 13, 2000)
ASSASSINATION
OF KUMAR PONNAMBALAM HAS CLUES,
BUT NO
PROPER INVESTIGATIONS - TCHR
With reference to our Urgent
Action - Ref. No. AE/02/01 of 5 January 2000, we would like to bring
the following matters to the concern of all human rights organisations, human
rights activists and persons committed to promoting values of human dignity and
worth.
Our
observations on information that TCHR has received since the assassination of
the human rights defender Mr. Kumar Ponnambalam, strongly indicate that a
serious cover-up and manipulation by the investigators are taking place.
So far, no
proper and serious inquiry has been carried out regarding this assassination!
We would like to draw your attention to the press release of the Tamil
Information Centre (TIC), in London, dated January 06, 2000. This states that "The
Tamil Information Centre understands that Police Officers who
came to the scene of the killing of Ramesh Nadarajah (Editor of a weekly Tamil
news paper) had told concerned MPs that they would not spend time in
investigating the case as it was not done by the LTTE and that they have no interest
in the case!"
When a crime
is reported in Sri Lanka it is the local police in whose jurisdiction the
incident occurred that investigates along with the Criminal Investigation
Department (CID). In the case of Mr Ponnambalam's assassination, it is the
Wellawatte police along with the CID that ought to be investigating the crime.
However, on the 3rd day after the murder, this case was handed over to the
Colombo Detective Bureau (CDB) on the instruction of the President and the
Inspector General of Police. This is highly irregular.
Even though
the person named "Shantha", referred to in our previous Urgent Action
had come to the family home, had sat and spoken with Mr Ponnambalam before
going in the car with him, and even though the CID had been informed of this,
no attempt was made to find out where he sat in the house, which chair he sat
on, or to take finger-prints anywhere in Mr Ponnambalam's home.
According to
a human rights lawyer and a good friend of Mr. Kumar Ponnambalam, there was an
eyewitness to this assassination! He is Mr. "X", a businessman in
Colombo. Mr "X" had gone in a trishaw to Ramakrishna Terrace via
Marine Drive and Ramakrishna road. As the trishaw turned into Ramakrishna Road
he had seen a jet-black Isuzu Trooper jeep with dark tinted windows parked at
the bottom of Ramakrishna Road. He had proceeded up the Road and turned into
Ramakrishna Terrace where he had seen Mr Ponnambalam's car parked on one side
to the left.
He had noted
a man seated in the left-hand front seat of the car and another man standing
outside the window closest to Mr Ponammbalam. He had driven past them and had
got off opposite No. 7 Ramakrishna Terrace and had rung the bell/knocked on the
gate. There had been no reply from the house.
At that
point he heard what he described as fire-crackers. He had not taken special
note of this, as it was the festive season. Since there was still no response
from the house he had turned to go back towards Ramakrishna Road when he saw
the indiviiual standing outside the window where Mr Ponnambalam was seated,
tuck a gun that seemed like a revolver /pistol into his waist and pull the
shirt over it. The other man had got out of the car by this time and they were
both "casually" walking towards Mr "X", that is, towards
Vivekananda Road. Then he found that a person had been shot dead inside that
particular car.
Immediately
he brought this fact to the notice of two policemen who were nearby at the
time. When he told these policemen about the killing, they said that they had
come to that area because they had received information that there was a
suspicious vehicle parked and it had been there for some time. In fact, even
the policemen were referring to the same "Isuzu Trooper Jeep" which
the businessman had seen.
In Sri
Lanka, the vehicle referred to above, is only used by the Security forces,
especially by the Sri Lanka Army, Ministerial Security Division (MSD) and the
Presidential Security Division(PSD).
Furthermore,
we feel it important to note that the Government Analyst Department who
examined the car in which Mr. Ponnambalam was killed could not find any
fingerprints anywhere on this car. Even Mr. Kumar Ponnambalam's finger-prints
could not be found on the driver's wheel, or anywhere else! The Government
Analyst Department checked the car on three separate occasions yet could not
recover any evidence whatsoever, and could not find any bullets in this car.
Whereas later, two bullets were found in this car by others.
A
columnist of the Sunday leader of February 13th 2000 has said in his article
"It is indeed frightening that anyone called Shantha could become an
automatic suspect in the Kumar Ponnambalam case. But then again there are
reservations. The media in recent times has been full of allegations about an
individual called 'Shantha' who is allegedly a member of the Presidential
Security Division. He has been 'credited' with several acts of violence against
civilians considered as enemies of this government. But the police so far have
not interviewed this gentleman so far in this regard."
It is
a well-known fact that that Mr. Kumar Ponnambalam was an able Criminal Lawyer
in Sri Lanka, who had seen many criminals and murderers in his life-time.
Therefore, anyone with bogus information such as a false name, address, profession,
etc could not have approached him. The talk in Colombo is that the
organisation which claimed this assassination is not a fake one, but it is
considered a front organisation of the Government.
In the
light of the above information, we kindly request you to send letters / faxes
of protest to the President of Sri Lanka and the Inspector General of Police,
urging a genuine, rigorous and serious inquiry into this matter and to follow
up every suspect whatever sector they belong to or work in. TCHR recommends
that the Sri Lanka government should conduct a public inquiry into the brutal
assassination of Kumar Ponnambalam. (28th
February 2000)
NO ONE HAS YET BEEN IDENTIFIED BY THE
EYE WITNESSES!
Between January 5, 2000 and the present day no one has yet been identified by
the eye witnesses who saw “Shantha” on
the day of the assassination nor by the Colombo businessman who heard the
firing and saw the killers.
But there have been two statements by the Police investigators that the killers
have been identified! This is considered to be the routine “Eye
wash”, given to the outside world by the investigators
and the government.