The Hon. (Dr.) Chrishantha Abeysena - Minister of Science and Technology

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees, seeing how the Opposition speaks makes us very sad. We came to speak on the Batalanda Commission Report. But they spoke to justify the killings of 1987-1990. We are not surprised. Because those here are the sons of executioners; their fathers were executioners. That lineage is what they represent.

¶ 02 Their leader is Ranil Wickremesinghe. Why did such events occur in 1987-1989? We know J.R. Jayewardene, having a five-sixths majority, first gave police a week’s leave to beat people — that’s how it began. He became Prime Minister first — elected to that post — and later became the first Executive President. He eroded democracy day by day. Then Ranil Wickremesinghe brought a White Paper targeting our student movement. We defeated it.

¶ 03 We also recall the 1980 general strike. Over sixty thousand workers were dismissed; as I recall, two of our comrades were killed. From 1977, J.R., Premadasa, Ranil ruled. In 1981 the Jaffna Library was burned — who was responsible? J.R.? J.R., Premadasa, Ranil, Cyril Mathew. That is how they talked of democracy in North and South. Today they speak of the North too.

¶ 04 Then they held a Presidential Election; crippled the SLFP leadership; removed the civic rights of the Madam; did not allow other flags — only UNP flags. Later no elections. A sham referendum to delay elections; distorting democracy for political gain.

¶ 05 In 1983 came Black July, which destroyed our country. Then they banned parties: JVP, NSSP, and the Communist Party, removing democratic rights of parties and their members. That is how the J.R.-Premadasa-Ranil government functioned.

¶ 06 You may recall how they stoned judges’ houses; how Ranil later too threatened judges; how they wired Gatembe Temple because a monk spoke against the government. This created the environment for civil war.

¶ 07 They crushed the student movement; banned student unions; for eight years there were no student unions until 1996. These were anti-democratic acts. Ultimately, torture centers like Batalanda emerged; not only Batalanda — there were many across Sri Lanka.

¶ 08 I draw attention to a report close to the Batalanda Commission: Amnesty International’s “Sri Lanka: Extrajudicial Executions, ‘Disappearances’ and Torture, 1987 to 1990.” On page 39 it states:

¶ 09 “Torture has sometimes been so severe that it has resulted in prisoners’ deaths. The methods used reportedly include beating with sticks, batons, rubber straps and pipes on various parts of the body, including the feet and the genitals; assaulting detainees while they are suspended, hanging by their thumbs, from a beam or a tree; tying detainees onto a bench and assaulting them with rods and pipes; electric shocks and burning...”

¶ 10 They gave electric shocks and burned. They also used the “Dharma Chakra” method — twisting the body; stripping and beating. The report records it. That is how people were tortured — especially our comrades associated with the JVP were murdered in many ways — throats slit and bodies left on roads, bodies disfigured beyond recognition, dumped in rivers, burned on highways. That was the UNP terrorist government’s modus operandi.

¶ 11 Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights says every human being has the inherent right to life and no one shall be arbitrarily deprived of life. But J.R., Premadasa, and Ranil’s government violated this. They arrested as “JVP suspects,” tortured, and killed. Not only JVP — the report notes SLFP members were also taken and disappeared; similarly LSSP members — on page 37.

¶ 12 Not only that; they even killed UNP members. The report names those. That was their political morality.

¶ 13 There were also issues within the military and police. Who led them? The army’s leader was under President Premadasa. Under his leadership the army and police operated. Many organizations were formed: “Kalu Balallu,” “PRA,” “Eagles of the Central Hills,” “Scorpion,” “Rathu Makara,” “Red Dragon,” “Green Tigers.” Who were “Green Tigers”? As recorded, bodyguards of ministers and MPs at that time formed such groups. Were these lawful? They roamed at night, made lists, dragged people away — government employees, businessmen — tortured them as I described. How were people abducted? In Pajeros and Hiaces without number plates. The report says ministers’ vehicles were used to abduct and torture innocent boys and girls.

¶ 14 Among those tortured were university students — even those who studied with me in the medical faculty — schoolchildren, trade union leaders. They crushed the student and worker movements to protect power. The reasons listed were association with the JVP and political activity — not that they carried weapons. Even lawyers were among those killed, because they appeared in certain cases; lawyers were threatened. There was no law for such prosecutions then.

¶ 15 We know of journalist Richard de Zoysa. He was murdered. Dr. Saravanamuttu, his mother, named those who came to take him. Yet there were no prosecutions. The AG’s Department was the same; they did not proceed.

¶ 16 Those in prisons were also killed. Families went to see detainees; later, the detainees had disappeared. Monks were murdered — temples attacked. The report states:

¶ 17 “A group of men armed with T56 guns came to the temple. They were not in uniform but I think they were from the army because they had T56 guns. They killed all the five monks in the temple ...”

¶ 18 They even stripped monks and tortured them; poured petrol on their private parts and burned — as recorded.

¶ 19 Sexual violence also occurred. Ranil talks about gender rights; but what was done then? Our sisters were raped; our brothers were forced to assault our sisters. This is how Ranil and the UNP government functioned. Those subjected to torture were unarmed; they had a right to do politics. International humanitarian law states “Direct attacks against civilians and/or civilian objects are categorized as war crimes,” and requires protection of the wounded and sick. Thus Ranil Wickremesinghe and that government committed war crimes.

¶ 20 Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees: Hon. Minister, please conclude.

¶ 21 Give me one more minute.

¶ 22 The Premadasa–Ranil government abducted innocents and punished them. Some say it was acceptable since insurgents did things. Even if insurgents did wrong — which I do not condone — a legitimate government cannot do worse. That violates international human rights law. Our opposition is to those actions, not to individuals. We should conduct further investigations and speak again.

¶ 23 Thank you for the time.