Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna

¶ 01 Good morning! Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker, for giving me time to speak.

¶ 02 I must place on record matters not directly linked to today’s topic. Regarding the Chemmani mass grave, when UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk visited Parliament, Hon. Bimal Rathnayake prevented me from speaking. When Mr. Türk went to Chemmani, a heavy schedule was arranged to restrict people from meeting him. Even so, our people met him.

¶ 03 Hon. Deputy Speaker, I must say this in both Sinhala and English for the record. People have been buried there. Yesterday, a skeleton of a six-year-old child was found—identified with a UNICEF number tag. Both a six-year-old and a three-month-old baby were buried three feet deep. About 33 skeletons have been recovered so far. If an inquiry into Batalanda was possible—while we respect war heroes, not everyone with a gun is a hero—there were also grave crimes. A mother was raped; even a three-month-old infant was violated and killed. They were buried three feet deep; about 33 skeletons have surfaced.

¶ 04 Hon. Deputy Speaker, a mother was raped, stripped, and buried alive. While she lay dying, her three-month-old baby was killed. The woman’s skeleton was found clutching the infant. We want the pain in that soil to be known.

¶ 05 At the meeting with the UN High Commissioner, Hon. Bimal Rathnayake said only Hon. Sumanthiran could speak for the ITAK; others could not. I asked for two minutes. He said no; I spoke anyway. Later, when vehicles were ready to take Mr. Türk from Chemmani, I told him, “Sir, 15,000 people are crying there; please come and see.” That is how people could meet him. Our Minister Chandrasekar and Mr. Rajiv were chased by angry people—please understand the pain in our people’s hearts. Tamil people do not want the country divided. They only want justice. If 98–99 percent of soldiers were honourable, those who committed murders must face trial.

¶ 06 Some say I called Namal Rajapaksa my friend. Yes, politically he is. But accountability is needed for past killings; his father fought the LTTE and won—that is not the issue. The issue is justice. There are 33 skeletons. A Minister, Hon. Harsha Nanayakkara, called this hearsay. How can 33 bodies in one pit be hearsay? This is fact. My own father disappeared.

¶ 07 On another matter: 323 containers. A case has been filed to disqualify me. I fear because I have information. I can table a list of what was inside those 323 containers, and from which countries—some from Germany—I have seen it. But I am pressured and fear for my life. If I cannot table it here, I may have to leave the country to reveal the truth. I have been questioned by CID about statements I made inside Parliament. I told them to read the Parliament (Powers and Privileges) Act. My parliamentary speech cannot be questioned outside. The Speaker’s letter alleging a breach of my rights did not mention my speech on the 323 containers. I am being silenced. Thank you.