CPJ expresses concern over delay in Athas case

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has expressed concern over the lack of progress in the case in which two Air Force officials have been indicted for criminal intimidation of The Sunday Times Defence Columnist Iqbal Athas.

The New York based organisation fighting for the rights of journalists throughout the world said the organisation was disturbed about the numerous delays in the case.

The CPJ on Thursday wrote to the Attorney General K. C. Kamalasabeyson regarding the issue with copies to President Chandrika Kumaratunga, Justice Minister Batty Weerakoon and Media Minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa among others.

The text of the statement is as follows:

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is greatly concerned by the lack of progress in the case involving defence columnist of The Sunday Times Iqbal Athas and his alleged harassment by two Air Force officers who have been indicted for criminal intimidation of Mr. Athas and criminal trespass and unlawful entry into the journalist's home on February 12, 1998.

The CPJ is disturbed by the numerous delays that have marred the legal proceedings in this case. The case was first taken up by the High Court on April 22 and scheduled for July 16, 1999, then postponed until November 1999. It was then delayed successively in January, May, September and December 2000. Hearings scheduled for December 4, 2000 were postponed until February 16, 2001. On Friday 16, The High Court postponed the case until April 30, in response to a request made by a lawyer for one of the defendants who sought more time to prepare for the case. The process of justice has dragged on for more than three years since Mr. Athas and his family were attacked.

According to Mr. Athas, at approximately 9 p.m. on February 12, 1998, five armed men entered his home and threatened him and his daughter, then seven years old, at gunpoint. While Mr. Athas was struggling with the intruders, one of the five abruptly called off the operation, apparently out of concern that they would be caught. Neighbours later said the area around the journalist's home was surrounded by a force of at least 20 armed men on the night of the assault.

Mr. Athas believes that the attack came in retaliation for a series of exposes he wrote for The Sunday Times about corruption in the military and irregularities in the Air Force's weapons procurement practices. Two Air Force officers, squadron leaders H. M Rukman Herath and D. S. Prasanna Kannangara, were identified by Mr. Athas and his wife as being among the five intruders, Both men were indicted with criminal charges, but are currently out on bail.

Since the attack , the administration has, to its credit, provided security for Mr. Athas and his family. The Media Ministry has also regularly highlighted its efforts in this case as an example of the administration's commitment to protecting media freedom. Yet, this claim rings hollow as long as justice is postponed indefinitely.

As an Organisation of journalists dedicated to the defence of our colleagues around the world, CPJ respectfully asks that you use your authority as the Attorney General to ensure that Mr. Athas's case is prosecuted promptly. This case has already been postponed seven times-none of these at the request of Mr. Athas or his legal counsel. Subsequent delays will not only mar the reputation of Sri Lanka's judiciary system, but will further prejudice the government's claim to honour press freedom.

Allow them to go home, says Tamil Congress

The Tamil Congress are protesting against moves to resettle the displaced people from Valigamam North in other areas in the Jaffna peninsula.

In a protest letter to President Kumaratunga and Northern Development Minister Douglas Devananda Tamil Congress leader V. Vinayagamoorthi alleged that the displaced people had been refused permission to settle in their own homes. He claimed there seemed to be a hidden agenda for the government as far as the Valigamam North area was concerned.

He said the right to live in a person's home was a fundamental right and there would be mass protest if this was denied.

Right of reply

With reference to The Sunday Times story dated January 28 headlined "State Banks trigger dollar crisis", the Bank of Ceylon and the People's Bank say the story is incorrect as their dealers were not involved in any way in the crisis.

Bank of Ceylon General Manager Sarath de Silva said he was perturbed by the story, which had tarnished the image of the bank. He vehemently denied such action by dealers of the bank.

People's Bank Additional General Manager Asoka de Silva said in a letter the story was inaccurate and dealers of the bank were not involved.

He said the management of the bank was fully aware of the trade developments and all foreign exchange transactions carried out by the bank's dealers. As a responsible state institution, it is not the practice of the bank to indulge in speculative trading, he adds.

The error is regretted.

CEB chief explains financial crisis

The Ceylon Electricity Board in a statement claimed its financial crisis was due to the use of thermal power, the failure of three successive monsoons in catchment areas, the tripling of world oil prices and the delay in implementing two vital thermal power projects.

Denying media reports of widespread corruption, the CEB chairman Arjuna Deraniyagala said the increasing demand and the low rainfall forced the CEB to use thermal power to avoid extensive power cuts last year as in 1996.

He said that the CEB had to spend Rs. 22.6 billion for thermal power generation which earned only 13.3 billion in revenue. Thus the overall increase in revenue in 2000 compared to 1999 was only 13% amounting to Rs. 2.5 billion.

With a cash deficit of Rs. 3.9 billion at the end of the year, the CEB had to opt for a bank overdraft because it was unable to recover the additional cost of thermal power generation through a tariff increase, he said.

The chairman said the Government's procedural delay in implementing two thermal power projects which would have been more economical to run, had also contributed to the financial crisis.

He said the building of a large coal power plant without further delay would be the only reliable way to meet the growing demand and to ensure uninterrupted power while the implementation of the Upper Kotmale Hydropower Project would also help.

He said unless these projects were implemented, the CEB's financial viability would continue to depend on rainfall in catchment areas and it would have to commission more oil-fired power plants which would result in sudden price hikes brought about mainly by rising oil costs and droughts.

EU team raises rights issue

A visiting European Union delegation yesterday criticised the Sri Lankan government for its human rights record and said that it was worried about people being detained for long periods of time without charge and trial.

"This is a very serious violation of personal rights and we would like to see that changed," Gerard Collins, who led a five-member EU parliamentary delegation, told a news conference in Colombo.

"There is an indication that all is not well within the prison system," he said.

The EU delegation also urged the government to implement recommendations by an EU electoral observer mission which attended parliamentary elections last October.

Mr. Collins said the "very heavy loss of life" during the elections, which returned President Chandrika Kumaratunga's People's Alliance to power, could not be ignored.

"We will maintain as much pressure as we can to ensure that democracy is fully realised," Mr. Collins said. "The possibility that anybody muscles their way through the electoral process should be eliminated."

Surcharge puts traders in price dilemma

By Faraza Farook

Import traders hit by the free float of the rupee, are once again contemplating another price increase in the face of the government decision to impose a surcharge on tariffs.

The Government on Tuesday announced a tariff surcharge on non-essential imports ranging from 2% to 14%.

While the Government claimed that the move was necessary to enhance revenue and protect local industries, importers said this would make their imports expensive and eventually they would be thrown out of business.

Building materials, newsprint, hardware, electrical and electronic goods were some of the items that will go up in price.

The tariff, is however, exempted on essential goods such milk powder, drugs and on capital goods such as lorries and tractors.

Hardware Merchant's Association spokesmn Nawaz Rajabdeen said prices of all hardware items would be increased by 15%.

Meanwhile electronic items were also heading for a price increase with at least 10% surcharge imposed on the next consignment. Traders said they expected a 50 percent drop in sales as a result of a price increase.

"Sales have gone down drastically during the past year," Rohan Amarasekera, manager of electronic item firm Shermans. He said the company increased the prices by ten percent when the rupee devaluation was effected, and they would effect another price hike in the face of the duty surcharge.

The new tariff surcharge which came into effect on Wednesday is a temporary measure till December 31, according to the government.

Some of the goods that fall under the revised tariff of 49% from its former 35% (14% increase) include imported vegetables, spices, children's food such as cereals, animal and fat products, imported cigarettes and soya oil.

Items that came under the 35% tariff (formerely 25%) were cars, motorcycles, some electrical appliances such as refrigerators and washing machines, imported meat products, liqour, porcelain, paints and shoes.

The 10% tariff increased to 14% will cover small scale electrical appliances such as televisions, rice cookers, radios, grinders and blenders and clocks. The 7% tariff from its 5% earlier will be imposed on products such as cement, iron, chemicals and products containing copper.

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