10-06-2003, 08:15 AM
[size=14]LTTE ADMITS PRABHAKARAN HAS THE POWER TO CHANGE VERDICTS, INTERVENE IN JUDICIAL PROCESS AND CHANGE LAW IN EELAM COURTS
By Walter Jayawardhana reporting from Los Angeles
October 06.11.30 AM: S. Pararajasingham, the legal advisor to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in an interview with the BBC's Sinhala language service said the terrorist group's Supremo Velupillai Prabhakaran had the power to change verdicts of the Eelam courts, intervene in the judicial process and even change the law itself as the need arises.
The statement, broadcast Sunday October 5, confirmed the contention of many foreign observers that the LTTE courts were only political extensions of the terrorist group, did not follow due process, did not enjoy any judicial independence at all and refused to pay attention to the rule of law. Opposition Tamil groups accused the Eelam Courts as only part of a fascist administration that totally rejected a multi-party polity that existed in the rest of the country.
In an interview with the BBC's Sandeshaya, usually extremely friendly and supportive of the rebel group and accused by a JVP political leader as white washing the Tamil Tigers, the LTTE's legal advisor said they would only give up the capital punishment given to its accused, mostly for political opposition and other serious crimes only after a political settlement with the Sri Lanka government. He said among 24,000 cases tried by Eelam courts appointed by terrorist leader Velupillai Prabhakaran only 4 had been given the capital punishment, so far.
Asked from where they derived the power to give capital punishment to their accused, after reminding him that the courts could be accused of murder under Sri Lanka's law, the legal advisor said the power came from their political leader Velupillai Prabhakaran and said even the Sri Lankan courts derived its power from the country's political leadership. In short, according to this description Prabhakaran was above law
Sri Lanka's judiciary, receives its power through the people's sovereignty deriving through the constitution of Sri Lanka. Comparatively, the LTTE believes all its power come from its Supremo Velupillai Prabhakaran and accused by the opponents of teaching Tamil children, that he was Sun God.
But Pararajasingham said, after a political settlement, the LTTE would give up imposing capital punishment on the accused tried by the Eelam judiciary, that had been accused by opponents as Kangaroo Courts and Pseudo Judiciary.
In Sri Lanka, capital punishment has been suspended and Interior Minister John Ameratunga following the LTTE, is trying to revive the capital punishment
Asked how people charged by the Eelam courts were abruptly released on the intervention of the others, Pararajasingham said when Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) or the Sri Lanka government intervenes with the political wing of the LTTE, and they contact Prabhakaran he could discharge the accused.
At this stage S. Pararajasingham admitted Prabhakaran could intervene in the proceedings, change verdicts or even change the law.
Dinasena Rathugamage, a contract reporter working for the BBC's Sandeshaya interviewed Pararajasingham
http://www.go2lanka.com/stories/061003.html
By Walter Jayawardhana reporting from Los Angeles
October 06.11.30 AM: S. Pararajasingham, the legal advisor to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in an interview with the BBC's Sinhala language service said the terrorist group's Supremo Velupillai Prabhakaran had the power to change verdicts of the Eelam courts, intervene in the judicial process and even change the law itself as the need arises.
The statement, broadcast Sunday October 5, confirmed the contention of many foreign observers that the LTTE courts were only political extensions of the terrorist group, did not follow due process, did not enjoy any judicial independence at all and refused to pay attention to the rule of law. Opposition Tamil groups accused the Eelam Courts as only part of a fascist administration that totally rejected a multi-party polity that existed in the rest of the country.
In an interview with the BBC's Sandeshaya, usually extremely friendly and supportive of the rebel group and accused by a JVP political leader as white washing the Tamil Tigers, the LTTE's legal advisor said they would only give up the capital punishment given to its accused, mostly for political opposition and other serious crimes only after a political settlement with the Sri Lanka government. He said among 24,000 cases tried by Eelam courts appointed by terrorist leader Velupillai Prabhakaran only 4 had been given the capital punishment, so far.
Asked from where they derived the power to give capital punishment to their accused, after reminding him that the courts could be accused of murder under Sri Lanka's law, the legal advisor said the power came from their political leader Velupillai Prabhakaran and said even the Sri Lankan courts derived its power from the country's political leadership. In short, according to this description Prabhakaran was above law
Sri Lanka's judiciary, receives its power through the people's sovereignty deriving through the constitution of Sri Lanka. Comparatively, the LTTE believes all its power come from its Supremo Velupillai Prabhakaran and accused by the opponents of teaching Tamil children, that he was Sun God.
But Pararajasingham said, after a political settlement, the LTTE would give up imposing capital punishment on the accused tried by the Eelam judiciary, that had been accused by opponents as Kangaroo Courts and Pseudo Judiciary.
In Sri Lanka, capital punishment has been suspended and Interior Minister John Ameratunga following the LTTE, is trying to revive the capital punishment
Asked how people charged by the Eelam courts were abruptly released on the intervention of the others, Pararajasingham said when Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) or the Sri Lanka government intervenes with the political wing of the LTTE, and they contact Prabhakaran he could discharge the accused.
At this stage S. Pararajasingham admitted Prabhakaran could intervene in the proceedings, change verdicts or even change the law.
Dinasena Rathugamage, a contract reporter working for the BBC's Sandeshaya interviewed Pararajasingham
http://www.go2lanka.com/stories/061003.html
Truth 'll prevail