2ND LEAD

Colombo withdraws security, Mano Ganesan fears for his life

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 19 December 2007, 01:04 GMT]
Mano Ganesan, founder of Civil Monitoring Commission (CMC) and a Rights award winner from the U.S. Government, in a press release issued Wednesday said that Sri Lanka Government has withdrawn eight of the ten Security personnel, and that he fears Sri Lanka Government is creating a climate for getting him assassinated. Pointing out that the official organ of the ruling Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), has described him "as an arms supplier to the LTTE, drug trafficker and collaborator with the under world criminals," Ganesan said, Colombo is orchestrating attacks against him from communal elements.

Mr. Ganesan said Wednesday, following his media release, the Swiss Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Hon. Ruth Flint Ledergerber, visited his home at 3:00 p.m. and expressed solidarity. Several other ambassadors have called him to express their Government's support to his work, and have scheduled meetings with him to discuss the situation and to offer their support.

He also said that the U.S. Embassy will be making arrangements for him to receive the U.S. Human Rights Award, the first "Freedom Defender's Award," and he does not yet know whether he will be travelling to U.S. related to this event.

Full text of the media release follows:

Government is setting stage for my elimination by first publishing lies and then withdrawing security

Government has withdrawn since 8 PM of 18th December the additional security provided to me aftermath of the killing of my co-founder of Civil Monitoring Commission Nadaraja Raviraj almost a year ago in Colombo's high security zone. Government's latest move is amidst my request for enhancement of my security due to the increased threats to my life. Eight out of the team of ten MSD security personnel have been called back with their weapons and security back-up vehicle. This is contrary to the view of MSD intelligence division which has repeatedly told me on increased level of threats to my life. I believe by this vindictive act government is setting the stage and paving way for my physical elimination says Western Peoples Front leader and Civil Monitoring Commission convener Mano Ganesan MP. Ganesan said further to the media,

Government's anger over me has increased manifolds since I was nominated to the Freedom Defender runner-up award the by US secretary of state Condoleeza Rice on behalf of her government. This award is an acknowledgment to our human rights campaign and confirmation to the existing deplorable human rights condition in this country. Ruling Sri Lanka Freedom Party's official organ "Dinakara" in a front page story in its latest edition has come very hard on me. It has described me as an arms supplier to the LTTE, drug trafficker and collaborator with the under world criminals. The undercurrent of the story in the paper is finding fault with United States of America for choosing me for the award, thereby gives an impression that US government supports all the criminality pinned on me. .

I have today written to the IGP to initiate immediate investigations on the criminal accusations attributed by the official organ of SLFP. The police can take action against me if the SLFP provides evidences, if any. I have also handed over this subject to my lawyers for initiating legal action.

The very serious criminal nature of the accusation evidently indicates the fury of the political leadership of the government. This fabricated utter falsehood story is made deliberately with malicious intent to destroy my reputation as well of the government of United States of America. The undercurrent of the story in the paper is finding fault with United States of America for choosing me for the award, thereby gives an impression that US government supports all the criminality pinned on me. I cannot speak for USA. It is for the US government to make its responses.

Government's game plan is very clear. First, it publishes utter falsehood. It orchestrates direct threat to my life as my personal security is being endangered by 'LTTE arms supplier label' attributed to me. It could bring hatred from unsuspecting innocent people and could be used by communal elements against me. Next, it withdraws my security and puts me into a vulnerable situation. This is against the known fact that I have been living under severe threats to my life due to my human rights campaign as the convener of Civil Monitoring Commission involved in monitoring involuntary Disappearances, Abductions, Extra Judicial Killings, Extortions and Arbitrary arrests and detentions in Sri Lanka.

Chronology: