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'olice baffled why Sivaram was killed near parliament
Sunday, 1 May 2005 - 3:57 AM SL Time
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Police investigating journalist Dharmalingam Sivaram?s killing are baffled as to why he was shot dead on the banks of the Diyawanna Oya near parliament.
Sivaram, also known by his journalistic pseudonym, Taraki had been shot once through his head killing him instantaneously. Police have recovered two 9mm empties near the body.
`Whoever who shot him could easily have collected the empties,` a policeman told The Sunday Island, adding that a second shot had entered the body after going through his left hand.
Investigators said that there was no indication to suggest that Sivaram had struggled with his captors. They said that the 46-year-old journalist had been dealt a hard blow to back of head with a blunt instrument before he was shot.
IGP Chandra Fernando has directed the Colombo Crime Division (CCD) to investigate the killing. Fernando has also assigned the STF to conduct a separate probe.
An unidentified gang abducted Sivaram as he waited for a bus near a Bambalapitiya restaurant situated opposite the Bambalapitiya police station Thursday night at about 10.30 pm.
Police said that Sivaram had not been tortured. His abductors had not been after information, a DIG said, adding that they could have shot him outside the restaurant. But they took him all the way to Sri Jayawardhanapura and shot him.
According to Kusal Perera now with Ravaya, Sivaram had been on his mobile phone when he was dragged into a grey coloured jeep.
Perera had told the Colombo Crime Division (CCD) that Sivaram, Prasantha Ratnayake (a cousin of UNP MP Sagala Ratnayake) and health sector trade union activist Ravi Kumudesh and he had beer at the Bambalapitiya restaurant. While Ratnayake and Kumudesh had taken a three-wheeler towards Kollupitiya, he and Sivaram had waited for a bus when his colleague was bundled into the vehicle. The CCD had recorded their statements.
Police said that they did not find Sivaram?s cellular phone on his body. `It could have fallen in the vehicle,` the investigator said. The possibility of the cellular phone taken by one of the gang could not be ruled out, he said.
The LTTE in a statement issued from its Kilinochchi headquarters on Friday accused the Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI) and para-militaries collaborating with the services of the killing. The LTTE identifies the dissident faction led by one time Batticaloa commander Karuna as a para-military unit working with the military.
Military spokesman Brigadier Daya Ratnayake dismissed the LTTE claim. `We have nothing to do with Sivaram`s killing or with Karuna,` he emphasised.
`Forces that cannot stand up to Sivaram?s resoluteness, his firm conviction on issues, and depth and brilliance in broad range of skills, have abducted and murdered him to silence his voice,` the LTTE said.
`Sivaram had threats from Sri Lanka military intelligence several times in the past. Security forces have forced entry and have searched his residence in the past. Murder was carried out inside the high security zone. Therefore, the Sri Lanka Government and its security forces bear responsibility for this murder,` the LTTE said.
Sivaram?s killing comes hot on the heels of the disappearance of a top LTTE cadre identified as Newton during a recent visit to the south. Newton believed to be one of the senior cadres responsible for a series of bomb attacks in Colombo and suburbs over a period of time had disappeared. His disappearance was followed by the vanishing of Inspector T. Jeyaratnam of police intelligence believed to be taken by LTTE operatives with the help of a person who claimed to have been with the PLOTE.
The government has denied any knowledge of Newton?s whereabouts. The LTTE keeps mum on Jeyaratnam although the police have accused the LTTE of abducting the officer.
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Ruphan
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 11
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 1 May 2005 07:18:38 GMT Report for Abuse
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Sivaram was killed by the LTTE. LTTE has for a long time been suspicious of his contacts. The conflict Sivaram created with a Norwegian anti terrorism group has created a lot of problems for the LTTE both in Europe and in Thailand. Sivaram also cooperated with Nadarajha Sethurupan another LTTE friendly journalist, who has damage the LTTE political work. Last week Sethurupan asked for Police protection from the Norwegian Justice Ministry.
The timing of the murder is also important. GOSL have no added pressure to give the LTTE a Joint mechanism. We assume the weak government will cave in to the terrorist organisations demand. Once again the Tamil dissidents will be sacrificed for the GOSL naive belief the LTTE all of a sudden will become a democratic party.
By murdering Sivaram within the high security zone LTTE once again has made a mockery of the Sri Lankan security measures.
Unfortunately we believe the truth about the Sivaram murder will not be given to the public. The GOSL is to afraid to provocateur the LTTE.
The next election and the dream of a Nobel Peace Price is more important for the President, than to reveal the truth about the Sivaram murder. |
ARUN
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 197
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1 May 2005 12:21:07 GMT Report for Abuse
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| LTTE never kills people. they are saints. but they killed Sivaram and kept close to parliament because LTTE now losing everything. LTTE wants to win people. So welldone Prabakaran. You are always the greatest coward. Shame to TAMILS |
madu
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 159
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1 May 2005 13:16:50 GMT Report for Abuse
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| ELARAAAA ... HOW ARE U MY MAN /./ .... YOUR ENGLISH IS GETTING BETTER ..... !!! |
samanj
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1927
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2 May 2005 08:31:23 GMT Report for Abuse
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RHUPAN : Late Mr. D.Sivaram / Nadaraja Sethurpan connection ?????????????
Are the Norwegian Intelligence creating havoc within SL circles ????????????/Norwegian conspiracy ???
Ela _ki_Buwa / Ealavar : I enjoy your tussle....
Yes Elavar.. the British English system of O or A levels are not of British heritage..... Right.........but are the British granting refugee status hereditary acceptable ?
You would know that or have an idea... Why not you provide E_K_Buwa an opportunity as well ? |
Rocket
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2
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2 May 2005 08:52:29 GMT Report for Abuse
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Who ever it was, they are not looking beyond the horizon. What a pity, one party accuses the other and vice versa. Who are they trying to bully? the people who read this news or themselves. The LTTE is quoted as saying that the GOSL is fully responsible of this killing. Come on guys, you are kidding aren't you? Other Tamils who oppose the LTTE's cause were also murdered in Colombo (suburbs) wasn?t it? So any Tamil who gets a Bullet up his nose is an act of the GOSL. Wake up Srilankans !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Its time to think a bit logically. After all they say the Asians are good at logic, but not the Srilankans i guess!!!!!!(Sinhalese, Tamils , Muslims and who ever who are holders of Srilankan Birth certificates)
Its a pity to see a great country going to thugs, terrorists and uneducated politicians.
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