By Namini Wijedasa
Professor of Electrical Engineering, Ratnajeevan Hoole, University Grants Commission coordinator for engineering, Jaffna University , fled the country last week after the EPDP leader, Douglas Devananda initiated legal proceedings against him. He granted an interview to LAKBIMAnEWS from his temporary base in London . Excerpts:
What were the circumstances of your leaving? Was there an immediate trigger that led to it such as threat, intimidation or fear for your life?
Yes, there was a criminal charge that was filed by the police over an accurate article I wrote based on first hand information about the EPDP rigging elections in Kayts. The criminal charge meant I would be detained and released only on bail. The criminal nature of the charge other factors, suggested to me that the whole system is in Devananda’s pockets. The EPDP according to credible reports has murdered many people and I was advised not to go to Kayts. So I fled.
How did an arrest warrant come to be issued on you?
I really do not know of any arrest warrant. My understanding is that if I do not turn up on the next date, August 15, an open warrant would be issued.
Why did you not appear in court as directed on August 5?
First, I was advised that what I received is not official summons but merely a notice to appear with mistakes in it. Second, I do not trust the system or police to be fair. So I sent a lawyer to find out what is going on.
Did you leave on account of the arrest warrant?
As I said, I do not know of an arrest warrant but my turning up on the 15th I was advised would lead to my arrest and release on bail, and my not going on the 15th, to an open warrant. The university did not honour my UGC appointment as coordinator for engineering, which is only “until further notice,” and had not called me for a single meeting on engineering. The Council discussions as reported to me suggested the new vice chancellor (VC) was planning to recommend my termination and I felt vulnerable. My salary too had never to date been paid on time. I had to complain to the Jaffna Labour Officer to be paid. When queried by the UGC, the VC would say she has signed off on my pay as if the VC is not responsible for what happens after that. So I resigned in June with three months’ notice and was looking for jobs in Sri Lanka and abroad. My being on bail would have meant restricting my job search to Sri Lanka where a professorial position is processed slowly.
With four children, I had to be able to move abroad. So I left
You have been issued fresh court summons requiring you to be present in court on August 8. Why did you choose to leave the country instead of answering the summons?
Really August 15th. This week, fortunately for me, is court vacation. That gave me the window to run before proper summons are served on me
It is reported that the summons indicated you will face a criminal charge. What is this criminal charge?
No charge is specified. But the B in the charge reference number B/157/2011 indicates a criminal charge, I am advised. I cannot even organize my defence without knowing the charge. This is why I do not trust the system. I do not know why the president trusts this Devananda who is a disgrace to the Tamil people but the president believes Devananda has a lot of support. After the last local government elections I hope the president knows better, that the Tamil people hate Devananda.
Were you not confident that you could avoid remand? Did you feel you would be flung into jail without bail?
With such a charge as indicated by the B-reference on the letter I received, I am told that I would normally have been arrested and then released on bail and then the case would go on for years. But with the system being what it is, I could not take the risk of being in jail without bail under the custody of police who clearly showed a bias for Devananda.
Criminal proceedings were initiated on the basis of an article you wrote. How would you say this reflects on the state of democracy in the country, Jaffna in particular?
There is no democracy when the government rigs the elections in Kayts as I saw. There is no democracy when our provincial council elections have not been held although they were set up for us Tamils. There is no democracy when our elected representatives are bypassed and someone summons medical directors, vice chancellors, the government agent and everyone in authority to meetings as though he were our president and all of them run when summoned as if they are scared for their lives. The judicial system has failed for reasons I’d rather not state here; the police rush a charge sheet with mistakes the way they did to me.
This is why wherever the vote was fair, the government got only about 20% of the vote. Even most of those who are obsequious, obedient and fawning before this person that most believe is a murderer, voted against the government. I am happy that the president has now a real chance to rethink his alliances with Tamils and decide who really represents us. courtesy: LakbimaNews
A telling and clear indictment of the Govt Policies in the North. But will it learn? Govt is more focussed on implementing its narrow supremist policies than serving the people North, South, East or West.
serving the family, not the country.
Professor,it is a big loss not only to the Tamils in SL but also to SL.Our community needs educated people like you.Not uneducated Douglas.It is a curse that Jaffna people keep electing him as their representative. What happens is our people study at the SL universities and get the degree and then leave country and serve westerners and minting green bucks.As far as you are concerned,you were holding a high position in an American university and came to SL to serve the Tamils. Even though I didnt like you approached Douglas to get the VC post,you had to leave the country because of the Tigers.Had someone else sought the help of Douglas to get the VC post,I would have digested it.The other thing is professor,at the LLRC you should have never said”Public had severe misgivings about Douglas.But he has earned a place among the tamil people”This is very wrong.Please think again and come back and face the trial and then only you can expose these goons.
I was interviewed by the Kayts Police today (2 Aug. 2011) at my office at the University of Jaffna. Inspector of Police Silva of the Kayts Crimes Branch was nice and courteous and seemed to see interviewing me as a matter of duty
Internal colonialism and Tamils to be submissive in a servile manner,this is what Sinhala Buddhist country wants.mr. Namini Wijedasa’s tone of this interview also reflects this fact. like master questioning the servant. Let me tell you, No self respecting Tamil would cow down to this state or its devilish ministers and especially Douglas a Tamil clown looking after himself only, many poor interlects and thugs dancing to his tune. Natural justice will chase him to the very end. If Rajapaske can’t distinguish between genuine and a replica then that is his weakness, power has blinded him. Prof be safe than be sorry. Only the ministrial frogs croak saying srilanka a democratic country. Democracy was burried in 1949 by DS, defranchising the People who were and are the backbone of the countries GDP. Many people in Srilanka think that holding elections means the democracy is alive. Prof Hoole; as the Tamil proverb says, when you see an evil person it is better to avoid him, Iam sure what you did was just that and did not run, but walked away from the hell hole.
What more convincing evidence does one want to show how the Governing party’s nominees in the North (EPDP) conduct their business. It is wholly against the law, (breaking the law with impunity) and the carriage of Justice is also non existent as the innocent are implicated and the Guilty are even protected by the Justice system.
Until the average person can understand that it is this sort of action that right thinking people are up against, we cannot foresee the much needed change that is required for a lasting settlement. Once the people of the South wake up to the reality of the Monster they have created by their ignorance, nothing will change.
pROF HOOLE TORN BETWEEN TWP WORLDS.
Waran…….. let me also tell you, No self respecting Sinhalease whether Buddhist or Catholic cow down to the Rhetorics of Tamil Politicians and the Diasspora. It was your diasspora Intellects that financed LTTE thugs & danced to their tune & continue to do so led by a Cassoak wearing dancer S.J.Emmanuel. We too await natural justice to you dispporas to be toppled from your high pedestals.
Also the Democratic Countries too think the same way that holding elections means democracy. nevertheless, election are held.
The majority too follow the same Tamil proverb. GOSL are avoiding the evil diasspora & S.J.Emmanuel.
Hell hole is for Emmanuel & the Diasspora & unfortunately for WARAN as well.
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What can I say? All are jokers in our mother land!
Mr Sambandan the TNA leader and political ally of Professor Hoole is gloating that they won a landslide.
And the good Professor reckons the Elections are rigged.
I am at a loss to understand this oxymoron.
One thing I can understand is ,this Professor has no respect for the Laws of the Land.
He levelled serious accusations against a fellow Tamil, who is a respected Minister in the Govt.
In fact this Minister stood up to Mr Prabakaran for a long time with enormous courage unlike the others who pretend to be courageous by stating that they were standing up to the LTTE leader too.
These accusations included alleded killings, misapropriations and serious fraud like election rigging.
When the accused made a coplaint to the Police the good Professor ran out of the country.
He is now making further allegations about the integrity of the Police ,and the Judiciary.
Now ,my question is would this same Country that allows these people to sneak in and out at their will anytime without any checks, allow them the same privileges ,if they defamed a Minister of Her Majesty’s Govt.
Prof. Hoole,
I am pleased to learn of your depature from the lawless country at the right moment. With the intimate knowledge of an insider, you can better serve your people as an advocate for human rights from outside. All the best for your resettling in a democratic country of your choice.