Ranil, Hakeem shed more light on gruesome Aluthgama deaths

Wednesday, 9 July 2014 00:59 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Questionable post-mortem report and cause of deathAttorney General not present for inquest
Government Analyst not summoned prior to debris removal
Investigations continued by Police

By Ashwin Hemmathagama Our Lobby Correspondent Suspicious procedures followed in investigating the deaths of two people in Welipitiya during the recent ethnic clashes, lead to “aspersions” yesterday in Parliament. Minister of Justice Rauff Hakeem was also unsure about the findings in the post-mortem report, which is now at stake. However, justifying some of the other questionable deviations authorities made instead of following the routine procedure, Minister of Justice Rauf Hakeem outlined three important components – speculation on cause of death, absence of the Attorney General at the inquest proceeding, and the Government analyst not being summoned before the debris was removed from the destroyed properties.

“The controversy arises with the post-mortem report filed at the Magistrates Court. The Magistrate concerned clarified the sittings held a few days ago and the counsel appearing on behalf of the aggrieved parties was allowed to examine this post-mortem report. According to this report, one death occurred due to shooting. The other is somewhat unclear and the Magistrate has ordered the Judicial Medical Officer to help ascertain the causes of death. It is also a fact that next of kin of the deceased, because of the trauma of exhumation, will not always want an exhumation to take place. A matter of public importance is now pending in courts. “Non-summoning of the Attorney General to appear is the second issue. The Attorney General is not summoned for every inquest where police officials think that they can assist the Magistrate to

conduct the investigation. The other pertinent issue pertains to the removal of the debris before the Government Analyst was summoned. I must say that the Deputy Inspector General of Police of the area told me he has collected necessary material and a report from the Government Analyst will only be called if there is a doubt about the cause of fire. In all statements recorded from eyewitnesses, there is no contradiction of the fire that took place as a result of certain mobs setting fire to residence and business places,” said the Minister in response to Leader of the Opposition Ranil Wickremesinghe’s questions raised under section 23 (2) of the standing orders. According to the Leader of the Opposition there are many eyewitnesses who state that the deaths occurred due to gunfire although the post mortem states that the deaths were caused by lethal cut wounds. “These contradictory statements bring about many misgivings, which are further confounded by the interview given by Minister Rauff Hakeem to a Sunday newspaper recently. He has stated that although two people were shot dead in Welipitiya, its inquiry and the post-mortem are strange where two died due to lethal cut wounds. He found it a very serious matter if even the medical reports are prepared fraudulently. As the Minister of Justice himself states, it is a very serious matter if even the medical reports are prepared fraudulently,” said Wickremesinghe. Draw attention to the Magistrate’s inquiry conducted for the killings, where no representation from the Attorney General’s Department was present, Wickremesinghe said: “Counsels appearing for the affected party drew the attention of the Court on an important matter where they stated that the Government Analyst had not yet been called to the destroyed locations. In particular, it is a methodology followed worldwide to summon the analysts to the locations destroyed by fire and explore its cause. However, at this instance, not only the Department of Government Analysts had not been called, but also the armed forces had been deployed to remove all the debris and renovate all such spots that caught fire so that all proof that would support such an inquiry would be rubbed out. Therefore, the Magistrate has issued an order banning removal of debris around the spot concerning this case and the related renovations. However, I would like to bring to the notice of this House that the process of concealing proof is underway everywhere else.” Against this backdrop, the Opposition Leader asked for the evidence available that bullets were used, and to explain the steps Minister took against the officer who did not prepare the post mortem report properly. “Is not the state of the officers who perform their duties under your Ministry subject to influence and pressure from outside amount to a disparagement of the judicial system of this country? What are the steps you intend to take to prevent recurrence of such a situation in future? What was the reason for the Attorney General’s Department to distance itself from the magisterial inquiry? When the process of removing debris without an inquiry by the Department of Government Analysts was started, why did the Ministry of Justice not intervene to prevent it and summon the Government Analysts?”