TECHNICAL ANALYSIS OF CHANNEL 4 KILLING FIELDS DOCUMENTARY

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TECHNICAL ANALYSIS OF CHANNEL 4 KILLING FIELDS
DOCUMENTARY
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BACKGROUND

• The first UK show was on Ch. 4 TV, in August
  2009, showing a naked bound man being shot from
  behind
• The time difference between the gunshot sound and
  the appearance of the image is 0.296 sec.
• Hence the victim should be (considering the
  speed of sound) 102 meters away. But the victim
  is only a few feet away in the picture.
• A plausible explanation was found by the SL Army
  CRD by a field experiment.

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CORRESPONDING SOUND WAVEFORM HAS A DELAY OF
296 MILLISECONDS
Sound waveform of Gunshot starts here
296 ms
The Gun fires here according to the video
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FIELD EXPERIMENT

• The time line of the image lags the time line of
  the start of the audio data

Time advance
Sound of the gunshot
Gun fires on video

• The sound records before the corresponding video
  images appear in the video stream

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RESULT OF ANALYSIS

• The sound records before the corresponding video
  images in the equipment as per field experiment.
• Thus the final conclusion is
• Audio stream has been added later and not
  properly synchronized
• Thus the time synchronization of the video has
  become impaired during the dubbing and doctoring
  of the original video

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NEW Ch4 VIDEO SUBMITTED TO THE UN

• The new video is said to be the same old video
  with added footage and drama to further
  authenticate the item.
• The video appears to depict unknown and
  unidentified military members shooting two
  unidentified bound and blindfolded individuals in
  the head at close range with AK-47 variants or
  similar assault rifles, as well as the presence
  of several other unidentified deceased or dying
  individuals.

Contd.
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NEW Ch4 VIDEO SUBMITTED TO THE UN
Contd.

• The new recording contains the originally
  released material, as well as additional video
  that purports to depict two more shootings,
  extensive video of a collection of bodies at the
  site, and video from what appears to be a second
  location with four additional bodies visible.

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INDEPENDENT EXPERT

• Executive director of IPTV systems Siri
  Hewawitharana, Sydney (previously, head of
  Ciscos global broadcast and digital video
  practice division) has also examined the views
  given by the forensic video analysis experts
  contracted by the UN, on new Ch4 video
• Mr Grant Fredericks
• MR. Jeff S. Spivack
• These views have been summarized in a news report
  in the Asian Tribune, June 6, 2011.
• Also Mr Grants conclusions match with our expert
  ( Siri Hewawitharana) that video is edited, never
  came from mobile phone since video consist of
  optical zooming and high quality motion vectors
  that came from a video camera.

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KILLING FIELDS OF SRI LANKA

• Channel 4 aired a documentary on atrocities
  allegedly committed by the Sri Lankan military on
  15th June 2011.
• A segment of the new video submitted to the
  document has been added to the documentary.
• The independent observers views on the UN
  experts analysis on the new video strip is
  summarised subsequently

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EXCERPTS OF THE U.N ANALYSED VIDEO IN KILLING
FIELDS
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OPTICAL ZOOM
A wider image of the scene
A closer image of the scene
Contd
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OPTICAL ZOOM
Contd

• Analysis by UN expert
• The camera used to record this segment has
  optical capability as observed by Mr Grant
  Fredericks
• Independent Observers views
• Mobile phones available in 2009 and at present do
  not have optical zooming. Thus the image was
  recorded by a digital camera with optical zoom
  capability as contrary to claims made by Ch4 that
  the video was recorded by soldiers using mobile
  phones. It conclude that video never came from
  mobile source.

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MULTIPLE RECORDINGS
Cell phone operated by a short sleeved person
Cell phone operated by a long sleeved person
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MULTIPLE RECORDINGS

• Analysis by UN expert Either two men were at
  same location using the same mobile phone camera
  on two different times in a single recording or
  same man was recorded twice at two different time
  intervals.
• Independent Observer analysis This observation
  provides a doubt whether multiple recordings
  taken on the same event was done.. Conclusion is
  video use multiple video clips and finally edited
  to give the impression of a recording of a single
  consistent event.

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ANOLMALY IN HEX STRINGS

• Analysis by UN expert Comparisons of the hex
  strings of item1 and segment 2 of item 2 of
  video shows a deficit of 270 characters.
• Independent Observer analysis This is a anomaly
  caused by editing multiple recordings to form a
  single strip of video. Same effects can happen if
  you change the video wrapper.

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PIXEL DIMENSIONS OF VIDEO

• Analysis by UN expert
• It has been assumed that NOKIA 6620 has been
  used for recording the video. It has 640 x 480
  pixel dimensions for video and 176 x 144
  dimensions for still images.
• The video has 176 x 144 pixel dimensions. The
  media recording capabilities has been extended to
  record video of 176 x 144 pixel dimension
  matching the pixel dimension of the recorded
  event.
• Independent Observer analysis This is a
  misleading statement and the pixel dimensions
  should be 640 x 480

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INJURIES OF VICTIMS SHOT AT CLOSE RANGE
This image may have been digitally altered to
depict close range gun shot injuries to the
skull.. Can be seen in next slide Pixels does
not match and digital paint brush is used to show
blood and other effects on and around the boy.
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(No Transcript)
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INJURIES OF VICTIMS SHOT AT CLOSE RANGE

• Analysis by UN expert Injuries to the skull are
  authentic.
• Independent Observer analysis
• Image is digitally altered using a digital paint
  brush.
• Pixel mapping mismatch is quite clearly seen from
  neck upwards.

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DISSIMILAR SEGMENT IN AN NEWLY ADDED VIDEO STRIP

• Analysis by UN expert Ground appears to be less
  saturated (i.e. dry) and none of the other
  killings are not to be seen. It is likely that
  the segment was recorded by the same camera at a
  different time on the same location.
• Independent Observer analysis
• The older video segment had simulated killings
  which was rejected by GOSL claiming that sound
  was dubbed and video is edited and dates does not
  match.

Contd
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DISSIMILAR SEGMENT IN AN NEWLY ADDED VIDEO STRIP
Contd

• The new video strip was recorded much later after
  this claim taking into considerations the
  comments made by GOSL on the older recording.
  This was added to the older version and edited to
  appear as a single recorded video strip.
• NOTE
• As per UN expert analysis date the video has
  been recorded on 15th July 2009, nearly two
  months after the end of the war.
• Also video framing sequences are out of order
  and luminance levels are quite different
  indicating video is heavily edited using
  different high quality video camera and not by a
  mobile phone.

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• Check the timing counter The end of the video
  with red line indicating two layers of video at
  the top and audio (yellow bar)stopped well after
  the video indicating audio and video is not
  synchronized.

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• Edited video stopped at 05.25.000

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• Edited audio stopped at red line, check the
  counter it is different from the above video
  counter.. New audio counter is 05.25.625

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• See the two video layers.. and audio (yellow)
  between the original video and edited video.

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NUDE IMAGERY

• Channel 4 alleges depicting nude images of
  females, that they have been sexually assaulted
  prior to their demise.
• The LTTE is renowned for detonating suicide bombs
  and booby trapping cadavers.
• Hence, it is a practice to thoroughly search the
  cadaver to ensure it has not been booby trapped
  and safe.
• Thus, most cadavers are partially stripped of
  over and under garments and thus appear to be
  semi nude as seen in the Ch4 documentary and the
  video submitted to the UN.

Contd
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NUDE IMAGERY
Contd

• This video is not new and part of the video that
  was taken by a news reporter that was traveling
  with SL Army and Army have nothing to hide here.
• It is not the Sri Lankan military culture to
  engage in violating unarmed female prisoners or
  engage in necrophilia.

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(No Transcript)
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LTTE NEWS PRESENTER

• The Killing Fields documentary churned viewer
  sympathy and subsequently create an aurora of
  horror and hatred against the Sri Lankan military
  by implying the LTTE female newscaster is a non
  combatant who was sexually molested and murdered
  by Sri Lankan troops.
• In reality she was a hardcore combatant, a
  Lieutenant Colonel in the out fit.
• As the LTTE TV station was destroyed at the end
  of the war and she was engaged in the final
  battle as a combatant.
• Thus she has succumbed to the injuries gained in
  the battle, and have been subsequently frisked
  for booby traps by the military as SOP for safety
  of all present at location.

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Lieutenant Colonel Issei Piriya LTTE warfare
Communications/Publicity Wing
The body of a female LTTE cadre alleged by Ch4 as
Lt Col Issei Piriya LTTE
Lt Col Issei Piriya in her voluntary role as LTTE
newscaster
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NEW FOOTAGE OF EXECUTIONS

• The killing fields documentary depicts a second
  execution scene (execution scene 2) with new
  video footage.
• The footage shows three bound and blindfolded
  victims being shot and killed by two or more
  khaki clad individuals using AK47 weapons.
• It alleges the meta data of the video indicate
  it was recorded on the 15th of June 2009.
• The blue and white stripped upper garments of
  the victims appear to be spotless and free from
  mud and grime.

Contd
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NEW FOOTAGE OF EXECUTIONS
Contd

• Similarly the perpetrators garments appear to
  be dry and boots appear to be dusty.
• The ground appear to be dry and climate sunny.

Contd
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NEW FOOTAGE OF EXECUTIONS
Contd

• The climate at the area where the final battle
  took place was wet due to intermittent rainfall.
  Thus the ground was muddy.
• Thus, the victims clothes should be covered in
  mud and grime and similarly the perpetrators
  boots should be caked in mud.
• Analysis
• The entire scenes have been staged elsewhere
  possibly in a different country of similar
  geography and climate by a perverted sadistic
  party .

Contd
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NEW FOOTAGE OF EXECUTIONS
Contd

• Alternatively, the meta data can be set for a
  different time line by the user. If so the video
  may have been taken by the LTTE at a earlier date
  and the scene could have been staged or the
  victims could have been prisoners of LTTE.( Ref
  Interrogation of Canadian authorities of a LTTE
  cadre who has confessed to be involved in the
  execution of 50 SL army prisoners held by the
  LTTE).

Contd
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THAMILVANI KUMAR AN ALLEGED CIVILIAN VICTIM

• Thamilvany Kumar a bio medical student , who gave
  an interview on Killing Fields documentary on
  alleged abuses amd molestation of tamil civilians
  by the military, is a UK citizen.
• She was in the Wanni to the end of operations,
  was brought safe to the Welfare Centre in
  Vavuniya, and was permitted to leave after an
  appeal from the British government

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BACKGROUND OF ALLEGED VICTIM

• A member of the TAMIL YOUTH ORGANIZATION of the
  LTTE.
• Brought to Sri Lanka by Castro, former head of
  the LTTE foreign division based in the Wanni.
• Came from the UK as a volunteer to work with
  Castro.
• Worked for the LTTE and was attached to the LTTE
  medical wing and employed amongst government
  doctors as an LTTE agent.
• Confirmed by the doctors who served at that time
  in the Wanni.
• Analysis Her claim to have come to the Wanni in
  2008 to be with her relations is dubious, as
  there was conflict at the time and no one without
  a suspicious ulterior motive would have left
  immediate family to come into such a situation.
• Conclusion Thus her statements on abuse and
  molestation of civilians by the military is
  questionable as she is a LTTE agent.

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STAGED DRAMAS

• Killing fields depict scenes where civilians are
  subjected to aerial and heavy artillery
  bombardment.
• The scenes depict dramatic action of civilians
  in panic videoed with jerky camera motion giving
  the implication that the cameraman is running and
  seeking shelter.

Contd
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Contd
Contd
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STAGED DRAMAS
Contd

• This scene have been staged with civilians being
  forced by the LTTE to bunkers.
• Tamil Voice meaning is different to the actual
  broadcast since it says we are in a production
  meaning making a film.
• Intelligence have known that during the last
  stages of the humanitarian operations in Wanni,
  the LTTE sought assistance of Channel 4 to make a
  documentary of this nature.
• Thus such dramas could have possibly being acted
  out as part of the documentary.

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DISCUSSION

• Killing Fields depicts two scenes of execution of
  victims.
• Execution Scene An edited summary of the video
  submitted to the UN.
• This scene has been refuted by the GOSL earlier
  as not authentic and edited.
• Independent expert has refuted on some aspects
  of the UN expert opinion claiming the video to
  be authentic.
• Thus the authenticity of scene is questionable.
  
• If the mobile is not used as claimed by the ch4,
  whole video is questionable ?

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CONCLUSION

• Most civilized countries have legislation
  prohibiting the airing of gory horror, or
  profiting by showing executions, torture etc.
• If one can show such gory, one tends to make
  money
• A convenient way to side-step this norm is to
  claim the need to bring out war crimes.
• So, if the footage does not exist, one make a
  collage, with no traceable source of the data and
  no author authentication as needed in fair
  reporting.
• The bottom line is THE BOTTOM LINE making
  money.