TECHNICAL ANALYSIS OF

CHANNEL 4 KILLING FIELDS

DOCUMENTARY

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.

296 ms

CORRESPONDING SOUND WAVEFORM HAS A DELAY OF 296 MILLISECONDS

Sound waveform of Gunshot starts here

The Gun fires here according to the video

FIELD EXPERIMENT

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

Sound of the gunshot Gun fires on video

Time advance

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

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

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….

NEW Ch4 VIDEO SUBMITTED TO THE UN

•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.

Contd….

INDEPENDENT EXPERT

Executive director of IPTV systems Siri Hewawitharana, Sydney

(previously, head of Cisco’s 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 Grant’s 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.

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 expert’s

analysis on the new video strip is summarised subsequently:

EXCERPTS OF THE U.N ANALYSED VIDEO IN KILLING FIELDS

OPTICAL ZOOM

A wider image of the scene A closer image of the scene

Contd…

• Analysis by UN expert:

The camera used to record this segment has optical capability

as observed by Mr Grant Fredericks

Independent Observer’s 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.

OPTICAL ZOOMContd…

MULTIPLE RECORDINGS

Cell phone operated by a short sleeved person

Cell phone operated by a long sleeved person

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.

ANOLMALY IN HEX STRINGS

•Analysis by UN expert: Comparisons of the hex strings of

item#1 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.

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

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.

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.

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…

DISSIMILAR SEGMENT IN AN NEWLY ADDED

VIDEO STRIP

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.

Contd…

•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.

•Edited video stopped at 05.25.000

•Edited audio stopped at red line, check the counter … it is different from the above

video counter.. New audio counter is 05.25.625

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

video.

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…

NUDE IMAGERY

•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.

Contd…

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.

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

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…

NEW FOOTAGE OF EXECUTIONS

•Similarly the perpetrators’ garments appear to be dry

and boots appear to be dusty.

• The ground appear to be dry and climate sunny.

Contd…

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 .

NEW FOOTAGE OF EXECUTIONS

Contd…

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).

NEW FOOTAGE OF EXECUTIONS

Contd…

Contd…

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

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.

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…

Contd…

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.

Contd…

STAGED DRAMAS

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 ?

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.