THE ‘Elders’, an independent group of eminent global leaders, cautioned on Friday that ‘the international response to Sri Lanka’s worrying approach to human rights, good governance and accountability was a “deafening global silence” that may encourage other states to act in a similar way’.
The group added that the ‘Sri Lankan government’s domestic conduct, as well as its recent unacceptable treatment of the United Nations in Sri Lanka warrants a firm, public response from its most influential friends – particularly China, India, Japan and the United States as well as the non-aligned group of countries.’
The group noted the following recent events in Sri Lanka as most concerning:
• The persecution, intimidation, assassination and disappearance of government critics, political opponents, journalists and human rights defenders.
• Ongoing detention of an estimated 8,000 suspected ex-combatants without charge or access to legal representation, their families or independent monitors.
• The government’s failure to withdraw wartime emergency laws more than a year after the end of the conflict with the LTTE.
• Lack of action by the government to address the political marginalisation of ethnic minorities that was at the root of Sri Lanka’s thirty years of war.
• Unacceptable behaviour towards the United Nations — including a siege by demonstrators of UN offices in Colombo, led by a Cabinet Minister — following the UN Secretary-General’s appointment of a panel of experts to advise him on accountability issues relating to alleged violations of international human rights and humanitarian law committed by both sides during the final stages of the conflict in Sri Lanka.
The Elders urged the international community to insist that the government of Sri Lanka takes the following actions:
1. Withdraw wartime emergency legislation and make a public commitment to uphold the human rights of all citizens of Sri Lanka, including minorities.
2. Allow immediate ICRC access to the estimated 8,000 people detained on suspicion of being ex-combatants.
3. Co-operate with the UN Secretary-General’s panel of experts on accountability, including granting visas if requested.
4. Ensure that any prosecutions are based on evidence and not political expediency; cease political interference in the work of the judiciary.
5. Allow domestic and international NGOs and media to carry out their work in Sri Lanka without harassment, intimidation or undue restrictions.
6. Begin a meaningful process of consultation with people in the north and east of the country on land issues and economic development as well as constitutional reforms to address long-standing political marginalisation of ethnic minorities.
7. Ensure the security of United Nations operations and personnel.
Two members of the group also made their comments.
Kofi Annan, former UN Secretary-General said: ‘There has been a deafening global silence in response to Sri Lanka’s actions, especially from its most influential friends.
‘The international community cannot be selective in its approach to upholding the rule of law and respect for human rights. Impunity anywhere is a threat to international peace and security everywhere.’
Archbishop Desmond Tutu, chair of The Elders said: ‘The government of Sri Lanka needs to show a much greater commitment to achieving meaningful reconciliation.
‘The ongoing persecution and disappearances of human rights activists, journalists and government opponents is truly terrifying.
‘Unfortunately, previous internal commissions have done little to reveal the truth behind human rights abuses. It is doubtful that the President’s “Lessons Learned and Reconciliation Commission” will help Sri Lankans to work towards lasting peace and reconciliation.’
Meanwhile the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) occupying Vanni is exploiting funds donated by China for the resettlement of uprooted Vanni people.
Instead it is constructing permanent housing schemes for its personnel, in Kokkaavil, located west of A9 road in Vanni, civil society organisations in K’linochchi.
Uprooted civilians forcibly taken by SLA soldiers to work in the constructions said that even two storey buildings are under construction in an area where new roads have been laid.
Meanwhile, around 3,000 uprooted families, brought to be resettled in Vanni by Sri Lanka government, continue to live under trees left abandoned while the Sri Lanka government exploits international assistance meant for them to settle Sinhalese families from South, Suresh Premachandran, a Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian said.
The SLA has already built at least 5,000 prefabricated houses for its personnel in Mu’ruka’ndi area, east of A9 road in Mullaiththeevu district in Vanni, with foreign funds meant for resettling the uprooted Vanni people, the MP said.
Suresh Premachandran added that the above housing settlements are part of Sri Lanka government’s scheme to Sinhalicise the traditional Tamil homeland in the North.
The new SLA housing scheme with special quarters for its officers is constructed in Kokkaavil area where Sri Lanka government TV, Rupavahini transmission tower is located.
• Illicit tapping of electricity by the Special Task Force (STF) of Sri Lanka Police claimed the life of a father of seven children at Aayiththiyamalai police division in Batticaloa district last week.
The STF camp is located at Ma’nipuram junction. STF commandos in this camp have been tapping electricity from the main line to their camp.
One of the live wires fell into the paddy field close by and the owner of the land was electrocuted as he attempted to remove it.
Kaathakuddy Kulanthaivadivel, 65, of Naripuththoaddam was identified as the victim killed.
The victim’s son who went to the paddy field in search of his father saw him lying in the paddy. His too got an electric shock when he attempted to lift him and is admitted to Chengkaladi hospital.
Kulantahivadivel’s relatives brought this matter to the notice of the police immediately but the complaint was not entertained.
Meanwhile, police and officials of the Ceylon Electricity Board last week arrested several residents for illicitly tapping electricity from main line for domestic purposes.
They were produced in court and fined by the magistrate.
But the authorities had failed to take steps to arrest police and army personnel who have also been tapping electricity illicitly in several places in the Batticaloa district.
