No credible steps have been taken by the new government in Sri Lanka to repeal draconian anti-terror laws that allow for the arbitrary arrest of Human Rights defenders, said the previously detained Sri Lankan human rights activist, Ruki Fernando, whilst speaking on the release of enforced disappearances campaigner Jeyakumari Balendran.
Addressing an event hosted by Forum Asia on creating space for human rights defenders at the 28th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council on Tuesday, Mr Fernando said: “The international community must not be deceived by token releases. In Sri Lanka there is a Structural problem that allows for the arbitrary detention of human rights defenders. This is the prevention for terror act.”
The human rights defender, further noted that though there had been no recent large scale incidents of intimidation.
“There are still isolated instances of the intimidation of Human Rights Defenders in the North and East," he added.
“My own mother is very scared when I go to do work in the North of Sri Lanka,” he added.
Highlighting a climate of impunity allowing intimidation of human rights defenders, Mr Fernando said,
“There have been Buddhist monks that have been involved in intimidation of human rights defenders, who the government washes their hands off.”
Reiterating the need for international involvement to protect human rights defenders in Sri Lanka, Mr Fernando said: “The UN has an important role in ensuring the protection of Human Rights Defenders in Sri Lanka and should also call on the Sri Lankan government to decriminalise legitimate diaspora organisations.”
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