This week’s vote at the UN Human Rights Council on Sri Lanka has sent a clear message to the Sri Lankan government over accountability, stated the co-chair of the United States Caucus on Ethnic and Religious Freedom in Sri Lanka.
In a statement released today Congressman Bill Johnson said,
“Yesterday’s vote by the U.N. Human Rights Council illustrates the international community’s commitment to the pursuit of peaceful stability in Sri Lanka, and sends a clear message to the Sri Lankan government that the time has come for accountability and reconciliation”.
The Congressman went on to add,
“Serving as a co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Ethnic and Religious Freedom in Sri Lanka, I am committed to raising awareness of the human rights abuses that have occurred in Sri Lanka, the need to hold all sides accountable, and the importance of reconciliation for the Sri Lankan people. The Caucus recently held a discussion on these human rights violations, featuring guest speaker J.S. Tissainayagam, and a viewing of the documentary “No Fire Zone,” which focuses on the atrocities that occurred during the final months of Sri Lanka’s decade’s long civil war.”
See his full statement below.
“Yesterday’s vote by the U.N. Human Rights Council illustrates the international community’s commitment to the pursuit of peaceful stability in Sri Lanka, and sends a clear message to the Sri Lankan government that the time has come for accountability and reconciliation. The resolution calls on the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to continue monitoring the current human rights situation in Sri Lanka, and to investigate allegations of human rights violations and war crimes committed by both parties during Sri Lanka’s civil war. In addition, the resolution requests that the High Commissioner present an update, and submit a comprehensive report to the Human Rights Council during the upcoming 27th and 28th sessions.”
“Serving as a co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Ethnic and Religious Freedom in Sri Lanka, I am committed to raising awareness of the human rights abuses that have occurred in Sri Lanka, the need to hold all sides accountable, and the importance of reconciliation for the Sri Lankan people. The Caucus recently held a discussion on these human rights violations, featuring guest speaker J.S. Tissainayagam, and a viewing of the documentary “No Fire Zone,” which focuses on the atrocities that occurred during the final months of Sri Lanka’s decade’s long civil war.”
“It is my hope that the government of Sri Lanka will take this U.N. Human Rights Council Resolution seriously, and will immediately implement steps towards reconciliation and the restoration of fundamental rights and freedoms that are necessary for the Sri Lankan people to move forward as a peaceful, democratic society.”
Find full coverage of the UNHRC vote and reactions to the resolution mandating the OHCHR to undertake an inquiry here.
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