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FCO Human Rights report expresses “serious concern” on SL

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s Human Rights and Democracy report 2012 was released today, criticising Sri Lanka’s human rights situation.

The report expressed “serious concern” at a number of “negative developments” in the country in 2012.

“The human rights situation in Sri Lanka in 2012 remained of serious concern, with a number of negative developments, including with regard to freedom of expression and media and judicial independence,” the report said.

The report also criticised the militarisation in the north and the harassment of former LTTE cadres.

“At the end of 2012, 775 ex-combatants remained in custody in “rehabilitation centres” and several hundred more were in prison awaiting prosecution. Despite some improvements, the situation in the north remained problematic. Although reduced since 2009, the military presence in the Vanni region in particular remained heavy.

“The military continued to be involved in numerous civil functions despite the establishment and functioning of civilian authorities. There were reports throughout the year of harassment of released ex-combatants.”

For full report see here.

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