US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, and US Ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Alaina B. Teplitz, issued statements commemorating the loss of over 250 people who were killed during the Easter Sunday bombings.
The attacks on the 21 April 2019, targeted Christian churches and tourist hotels on Easter Sunday, killed over 250 people. The attack was claimed by ISIS.
In Mike Pompeo’s statement, he maintained the importance of “respecting civil liberties” in counter-terrorism responses as well as reaffirming accountability for these attacks.
Concerns over civil liberties in Sri Lanka have been raised by a number of human rights organisations such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International. This concern has been raised during the coronavirus as Sri Lanka’s security forces have arrested several people for spreading false information. Security forces have also local councillors providing voluntary relief packages to vulnerable villagers. As of writing over 16 people have been arrested.
Pompeo’s statement maintains the importance of mutual respect, freedom of religion and respect civil liberties. Alaina B. Teplitz, statement similarly maintained the importance of paying respect to different religious and ethnic groups in Sri Lanka. Teplitz’s statement draws particular focus on doctors, first-responders and community and faith leaders for their role in supporting communities during the crisis.
Read Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo’s statement here.
Read Ambassador Teplitz’s statement here.
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