Updated 28 Feb 2014 16:10
In a report on the human rights situation in Sri Lanka, released today, the US state department highlighted ‘serious human rights problems' that were found ‘often predominantly in Tamil areas.’
The report outlined human rights issues, including unlawful killings by security forces and government-allied paramilitary groups, torture and abuse of detainees by police and security forces, improper prison conditions, arbitrary arrest and detention by authorities and neglect of the rights of internally displaced persons (IDPs) to be prevalent in Tamil areas.
See report here.
The US Secretary of State John Kerry, commenting on the report said,
“Our concern about the ongoing situation has led the United States to support another UN Human Rights Council resolution at the March session. We will do so because we know countries that deny human rights and human dignity challenge our interests as well as human interests.”Key findings of the report are summarised below:
On Arbitary or Unlawful Deprivation of Life and disappearances:
The report highlighted several instances of arbitrary detention and prison assaults on detained former LTTE cadre that resulted in fatalities and serious injuries. Drawign on attacks of the Northern Provincial Councillor, Ananthy Sasitharan’s residence the report stated,
“Although the number of killings associated with the pro-government paramilitary groups declined from previous years, there were persistent reports that the Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP), led by the minister of traditional industries and small enterprise development, Douglas Devanandam engaged in intimidation extortion, corruption, and violence against the Tamil-dominated northern town of Jaffna.”Highlighting the lack of initiative forced disappearances, the report said,
“There was no significant progress made with regard to the thousands of disappearances from the past years. The government did not publish results of any investigations into disappearances, nor did it publish information on any investigations, indictments, or convictions of anyone involved in cases related to disappearances.”
The report also outlined several cases of detainment of political activists, including the arrest of Azath Salley, whos arrest was justified by the Defence Secretary, Ghotabaya, outlining that ‘there was incriminating evidence that Salley had held discussions with an India-based group to bring Tamil-speaking Sri Lankan Muslims into the hands of the Tamil National Alliance political party."
Issues of land appropriation and resettlement of Sinhala families in the North-East were also highlighted in the report’s findings, which concluded that,
“property rights between state and private owners remained mired in confusion, and observers noted that the overlapping legal frameworks served to increase northern Tamils’ worst assumptions regarding state intentions behind the land acquisitions and the reform of land law.”
On respect for Civil liberties:
Issues of attacks on press freedom were highlighted including extensive reports of attacks on the Tamil newspaper based in the North-East, Uthayan. The report highlighted the lack of legal progress for well documented attacks, stating,
“There remained no legal progress regarding the 2011 attack on Uthayan news editor Gnasundaram Kuhanathan.”
On respect for political rights: The right of citizens to change their government
The report highlighted several instances of intimidation of Tamil political candidates and activists in the run up to the Northern Provincial elections, and highlighted restrictions placed on political parties in the North-East, stating,
“Political parties were generally not free to operate or organise, especially in the Northern Province, where undercover surveillance of opposition political events was omnipresent.”
On governmental attitude regarding international and non-governmental investigation of alleged violations of human rights:
The Sri Lankan government’s continued disregard towards work and recommendations of international bodies and organisations such as the United Nations were also extensively highlighted within the report.
On discrimination, societal abuses and trafficking persons:
Instances of sexual exploitation by security personnel were highlighted within the report.
Findings of a report by an advocacy organisation ‘The Social Architects’ on coercive birth control targeted at women in the North-East, were also cited by the report.
The report further found that,
“Tamils throughout the country, but especially the North and east, reported security forces and paramilitary groups frequently harassed young and middle-aged Tamil men.