Published 14:22 CET An event held on the sidelines of the UN Human Rights Council earlier today highlighted ongoing rights violations occurring in North-East of the island of Sri Lanka, calling for a international Commission of Inquiry into abuses committed during the armed conflict and that carry on to this day. Organised by the International Movement Against All Forms of Discrimination and Racism on the sidelines of the 25th session of the UN Human Rights Council Geneva, the event saw speakers from the North-East who described the violations that continued to take place and called for a international Commission of Inquiry. Speakers that addressed the event included IMADR President Nimalka Fernando, Anne-Kathrin Glatz from the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre, TNA Northern Provincial Council member Ananthi Sasitharan , Rev. Jeyabalan a member of the Christian clergy in Mannar, Sri Lankan human rights activist and lawyer Niran Anketell , and Sandya Ekneligoda, whose husband Prageeth, a renowned cartoonist, was disappeared. See live coverage from the event on our Twitter page - @TamilGuardian IMADR president Nimalka Fernando also told the event how the denial of the right to self-determination was just one of the several violations currently taking place, adding, “the reconciliation that is needed should also provide dignity to the Tamil Nation on the island.” Fernando went on to tell the audience, "The international intervention we are calling for is a just cause, people in Sri Lanka have waited for long enough... The issue is not just about setting up any international mechanism.... We need a comprehensive international investigation that addresses violations before during and after the war ." Anne-Kathrin Glatz from the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre noted the plight of IDPs in the North-East, stating that government figures which claim that there were 23,568 were false. She stated that figures obtained from the organisation’s research suggested that there were over 90,000 IDPs. Also addressing the event was Reverend Jeyabalan from Mannar who spoke of ongoing disappearances in the North-East, including the recent abduction of a Tamil priest. Speaking on the current situation he went on to add, “There is a clear attempt to change the ethnic makeup of the North-East through land grabs and militarisation”.
Human rights activists across India have called on the Central government to support an international investigation into genocide in Sri Lanka, urging it not to “hide” behind strategic interests. According the New Indian Express , V Suresh, national general secretary, People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) said, “ This is not only an issue of the Tamils’ but a serious human rights violation and with the help of human rights organisations in over 25 States , we will spread awareness so that the whole nation rises against the atrocities committed by the Sri Lankan government.” “The Sri Lankan government should not be allowed more time for reconciliation initiatives and the investigation should be started immediately. The more the delay, the more the loss and manipulation of evidence .”
Brokers in Sri Lanka’s stock exchange have said that speculation around an impending UNHRC resolution is affecting investor confidence, despite an increase in foreign inflows. Analysts said that most investors were waiting for the outcome of the resolution, which could have an impact on Sri Lanka’s economy, Reuters reported. Today's turnover was Rs804.5mn ($6.16mn), less than this year's daily average of about Rs980.3mn.
The Green Party’s human rights spokesperson and Member of Parliament Jan Logie has called on the New Zealand government to support an international inquiry into war crimes in Sri Lanka, as the lack of accountability " puts the lives of people today at risk, as well as future peace in the region.” Speaking on the resolution on Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council, Logie said, “The Human Rights Council session presents an opportunity for New Zealand to push for accountability and protection of human rights action in regard to the worrying situation in Sri Lanka… Our representatives at the United Nations should be doing all they can to support an independent investigation into alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka.”
A Sinhalese deportee, who said he was tortured on his return to Sri Lanka, was denied an interview with Australian police who were in Colombo, according to a cable released under a Freedom of Information law request by The Guardian . The police declined the opportunity to interview the man, to avoid interfering with any ongoing Sri Lankan investigation.
The election manifesto of the Dravida Munettra Kazhagam (DMK) pledged to push the central government for a referendum, held amongst the Tamil of the North-East of Sri Lanka, and migrant Tamils living abroad, to decide on a permanent political solution. The manifesto also said the party would press for the full implementation of the 13th Amendment on the island and that it would appoint Tamil speaking envoys to countries with large diaspora populations.
The former President Chandrika Kumaratunga said the government should adopt "democratic values" in order "save Sri Lanka and its people from international pressure", reports the Daily Mirror. Responding to a question by a journalist regarding the possibility of her intervening to 'help Sri Lanka overcome any strictures' at the UN Human Rights Council, Ms Kumaratunga replied, “Good governance underscored with democratic values were the best way to save Sir Lanka and its people from international pressure."
Last week's opening of the UN Human Rights Council's 25th session gave rise to strong and welcome calls from key member states for an international inquiry into Sri Lanka’s mass atrocities. That Sri Lanka is not going to investigate the horrific crimes for which its leaders are responsible and that accountability depends entirely on an international mechanism of inquiry is now indisputable. Yet the initial draft text of a resolution on Sri Lanka – the third such resolution in as many years – has evoked a variety of responses from those who have been campaigning for accountability and justice for the past five years, ranging from cautious welcome to deep disappointment and dismay. There is clear and overarching agreement: the resolution is weak, and needs to be strengthened.
Updated 17:40 GMT The Prime Minister’s Office has confirmed that Britain is supporting an independent international inquiry in Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council, reported The Guardian . A spokesperson for David Cameron said that Sri Lanka had failed to meet the deadline set by the PM to conduct a thorough and credible inquiry and that the UK would support the UN High Commissioner’s call for an independent, international investigation. "Ahead of the vote, we are working hard to secure support from other countries . The PM has personally written to a number of leaders whose countries are on the human rights council this session calling on them to support this resolution which would help to deliver progress on reconciliation and human rights in Sri Lanka."
Update 23:46 CET Thousands of Tamils from across Europe have been demonstrating in front of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, calling on the international community to launch an independent, international investigation into mass atrocities in Sri Lanka. By 17:30, as more and more demonstrators arrived and the numbers of Tamils swelled, Swiss police officers arrived attempting to confine the demonstration.