Sri Lanka's newly led government must commit itself to respecting human rights and ending discrimination, said Amnesty International's Deputy Asia Pacific Director in an interview to the Sunday Leader this week.
Speaking to the Sunday Leader David Griffiths said there was “no doubt discrimination and violence against religious minorities is a serious and growing problem in Sri Lanka.”
“Political leaders have exploited or manufactured religious tensions, and Buddhist hardline nationalist organisations have led or incited protests and attacks against religious minorities, including their places of worship and businesses, which typically go uninvestigated and unpunished,” continued Griffiths.
“Hundreds of incidents of threats, harassment and violence against Muslims, Christians and their places of worship have been documented since the violence escalated in 2013 – although of course it was not new. The new administration must commit to ending discrimination, denounce any attacks, and crucially ensure that perpetrators are punished to end the pattern of violence”.
Speaking out the lack of freedom of expression in Sri Lanka, Griffith stated,
“Since the end of the armed conflict, the authorities have led a disturbing crackdown on freedom of expression. Critics who voice opposition to the government or advocate for human rights have been targeted with threats, attacks and even killings. Those targeted include journalists, human rights defenders, political activists and many others. It’s encouraging that we have seen a reaction against this trend during this presidential campaign, even if we saw some ugly incidents during the campaign itself , it is something the new administration, whoever leads it, must address urgently”.
Elaborating further on the human rights situation on the island, Griffiths further added,
“Human rights should never be sacrificed in the interests of national security. Emergency measures may be used only in exceptional circumstances and should be strictly limited in severity, duration and geographic scope. Even then, there are basic rights that cannot be subject to derogation the right to life, freedom from torture or other ill-treatment, and freedom from discrimination, for example”.
“The PTA grants security forces sweeping powers and contributes to the problem of arbitrary arrest and detention in Sri Lanka, including incommunicado detention, which increases the risk of torture and enforced disappearances. It also unlawfully restricts the human rights to freedom of expression, association, peaceful assembly and movement. It should be repealed immediately and acts which genuinely amount to criminal offences should be dealt with under ordinary criminal law. Respect for human rights is essential for a free, well-functioning society. The PTA is so sweeping and imprecise that anyone could fall foul of it, making it bad news for everyone”.
Speaking to the Sunday Leader David Griffiths said there was “no doubt discrimination and violence against religious minorities is a serious and growing problem in Sri Lanka.”
“Political leaders have exploited or manufactured religious tensions, and Buddhist hardline nationalist organisations have led or incited protests and attacks against religious minorities, including their places of worship and businesses, which typically go uninvestigated and unpunished,” continued Griffiths.
“Hundreds of incidents of threats, harassment and violence against Muslims, Christians and their places of worship have been documented since the violence escalated in 2013 – although of course it was not new. The new administration must commit to ending discrimination, denounce any attacks, and crucially ensure that perpetrators are punished to end the pattern of violence”.
Speaking out the lack of freedom of expression in Sri Lanka, Griffith stated,
“Since the end of the armed conflict, the authorities have led a disturbing crackdown on freedom of expression. Critics who voice opposition to the government or advocate for human rights have been targeted with threats, attacks and even killings. Those targeted include journalists, human rights defenders, political activists and many others. It’s encouraging that we have seen a reaction against this trend during this presidential campaign, even if we saw some ugly incidents during the campaign itself , it is something the new administration, whoever leads it, must address urgently”.
Elaborating further on the human rights situation on the island, Griffiths further added,
“Human rights should never be sacrificed in the interests of national security. Emergency measures may be used only in exceptional circumstances and should be strictly limited in severity, duration and geographic scope. Even then, there are basic rights that cannot be subject to derogation the right to life, freedom from torture or other ill-treatment, and freedom from discrimination, for example”.
“The PTA grants security forces sweeping powers and contributes to the problem of arbitrary arrest and detention in Sri Lanka, including incommunicado detention, which increases the risk of torture and enforced disappearances. It also unlawfully restricts the human rights to freedom of expression, association, peaceful assembly and movement. It should be repealed immediately and acts which genuinely amount to criminal offences should be dealt with under ordinary criminal law. Respect for human rights is essential for a free, well-functioning society. The PTA is so sweeping and imprecise that anyone could fall foul of it, making it bad news for everyone”.