The International Truth & Justice Project released two interviews with Tamil victims of torture at the hands of Sri Lankan security forces, a practise that has continued on the island despite the change in government earlier this year.

"On 18 May 2015, ‘Witness1’, attended a Mullivaikkal Remembrance Day event for those who died in the last phase of the civil war. Within days he was abducted and taken to an unknown site where his torturers showed him photographs of himself at the event."

He was accused of trying to regroup the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam or LTTE, a charge he denies. He had however assisted the opposition Tamil National Alliance party.

The 30^th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) commences today amidst widespread calls for an international accountability process to deal with findings of the Office of the High Commissioner’s (OHCHR) Investigation into Sri Lanka (OISL).

Sri Lanka’s new government will face the council whilst having failed to gain the trust of the predominantly Tamil community in the heavily militarised North-East. Amidst reports of ongoing torture and sexual violence under the new government, Sri Lanka’s foreign minister is expected to work at the UNHRC session this month to garner support at the council to allow Sri Lanka to deal with the findings of the OISL report and ongoing human rights issues domestically.

Following a number of specific events at the UNHRC pertaining to human rights in Sri Lanka, the findings of the OISL report will be discussed by the council on October 02.

Keep an eye on Tamil Guardian over the next 3 weeks for updates from the 30^th session of the UNHRC.

The Malaysian authorities must drop charges against an activist for her role in screening the award-winning documentary film ‘No Fire Zone’ without censorship board approval, said Human Rights Watch.

In a statement released on Monday, said Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch said,

“Prosecuting someone for the private showing of an award-winning film shows how determined Malaysian authorities are to stomp on the right to free expression… The government should call off its intensifying assault on free expression and promptly amend the Film Censorship Act.”

Lena Hendry, a staff member of the human rights group Pusat KOMAS, was charged over the film screening in July 2013 and faces up to three years in prison if found guilty of breaching the Film Censorship Act.

“The charges against Hendry appear to have been primarily motivated by the Malaysian government’s desire to appease Sri Lankan embassy officials, who had publicly demanded that the film not be shown and visited the venue, the Kuala Lumpur Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall, on the day of the film’s showing to urge the venue’s managers to cancel the event,” said Human Rights Watch.

The European Union stated it would work towards promoting “reconciliation and accountability in Sri Lanka” in a statement delivered to the 30th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Monday.

The European Union Statement, delivered by Luxembourg, said:

“The EU looks forward to the High Commissioner's report on Sri Lanka presented at this session. The EU will continue to support efforts towards further progress of the human rights situation as well as to promote reconciliation and accountability in Sri Lanka.”

The Second Deputy Chief Minister of Penang in Malaysia reiterated calls for an international probe into the killing of tens of thousands of Tamil civilians during the final stages of Sri Lanka’s armed conflict.

"It is not justifiable to have own probe against those who were responsible (for the massacres)” said  P Ramasamy, as he arrived in Coimbatore on Sunday. “It should be conducted by an International agency," he told reporters.

His comments came ahead of Sri Lanka being discussed at the opening of the 30th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Monday.

Efforts to seize privately owned land in Jaffna for the needs of soldiers have been disrupted by fierce opposition from landowners and locals.

Surveyors were forced to suspend their efforts to measure the area in Koppay, after the landowners denied them access onto their properties, with the support of neighbours and local politicians.

Around 10 acres of land belonging to 28 families has been earmarked for landgrabbing for military purposes including the building of a new army camp.