Demilitarise North as gesture of reconciliation: UN Rapporteur

25 July 2018 10:14 pm - 17 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Sri Lanka should urgently reform all the institutions of the Security Sector to place them under full civilian control and should demilitarise the Northern Province as a symbolic gesture of reconciliation and trust-building, UN Special Rapporteur Ben Emmerson said.

In his report, which is based on findings of the mission to Sri Lanka from July 10-14 in 2017, the Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms while Countering Terrorism Ben Emmerson said he was particularly concerned about the ‘very large and imposing’ presence of the military in the North.

“While the Rapporteur understands that the military undertakes important re-construction work in that part of the country, he is also conscious of the highly symbolic value of its presence. The pervasive lack of accountability for the war crimes that were perpetrated during the war, the climate of impunity that prevails within the security sector, the overwhelming economic weight of the military, its involvement in civilian activities, as well as the overwhelmingly Sinhalese Nationality within the military all contribute to perpetuating the resentment and disenfranchisement felt by the Tamil community as a whole,” the report which was released by the UN on Monday said.

It said a vetting process should be developed to ensure that all security personnel and public officials involved in Human Rights violations are removed from service.

“Also ensure that the security sector, in particular in the police, intelligence services and the military, adequately reflects the ethnic and linguistic makeup of the country,” it said.

The report said the Special Rapporteur had been repeatedly assured by Sri Lanka that there was no discrimination against the Tamils; that criminal law had been used against the LTTE, only; that ill-treatment was a greater challenge in the South than in the North and East of Sri Lanka.

“At the same time, a pervasive and insidious form of stigmatization of the Tamil community was observed. Tamils are severely under-represented in all institutions, particularly in the security sector and the judiciary, despite the importance of ensuring that all institutions adequately reflect the ethnic, linguistic and religious make-up of the State,” Emmerson said in the report.

Meanwhile, he said President Maithripala Sirisena sought to shield a former Army General from a criminal complaint which accused him of command responsibility for war crimes.

“This falls far short of Sri Lanka’s international commitment to achieve a lasting and just solution to its underlying problems. It is indeed difficult to resist the conclusion that the inertia in implementing the reform package that is resolution 30/1-including repealing the PTA, adopting new human rights compliant counter-terrorism legislation and above all to accountability,” he said.

However, he said that Sri Lanka seemed to have turned a corner with new elections brought to power a coalition government and with it the promise of change.

“The UNHRC resolution 30/1, co-sponsored by Sri Lanka, set out key goals for reconciliation, transitional justice, accountability and reform of the security sector, including the counter-terrorism framework. Yet, after a two-year extension granted to the Government in resolution 34/1, progress in achieving the key goals seems to have ground to a virtual halt. None of the measures so far adopted to fulfil Sri Lanka’s transitional justice commitments is adequate to ensure real progress,” Emmerson said.

He said that there were some very slight indications of positive movement in the direction of the transitional justice reforms and welcomed the enactment of a legislation incorporating the International Convention for the Protection of all Persons from Enforced Disappearances. (Lahiru Pothmulla)

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Comments - 17

Haramanis Wednesday, 25 July 2018 10:19 PM

We have tried this before and burnt ourselves badly. This will just play into the hands of those who want to divide the Country.

sach Wednesday, 25 July 2018 10:43 PM

Wasnt this same person given a mouthful from Wijeydasa? What is he doing again? Hasnt this government gone to the extent of appeasing LTTE as a gesture to reconciliation while the LTTE supporters go to town with merry making?

Nadaal Wednesday, 25 July 2018 10:48 PM

Mr Emerson, pls let us decide about our national security issues and you go to other areas where they need your services. We Sinhala ,Tamil and Muslims in this country are experiencing peace and just beacause when every Dick Tim and Harry request us to demilitarize a zone that are vital for national security of ours and India, we simply can’t oblige. Very sorry

kondaya77 Wednesday, 25 July 2018 10:49 PM

First the U.N. must clean up house regarding the rapes and sex with teenagers by the U.N, peace keeping troops and it's civilian officials.

Countryman Thursday, 26 July 2018 12:22 AM

Do not talk nonsense. North has a democratic administration in place. SriLankan security forces can stay anywhere in the country like other areas. What is your problem?

Justice Thursday, 26 July 2018 01:22 AM

An excellent report. Replace the majority army with Tamil policemen and women. There are hardly a single Tamil police woman in Norh and East. If you go to a Jaffna police station the complaint you make is written in Sinhala.Let's see the reaction to this report form the South. It's going to be hilarious, most will draw LTTE to their comments !!

Nandakumar,Jaffna Resident Thursday, 26 July 2018 01:32 AM

The position of the majority of the Jaffna population is this; we would very much like to have no presence of the Army and only a necessary number of Police personal in Jaffna. But the ground situation is different with the criminal gangs outsmarting the incompetent Jaffna Police which has lost confidence among the decent people and further more real or imaginary fear among the people that the Catholic clergy is working flat out to bring back a new version of Tigers,we need to have the Army to stay in Jaffna. But what we are totally against is the presence of the dangerous Army Intelligence which we all know has some loose connection with the Jaffna criminal gangs.

Machan Thursday, 26 July 2018 09:09 AM

Sir, Thank you for sharing the real situation.

Manel Thursday, 26 July 2018 03:08 AM

Another load of bull shot.

Nagalingam Ethirveerasingam Thursday, 26 July 2018 03:24 AM

Thank you Mr. Ben Emmerson, Special Rapporteur, UN.I have observed what you have described since 2010. At least the new government could have did all what you observed. But if he did, the Sinhala Buddhist Majority will remove him from Office. He and the PM toes the line. They both have publicly said there will be no prosecution of army personnel. UHRC resolution is set aside by the current administration. Until there is a court of inquiry of the crimes committed during the war there will be no peace, political resolution or reconciliation. I have lived through the war since 1994 till 2017 and studied the problems.The draft of a new constitution is now virtually dead but being dragged around. The UN should intervene as soon as possible.

Premalal Thursday, 26 July 2018 10:19 AM

The majority ousting politicians is called democracy.

sach Thursday, 26 July 2018 10:45 AM

UNHRC report is a violation of the UN chater. UN has acted against SL at the behest of Norway to avenge their failed process

Jude Thursday, 26 July 2018 11:05 AM

Naga thambi let me ask you why arnt you in Tamil Nadu!!??

Jude Thursday, 26 July 2018 05:25 AM

Emmerson, why are you and the whole UN officials biased about SL ethnic situation!?? Most of the time critical about SL Government and it's armed forces!!! Now tell me what have you done to Tony Blair!!?? Now. The former British PM found guilty of exceeding his powers by Chilcot Report!! And Blair's action resulted in scores of civilians get killed and he has committed atrocities against humanity!! What did UN do about that!! For the argument sake forget about Americans!!??

George Thursday, 26 July 2018 06:17 AM

All these foreign and UN officials are good at is preaching to the SL Government. They are toothless tigers when their advice is heeded and dire consequences follow. Strange how they reserve their nostrums to countries like Sri Lanka. Have you ever heard of them giving such advice to the US, UK, Russia or China?

Nilhan Jayawardene Thursday, 26 July 2018 11:30 AM

Who is this guy to tell us about it. We govern this country and innocent tamils need military protection.

Raju Thursday, 26 July 2018 06:16 PM

Whom do you expect to tell you the right things ?

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Demilitarise North as gesture of reconciliation: UN Rapporteur

Comments - 17

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