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SL human rights situation seriously deteriorated under Gotabaya’s Govt.: Report shows

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14 January 2021 03:57 pm - 16     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Sri Lanka’s human rights situation has seriously deteriorated under the administration of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Human Rights Watch said in its World Report 2021.

Government security forces have increased intimidation and surveillance of human rights activists, victims of past abuses, lawyers, and journalists. Minority Muslim and Tamil communities have faced discrimination and threats. The government pushed through passage of a constitutional amendment that undermines judicial independence and weakens oversight institutions, such as the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka. In February, Sri Lanka withdrew its commitments to the 2015 United Nations Human Rights Council for truth-seeking, accountability, and reconciliation following the country’s long civil war.

“The Rajapaksa administration has quickly reversed human rights gains of the previous government, making minorities more insecure, victims of past abuses fearful, and critics wary of speaking out,” said Meenakshi Ganguly, South Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “Even the limited progress on postwar reconciliation is being undone by a greater military role in governance and the government’s dismissal of its international commitments to truth and accountability.”

In the 761-page World Report 2021, its 31st edition, Human Rights Watch reviews human rights practices in more than 100 countries. In his introductory essay, Executive Director Kenneth Roth argues that the incoming United States administration should embed respect for human rights in its domestic and foreign policy in a way that is more likely to survive future US administrations that might be less committed to human rights. Roth emphasizes that even as the Trump administration mostly abandoned the protection of human rights, other governments stepped forward to champion rights. The Biden administration should seek to join, not supplant, this new collective effort.

President Rajapaksa has appointed people to senior positions, who, like himself, were implicated in war crimes during the civil war that ended in 2009, including the defense secretary, Kamal Gunaratne, and the chief of defense staff, Gen. Shavendra Silva. In February, the United States State Department announced that General Silva was ineligible to enter the US due to his alleged involvement in extrajudicial killings.

The Rajapaksa administration escalated surveillance and intimidation, targeting victims’ families and human rights defenders, as well as lawyers and journalists deemed critical of the government. These included victims and activists who engaged with the Human Rights Council.

After the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, the government did little to address false accusations on social media that Muslims were deliberately spreading the virus and calls to boycott Muslim businesses. In March, the government began requiring cremation of all Covid-19 victims, disregarding Islamic tradition, though cremation was not required for public health. Four UN human rights experts criticized these requirements as violating religious freedom.

The UN high commissioner for human rights, Michelle Bachelet, accused the government of using Covid-19 to stifle freedom of expression after the authorities threatened to arrest anyone who “criticized” its handling of the pandemic. She condemned the pardon of one of the few soldiers ever convicted of serious abuses, and raised concerns about “appointments to key civilian roles of senior military officials allegedly involved in war crimes and crimes against humanity.”

The UN Human Rights Council will consider possible measures regarding Sri Lanka at its February-March 2021 session, including calls for an international accountability mechanism to pursue justice for past abuses.

“Concerned governments should do all they can to prevent Sri Lanka from returning to the ‘bad old days’ of rampant human rights violations,” Ganguly said. “Governments need to speak out against abuses and press for a UN Human Rights Council resolution that addresses accountability and the collection and preservation of evidence.”

WORLD REPORT 2021 ON SRI LANKA


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  Comments - 16

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  • BuffaloaCitizen Thursday, 14 January 2021 04:12 PM

    The ignorance of ethics, principles

    Foreign citizen Thursday, 14 January 2021 04:13 PM

    Nandasena so far has shown to be an utter failure. Having studied the situation in SL It has to be two states in one country.

    Michael Ranasinghe Thursday, 14 January 2021 04:26 PM

    Await fast unto death protest by Panchayuda Wimal with Lemon Puff by his side

    friendfriend Thursday, 14 January 2021 04:40 PM

    A government that doesnt consider the people as human beings.

    Gert Jan, the Netherlands Thursday, 14 January 2021 04:43 PM

    No surprise. But this is what majority voted for. It is time my country leaves the UNHRC. Because nothing will change anyway in countries like Sri Lanka, China etc

    Baiyo69 Thursday, 14 January 2021 04:49 PM

    Spot on... We`ll be rated as the worst place to live soon..

    Chux Thursday, 14 January 2021 05:01 PM

    Not only human rights but also economy,education,social life and political status of the country have been deteriorated

    hoodwinker Thursday, 14 January 2021 05:20 PM

    PREZ don't forget that you and the gang are Human!

    Ruwan Thursday, 14 January 2021 05:20 PM

    The white van is no longer! that's progress and positive sign! Ape Lanka!

    Nandaappu Thursday, 14 January 2021 05:41 PM

    Didn't you know that human rights issues are not applicable to Sri Lanka? Instead, human rights issues raise serious concerns in fully corrupted Sri Lanka, where the jungle law is applied and rich gets richer while poor gets poorer. The law of the jungle will prevail in Sri Lanka another 1000 years.

    Palitha Perera Thursday, 14 January 2021 05:51 PM

    Do we prefer to be blasted to pieces by Islamic radicals while in an act of holy worship or while having Easter breakfast? Cease this insanity. Tell these people to go to hell. This is UNACCEPTABLE. Sri Lanka is a sovereign nation and will manage our own affairs, much like Lee Kuan Yew's Singapore

    Umar Perera Thursday, 14 January 2021 05:54 PM

    Not only Human Rights but Environmental Protection/Conservation too has been discarded

    Freedom of expression Thursday, 14 January 2021 05:56 PM

    human rights situation seriously deteriorated... and national debt increased rapidly to the highest level ever... so what is this mans performance?

    Gayan Thursday, 14 January 2021 07:48 PM

    Can we expect an unbias view from HRW?. Good for losers for two minutes of ecstacy.

    kanday Thursday, 14 January 2021 07:57 PM

    what nonsense

    gemba Thursday, 14 January 2021 09:01 PM

    lol your right to comment shows how things are in SL


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