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HR problems reported during last year-US

14 April 2016 10:29 am - 26     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The United States said that major human rights problems were reported in Sri Lanka during 2015, including harassment of civil society activists, journalists, and persons viewed as sympathizers of the banned terrorist group the LTTE as well as arbitrary arrest and detention, torture, rape, and other forms of sexual and gender-based violence committed by police and security forces.
According to the -2015 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices-, the US stated, “Other serious human rights problems included severe prison overcrowding and lack of due process.”

Presenting the report US Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor Tom Malinowski said “In Sri Lanka, we’ll be encouraging reconciliation and justice in keeping with the joint resolution its government co-sponsored with us at the UN Human Rights Council.”
 
“Neglect of the rights of internally displaced persons (IDPs) remained a problem, as was physical and sexual abuse of women and children and trafficking in persons,” the report said adding that “discrimination against persons based on sexual orientation continued. Limits on workers’ rights and child labor also remained problems.” 
It also said that widespread impunity continued for the crimes committed during the armed conflict and other crimes committed following the end of the conflict, particularly for cases of torture, sexual violence, corruption, and human rights abuses. 
The government arrested and detained a number of military, police, and other officials implicated in old and new cases that included the killing of parliamentarians and the abduction and suspected killings of journalists and private citizens, the report said.
The report also said that unlike in the previous year, there were no substantiated reports of extrajudicial killings, although the use of force against civilians by government officials, while increasingly rare, remained a problem. The government arrested several members of the armed services and political class suspected in unsolved cases, some more than a decade old.
“The law prohibits arbitrary arrest and detention, but such incidents occurred although at a decreased rate relative to 2014. Civil society groups and human rights activists reported incidents of persons arrested and detained on unsubstantiated charges.”
Commenting on the media freedom the US said that "Independent media were generally active and expressed a wide variety of views without restriction."
“Journalists at the provincial level complained of routine harassment by local officials, including pressure to avoid negative stories. They expressed a need for robust right-to-information legislation. Owners of many media institutions had ties to top political leaders, with concomitant influence over editorial decisions. Nevertheless, in general most outlets and reporters covered the news freely without overt restrictions.”

“Politicians sometimes used or threatened libel suits against journalists to intimidate them against publishing negative coverage,” the report said.
The US said that the government did not seek to censor the media for publishing content critical of government actions. Some in the media practiced self-censorship especially during the first quarter of the year as they adjusted to a freer public information environment under the Siresena government.

See the report on Sri Lanka


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  Comments - 26

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  • Onlooker Thursday, 14 April 2016 04:50 PM

    This is all made up for the sole purpose of supporting the cause of the separatists.

    Hush Saturday, 16 April 2016 10:23 PM

    All the countries in THE WORLD have these crazy people who will harm society and had bad upbringing just like yourself. But no one can exclude the great men and women each country has produce who has done wonders to their country as well as humanity. If you are so dissapointed with Sri Lanka please go and live some where else than trying to spread negativity all around you.people like your self are the ones who society should be keep an eye on for all the horrible things that could happen to this wonderful country. Don't kill yourself and others around you who enjoy the life in this beautiful country. .

    DonkeyaCitizen Friday, 15 April 2016 08:42 AM

    Awww! Buffalo, buffalo! Insulting other peoples parents are we? New low even for you. So much for "humanitarian principles". Ok, I'll bite. It is not other peoples parents fault that your parents were abusive. You need to see a therapist...

    kasun Friday, 15 April 2016 08:20 AM

    A warning to RW for his Chaina trip i guess.

    liyange Friday, 15 April 2016 01:24 AM

    You left out the violence against the Curds by the US and NATO ally Turkey.

    Menike Thursday, 14 April 2016 10:10 PM

    The U.S. constantly preaches about human rights violations to the world while every day they are killing people all over in the name of "human rights". The U.S. should concentrate on their own actions BEFORE trying to enforce "rights" with guns and bombs.

    CounterStrike Thursday, 14 April 2016 09:45 PM

    America maybe the prison capitol. America maybe a hypocrisy not a democracy. But your whining won't stop the US from defecating on other countries. They have the power to do whatever they want.

    CounterStrike Thursday, 14 April 2016 09:41 PM

    criminal inclinations eh? Look maybe your parents abused you but that doesn't apply everyone else. But looking at your own comment I must agree, the future does look bleak when Baffalos rule.

    Thanos Thursday, 14 April 2016 09:25 PM

    Say what? Most parents have criminal inclinations? Well either you have ESP or you have had a terrible upbringing but I'm inclined to believe your intellectual capacity is just inferior to even Buffalo. You talk of humanitarian principles but that comment lacked any substance or sense of humanity. Truly a Buffalo.

    Unchikun Thursday, 14 April 2016 07:58 PM

    In Sri Lanka we have the death penalty. On humanitarian grounds it is not enforced. How many people are legally (?) executed in the US? The worse is that the victims kit and kin are aloud to watch this in humane act. Anger cannot be overcome by anger. The teaching of the great philosopher Gautama Buddha.

    raj Thursday, 14 April 2016 06:47 PM

    Thanks for the daily mirror for publishing this report. If this story is true, how the international community place trust on Sri Lankan government to conduct its war crime inquiry committed during war when Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa was command in chief?

    Jackass Thursday, 14 April 2016 06:06 PM

    Excuse me?? what?? Did you just put Ven. Soma Thera and Pirapaharan in the same category??

    Thanos Thursday, 14 April 2016 05:28 PM

    The article mentions prison overcrowding. Unfortunately this is not something unique to SL. US incarcerates almost twice that of China. US system favors the rich white compared to less affluent especially Black and Hispanic minorities. Why are Blacks and Hispanics far more likely to be targeted by the police and end up in jail? Almost 60 percent of incarcerated in the US are black and hispanic while they only constitute 25 percent of the population. There amount of racial profiling in the US is insane. Sorry America, there is something seriously wrong with you.

    rosebud Thursday, 14 April 2016 10:44 AM

    The worlds policeman What a joke via DM Android App

    Sharon Thursday, 14 April 2016 01:34 PM

    FCID is a major contributor. via DM iOS App

    Lal Thursday, 14 April 2016 01:19 PM

    Rajapaksas and their blind supporters try to label their critics as LTTE supporters to hide their crimes. It's sad that the Armed Forces are picking up the same tactics

    iemerald Thursday, 14 April 2016 01:00 PM

    THE US IS WHITER THAN WHITE. THEY ARE CHAMPIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTSTHEY UPHOLD HUMAN RIGHTSDONT MAKE ME LAUGH.JUST LOOK AT GUANTANAMO BAYIT IS ALWAYS DO AS I SAY NOT AS I DO

    buwa Thursday, 14 April 2016 12:46 PM

    I m starting to believe that MRs method of total disregard of west and HR issues is the way forward..cause whatever we do US will find something to point finger at... via DM Android App

    Aruna Thursday, 14 April 2016 12:42 PM

    We the Yahapalanaya treat you more than God! Why now US??

    Banda Thursday, 14 April 2016 12:28 PM

    The US wants the yahapalanya to arrest the entire SL army, navy and the air force.

    M.M.M.Zarook Thursday, 14 April 2016 12:24 PM

    Preaching is easier than practising. In the name of crushing Islamic Terrorism, the mighty US killing thousands of innocent people. Do they practise the human rights to the letter ?

    das Thursday, 14 April 2016 12:22 PM

    The people who, during the Mr era, commented that the US should mind its own business will applaud this.

    Close eyes thataya b(p)ikku Thursday, 14 April 2016 11:59 AM

    Tell to the thataya who cannot face people while talking and also protecting our soldiers. Note we have a brave and decent soldiers of over 100000 but their name tarnish because of thatays who cant hold a gun and talk bull shit.

    BuffaloaCitizen Thursday, 14 April 2016 11:12 AM

    A country whose leaders and citizens thrived on majority hegemony, democratic and humanitarian principles are not understood or digested. That is the reason, despite having a Buddha statue every 200m, the most despicable crimes happen and will continue to happen. When most parents have criminal inclinations what can be expected of the new and future generation? This is also a country that never possessed poets, philosophers, mahatma's, Buddha's or peace activists but always had plenty of arrogant personalities such as Saradiel, Somaratne Thera, Sepala Ekanayake, Wijemuni, Pirabakaran, Gnanasara, Weerawansa, Rajapakse and many others.

    unani Thursday, 14 April 2016 11:01 AM

    dear mr oba maa what happen in Iraq Afghanistan pakistan Libya again in Siriya u forgot all via DM iOS App

    Vinayager Thursday, 14 April 2016 10:50 AM

    There were arbtry arrest if buddhist monks and army officials by corrupt poluce for their fromotion on political influance. No justice under new yahapalana too, even they kilked youth at Embilipitiya and arrest incent school boy for thug poluce servival


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