Amnesty International slams Prez’s decision to release Sergeant Sunil Rathnayaka

27 March 2020 01:03 pm - 13 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Responding to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s decision to release Sergeant Sunil Rathnayaka, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for South Asia, Biraj Patnaik, said the government’s arbitrary decision to release Sergeant Rathnayaka sends an extremely worrying message.

“Where accountability is so rare for serious human rights violations in Sri Lanka, the government’s arbitrary decision to release Sergeant Rathnayaka sends an extremely worrying message.It means that military perpetrators of horrific crimes, even if convicted through a court of law, will be pardoned and released,” he said.

It said the pardon comes at a time when there are public calls to ease prison crowding by releasing prisoners held for, amongst others, petty crimes and those who are unable to meet bail conditions, to avoid the spread of COVID-19.

Amnesty International is also concerned by any further decisions along the same lines as pledged by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa during his election campaign. Sri Lanka is a party to the International Covenant on Civil Political Rights (ICCPR) and has an obligation to ensure that any person whose rights or freedoms have been violated have an effective remedy (Article 2).

“Using the pandemic as an opportunity to release those convicted for heinous crimes is reprehensible. Victims have a right to justice, and Sri Lanka has an obligation to ensure that justice is done. After many long years, the victims of the Mirusuvil massacre from 2000 finally got a semblance of justice in 2015. It is despicable to have that justice reversed through an arbitrary Executive decision,” said Biraj Patnaik.

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Comments - 13

George Harry Friday, 27 March 2020 06:00 PM

The Amnesty or any other organizations should not point the finger on democratically elected President of other country to warn a personnel, it is a violation of international law. Why didn't you apply so many ARTICLE as law to prevent the US invasion

ari Friday, 27 March 2020 06:05 PM

How come you haven't raised objections when the US president releases servicemen convicted of crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Robert Friday, 27 March 2020 06:40 PM

Sorry Sir ,This is called Domestic mechanism Why do not understand???

Jude Friday, 27 March 2020 07:18 PM

Hey Biraj, don't worry !!??

P Tilak Friday, 27 March 2020 07:27 PM

Where was AI during the protracted terrorist war ( which lasted nearly 25 years) , when the LTTEwas killing thousands of INNONCENT citizens ((including innocent Tamil people) , 36 Buddhist monks, the list goes on. AI , you are on the wrong side, being the speaker for illegitimate , vile , inhuman organisations.

Pantha kumaran Friday, 27 March 2020 07:28 PM

Amensty International has no right to interfere the internal matters of Sri Lanka. The army in Sri Lanka is above the law. They saved us from LTTE and it is the time to pay back their hard work.

Jude Friday, 27 March 2020 07:31 PM

Hey Biraj, your boss, your leader responsible for 2002 Gujarat Pogrom aka Gujarat Violence!! The 3 day riots killed over 2000 people!!! However, subsequent inquiries, the leader was cleared of any wrongdoing by supreme Court !!?? Huh !!

Jude Friday, 27 March 2020 07:53 PM

A message for Biraj!! "Hey clean up your own backyard before you barge into someone else's ..if you point a finger make sure that the other four are not pointing at you.. Practice what you preach because KARMA has a way of finding the one's it missed !!!"

S. Rajapakse Friday, 27 March 2020 07:58 PM

Hey Biraj, Just get lost and look at the big guys before u make noise over Sri Lanka. Our country is doing far better for the human rights.

Jude Friday, 27 March 2020 08:08 PM

Hey you SOB Biraj!, Atrocities happening worldwide but ironically only Sri Lanka culpable !?? Huh!!??

VJ Friday, 27 March 2020 08:19 PM

God have mercy!

ram Friday, 27 March 2020 08:26 PM

my car my petrol. dont interfere with us.

Arthur G Saturday, 28 March 2020 11:44 AM

What happened to offenders of Mai-lai massacre during Vietnam war were they hanged?

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Amnesty International slams Prez’s decision to release Sergeant Sunil Rathnayaka

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