UN rights chief voices concern over SL’S counter-terrorism laws

While expressing her concern over the recent appointments to Sri Lanka’s Office of Missing Persons and Office for Reparations, UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet yesterday noted ‘a continuing series of deaths in police custody and in the context of police encounters with alleged criminal gangs’.

During the opening of the UN Human Rights Council’s 47th session in Geneva, the UN Rights Chief also said “In Sri Lanka, I am concerned by further Government measures perceived as targeting Muslims, and by the harassment of Tamils, including in the context of commemoration events for those who died at the end of the war.” “I am concerned that recent appointments to the Office of Missing Persons and Office for Reparations, and steps to discourage investigations into past crimes, are further undermining victims’ trust,” she said in her opening address.

She also said that the recent counterterrorism regulations – which include the listing and/or prohibition of more than 300 Tamil and Muslim groups and individuals for alleged support of terrorism – will also not advance reconciliation .“regulations now permit the arbitrary administrative detention of people for upto two years, without trial for the purposes of de-radicalisation,” she said. “I also note a continuing series of deaths in police custody and in the context of police encounters with alleged criminal gangs.

A thorough, prompt and independent investigation should be conducted,” Bachelet said.

She also told the session that they will continue to engage with the Government, and she will update the Council further at the September session, including on progress in implementing the new accountability mandate. (SUNIL JAYASIRI)

47th session of the Human Rights Council