The Sri Lanka Campaign for Peace and Justice has urged the visiting UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to apologize to the people of Sri Lanka for the United Nations’ inadequate efforts to prevent loss of life in early 2009
Fred Carver, Campaign Director of the Sri Lanka Campaign for Peace and Justice, in his open letter to the UN Secretary stated Sri Lanka’s transition from armed conflict to a lasting and a sustainable peace is far from complete, and it is important to maintain the high level of international pressure and scrutiny necessary to see it through.
He outlined four important points urged Mr. Ban to include them in his statements during his visit in Sri Lanka.
“First, we would urge you to draw attention to the serious human rights issues that persist in Sri Lanka. Ongoing violations of human rights, including sexual violence, are still taking place in the north and east of the country. As a result, the climate of fear which used to grip the entire nation still exists among large numbers of people, particularly in those areas. Here civil society remains under a significant degree of surveillance. Most land under military occupation has still not been released to its rightful owners, the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act is still in daily use, and around 120 people are still detained without charge. This climate makes the implementation of Sri Lanka’s reconciliation and transitional justice agenda far more difficult.”
“Secondly, we feel it would be appropriate for you to use this opportunity to apologize to the people of Sri Lanka for the United Nations’ inadequate efforts to prevent loss of life in early 2009. As you yourself said, the 2012 United Nations Internal Review Panel Report demonstrated “that the United Nations system failed to meet its responsibilities”.
“Our research has shown that many survivors of the Sri Lankan civil war feel that they are owed an apology, not just by the Government of Sri Lanka for its actions, but also by the international community and the UN for failing to make greater efforts to protect them. An apology would go some way to restore their faith in the system and to build support for UN efforts to support justice, accountability and reconciliation in the country.”
“Our research has shown that many survivors of the Sri Lankan civil war feel that they are owed an apology, not just by the Government of Sri Lanka for its actions, but also by the international community and the UN for failing to make greater efforts to protect them. An apology would go some way to restore their faith in the system and to build support for UN efforts to support justice, accountability and reconciliation in the country.”
“Thirdly, we feel it is essential that you impress upon the Government of Sri Lanka the importance of fulfilling the commitments that it has made. As you have said, “the victims of all communities, their families and the Sri Lankan nation itself demand no less than a full and proper reckoning.”
“In September 2015 the Government of Sri Lanka co-sponsored Human Rights Council resolution 30/1, thereby committing itself to a series of actions which, if implemented in full, would give the opportunity for such a reckoning. Yet already there have been disturbing signs that the resolution will not be implemented.”
“In September 2015 the Government of Sri Lanka co-sponsored Human Rights Council resolution 30/1, thereby committing itself to a series of actions which, if implemented in full, would give the opportunity for such a reckoning. Yet already there have been disturbing signs that the resolution will not be implemented.”
“Fourthly, it is vital that the international community remain engaged in Sri Lanka’s reconciliation process for some time to come, and be willing to offer such support as is needed. It is therefore imperative that you publicly give the fullest possible support to the High Commissioner’s efforts to open a country office in Sri Lanka.
A country office would support the process set out in Resolution 30/1, report on what is happening on the ground, and act as a bridge between the reconciliation process and the Government of Sri Lanka. We hope you will use your visit to advance the negotiations with the Sri Lankan Government on the establishment of this office.”
A country office would support the process set out in Resolution 30/1, report on what is happening on the ground, and act as a bridge between the reconciliation process and the Government of Sri Lanka. We hope you will use your visit to advance the negotiations with the Sri Lankan Government on the establishment of this office.”
Finally, we would like to draw your attention to the case of Balendran Jeyakumary, a single mother from Kilinochchi whose son appears to have been disappeared and who was arrested and held in detention for almost a year after speaking out about this. She continues to be harassed to this day by the Police. This is not only having a terrible effect on Jeyakumary and her young daughter. It also has serious consequences for Sri Lanka as a whole.
Jeyakumary is not a professional activist but a concerned mother. Her case is a totemic one, and her treatment is having a chilling effect. There are many mothers in Sri Lanka who lost children in the war.
Jeyakumary is not a professional activist but a concerned mother. Her case is a totemic one, and her treatment is having a chilling effect. There are many mothers in Sri Lanka who lost children in the war.
