27 April, 2024

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Stop Harassing Victims, Activists Says Human Rights Watch

The Sri Lankan government should promptly investigate allegations that security forces harassed people who met with the visiting United Nations human rights chief, Navi Pillay, during her recent trip to the country, Human Rights Watch said today.

Brad Adams

Pillay, the UN high commissioner for human rights, expressed concerns at the end of her week-long visit on August 31, 2013, that victims of abuses and their family members, activists, and journalists had received visits and other harassment and threats from the authorities after meeting with her and other UN officials. She said that reprisals against people who talk to the UN were an extremely serious matter and that she would report it to the UN Human Rights Council.

“It’s outrageous for a government that is hosting the UN human rights chief to have their security forces harass the people who met with her,” said Brad Adams, Asia director. “The Sri Lankan government should announce that ‘visits’ or other forms of harassment of those who spoke to the high commissioner will be punished. And the government should make sure they punish officials who’ve already done so.”

When in Sri Lanka, Pillay held extensive meetings with people in the formerly embattled north and east of the country, as well as with government officials, politicians, and activists. The Centre for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, based in Trincomalee in eastern Sri Lanka, reported being harassed by military personnel a few hours after its staff met with Pillay. Father Yogeswaran, who runs the center, said that they had been visited at midnight and in the early morning, and was aware that others who had met with Pillay were similarly approached. Several other victims, witnesses, and rights activists told a leading Colombo-based organization that they were visited by military personnel following meetings with Pillay.

Pillay herself, in her statement, said that she had received disturbing reports about “the harassment and intimidation of a number of human rights defenders, at least two priests, journalists, and many ordinary citizens who met with me, or planned to meet with me. I have received reports that people in villages and settlements in the Mullaitivu area were visited by police or military officers both before and after I arrived there in Trincomalee, several people I met were subsequently questioned about the content of our conversation.”

Human Rights Watch called on the authorities to take all necessary measures to end the harassment of all those who met with Pillay and ensure their security. Human Rights Watch reiterated its call, also made by Pillay, for a strong and effective victim and witness protection program in Sri Lanka.

Pillay is due to deliver an oral report on her trip to the UN Human Rights Council later in September.

Sri Lanka has a long history of silencing critics of the government. Members of activist, religious, and human rights groups as well as media workers have faced reprisals for reporting critically on government abuses. Risks are greatest for those working in former contested areas in the north and east or away from major urban areas such as Colombo.

“Despite promises to Pillay of unfettered access, Sri Lankan authorities have gone about business as usual in harassing those courageous enough to come forward to talk about the country’s many human rights problems,” Adams said. “A government that doesn’t care enough to call off its security forces for a few days while the UN’s rights chief is visiting is a government that plainly doesn’t care about respecting basic human rights.”

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Latest comments

  • 0
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    Ohh, all the bankrupt human right Activists are trying to change the world for better.

    why there are no human right Activists where there is aggression by the developed countries ?

  • 0
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    Our Police or Forces never hares anybody. They just take them to find hidden arms only or else Police will find firearms and other weapons and some blue films from such persons or offices.

    This information is not correct to say that Military personnel visited Centre for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, as they were courtesy visits to see whether they are ok in the center. Recently they visited Mandana Ismail Abewickrama’s house also with same view.

  • 0
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    They are singing aloud for their bonuses.

    • 0
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      If they don’t write these sort of crap then these people don’t have anything to eat everyday

  • 0
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    Jim Softly

    Why don’t you get your facts right before commenting you muppet. Aren’t you shamed of yourself man? I’l give you a good a- – whipping if I catch you. You must be pim-ping your own mother and sisters don’t you? I spit on your race.

  • 0
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    Now all can imagine what the innocent civilians are going through in this corrupt lawless Banana Republic. Please do not take into grant that all Sri Lankans are uneducated buffaloes as the ones ruling the Country.

    • 0
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      Namal Perera

      all Sri Lankans are uneducated buffaloes as the ones ruling the Country.

      Shame on you man you call yourself uneducated buffalo

  • 0
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    General- Take it easy.Don’t waste time on such ?.Not worth it.He shows his incapacty to understand.zero.
    HIs arguments are rediculous.

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