{"id":147426,"date":"2015-07-13T15:57:50","date_gmt":"2015-07-13T10:27:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/?p=147426"},"modified":"2015-07-13T15:57:50","modified_gmt":"2015-07-13T10:27:50","slug":"civil-society-wants-eight-key-pledges-to-be-included-in-party-manifestos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/civil-society-wants-eight-key-pledges-to-be-included-in-party-manifestos\/","title":{"rendered":"Civil Society Wants Eight Key Pledges To Be Included In Party Manifestos"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sending an open letter to all political parties, 94 Civil Society activists and 29 organisations have today\u00a0urged that 8 key pledges to be included as firm pledges in party manifestos.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Ranil<\/a>We publish below the letter in full;<\/p>\n

We the undersigned Sri Lankan civil society activists and organizations, wish to bring to your attention human rights issues of pivotal importance to reconciliation, unity, peace and prosperity in our country, which we strongly believe should be included in your party manifestos for the forthcoming General Election.<\/p>\n

During the campaign period leading to the January 2015 Presidential Election, the focus was governance and anti- corruption as the immediate need of the day to salvage democracy and restore the rule of law in Sri Lanka. There appeared to be a consensus that once this was done and an enabling environment thereby created, the longer term issues of peace and reconciliation, the process of transitional justice, an end to the culture of impunity in respect of all human rights violations and a political settlement of the ethnic conflict, would be addressed in earnest.<\/p>\n

We are of the firm belief that the Parliament to be elected on the 17 of August will have to address these issues as a matter of the utmost priority if we as Sri Lankans are to realize the full potential for peace and prosperity in a truly united country that is inherent in all our fellow citizens. We have languished for too long in a post- war situation, in which the roots of conflict are sustained and even allowed to be reproduced. We need to move to a post-conflict situation characterized by the absence of human rights violations and in order to do so, we strongly urge that the following, in particular, be included as firm pledges in your manifestos.<\/p>\n

1. Commit to a political and constitutional settlement of the ethnic conflict based on meaningful power-sharing.<\/p>\n

2. Ensure families have access to the truth, and hold accountable all those responsible for enforced and involuntary disappearances, and that the crime of disappearances be criminalized under Sri Lankan Law.<\/p>\n

3. Repeal or reform the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), bringing it in line with Sri Lanka’s international obligations, and that all long-term detainees be charged or released with immediate effect.<\/p>\n

4. Zero tolerance on the issues of enforced and involuntary disappearance, torture, religious and gender based violence and attacks, suppression of dissent and threats on Human Rights Defenders (HRDs).<\/p>\n

5. Bring an end to the prevailing culture of impunity, and strengthen the judiciary to uphold the law and hold accountable all those responsible for human rights violations.<\/p>\n

6. Put in place processes and mechanisms of transitional justice in conformity with international standards, and continued, constructive engagement with victims, affected communities, local civil society groups and the international community.<\/p>\n

7. Ensure an enabling environment for civil society activism.<\/p>\n

8. Implement pro-people, participatory and sustainable economic, development and environmental policies, approaches and practices.<\/p>\n

Let us NOT miss this historic opportunity for true reform and reconciliation!
\nSincerely,<\/p>\n

Individuals<\/strong>
\nAlphonse Mary – Batticaloa
\nAmeer M. Faaiz – Attorney-at-law
\nAnandi Sivasubramanium
\nAnberiya Hanifa
\nAnushaya Collure
\nAruni Jayakody – Attorney-at-law
\nB. Gowthaman \u2013 Attorney-at-law
\nBalasingham Skanthakumar
\nBhavani Fonseka – Attorney-at-law
\nBrito Fernando
\nC. Ranitha Gnanarajah – Attorney-at-law
\nCayathri D
\nChandra Jayaratne
\nChandraguptha Thenuwara – Artist\/Senior Lecturer
\nDeanne Uyangoda
\nDr. A. Selvendiran \u2013 Advisor, NGO Consortium, Batticaloa
\nDr. J. T. Xavier F.R.C.S. (Retd.) – Batticaloa
\nDr. Jehan Perera
\nDr. Malathi de Alwis
\nDr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu
\nDr. Sepali Kottegoda
\nFaizun Zackariya
\nFarzana Haniffa
\nGajen Mahendra
\nGehan Gunatilleke – Attorney-at-law
\nGodfrey Yogarajah
\nHerman Kumara
\nHilmy Ahamed
\nJacqueline
\nJansila Majeed
\nJayanta de S. Wijeratne
\nJeanne Samuel
\nJoe William
\nK. Aingkaran
\nK.S. Ratnavale – Attorney-at-law
\nKalani Subasinghe
\nKumudini Samuel
\nKusal Perera \u2013 Journalist
\nLuwie Ganeshathasan \u2013 Attorney-at-law
\nM.A.L. Perera
\nM.S. Nilashani
\nMala Liyanage
\nMangaleswary Shanker
\nManori Kalugampitiya
\nMario Gomez
\nMarisa de Silva
\nMenaha Kandasamy
\nMinoli de Soysa
\nMirak Raheem
\nMohammed Mahuruf
\nNalini Ratnarajah
\nNilshan Fonseka
\nNimalka Fernando – Attorney-at-law
\nNiran Anketell – Attorney-at-law
\nPadmini Weerasooriya
\nPrabodha Rathnayaka \u2013 Attorney-at-law
\nPriya Thangarajah
\nPriyanthi Fernando
\nProf. Camena Guneratne – Open University of Sri Lanka
\nProf. Jayantha Seneviratne – University of Kelaniya
\nProf. M.S. Mookiah
\nR.M.B Senanayake \u2013 Retd. CCS
\nRajaledsumi – Women\u2019s Rights Activist
\nRev. Fr. Anthony Fernando – Salesian of Don Bosco
\nRev. Fr. Dixon Fernando SDB \u2013 Rector, Don Bosco \u2013 Dungalpitiya
\nRev. Fr. Guy Fonghaland
\nRev. Fr. Jeyabalan Croos
\nRev. Fr. Jeyaraj Rasiah SJ
\nRev. Fr. Joseph Mary SJ – Batticaloa
\nRev. Fr. Nihal Liyanage
\nRev. Fr. Rohan Dominic
\nRev. Fr. V. Yogeswaran \u2013 Attorney-at-law
\nRev. Sr. Deepa Fernando HF
\nRev. Sr. Nichola Emmanuel SCJM
\nRev. Sr. Victorine James – Holy Cross Provincialate, Kochchikade
\nRohini Dep Weerasinghe
\nRosanna Flamer-Caldera
\nRuki Fernando
\nSabra Zahid \u2013 Attorney-at-law
\nSandhya Eknaligoda
\nSaroja Sivachandran
\nSathiya Sarasakopal
\nShashika L. Bandara
\nSheila Richards
\nShreen Saroor
\nShyamala Gomez
\nSolomon Anthony Nirmalan – Claretian Congregation
\nSudarshana Gunawardana – Attorney-at-law
\nSunanda Deshapriya
\nSunela Jayewardene
\nSuriya Wickremasinghe
\nT. Mathuri \u2013 Attorney-at-law
\nUdaya Kalupathirana
\nVisaka Dharmadasa<\/p>\n

Organizations<\/strong><\/p>\n

Alliance Development Trust
\nAssociation of War Affected Women
\nCenter for Promotion & Protection of Human Rights (CPPHR)
\nCentre for Human Rights and Development (CHRD)
\nCentre for Policy Alternatives (CPA)
\nCeylon Workers Red Flag Union
\nCitizens’ Voice for Justice and Peace
\nDomestic Workers Union (DWU)
\nEqual Ground Sri Lanka
\nFederation of Media Employee’s Trade Unions
\nGandhi Sewa Society – Batticaloa
\nInform Human Rights Documentation Centre
\nInternational Centre for Ethnic Studies (ICES)
\nKantha Shakthi Forum
\nMothers and Daughters of Lanka
\nMuslim Council of Sri Lanka
\nNational Fisheries Solidarity Movement (NAFSO)
\nNational Peace Council (NPC)
\nRed Flag Women’s Movement
\nRight to Life Human Rights Centre (R2L)
\nRights Now Collective for Democracy
\nSecretariat for Muslims (SFM)
\nSisters of the Holy Cross
\nSouth Asian Centre for Legal Studies
\nVikalpani National Women’s Network
\nWomen’s Centre – Ja-Ela
\nWomen’s Development Centre – Jaffna
\nWomen’s Political Academy
\nYoung Asia Television (YATV)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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