Wednesday, 8th October 2014
By Lakna Paranamanna
The Sri Lankan delegation yesterday informed the UN Human Rights Committee that the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) will continue to remain in force as the threat of terrorism still persists.
These remarks were made yesterday when questions were raised by UN Human Rights Committee members on the PTA, during the reviewing of Sri Lanka’s human rights record and the progress and concerns on the implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
During the dialogue, when various concerns were raised with regard to Sri Lanka’s human rights record, the Sri Lankan delegation pointed out that the PTA does not go against the ICCPR and added that it needs to continue to remain in enforcement since the threat of terrorism still persists, while reading out a list of LTTE operatives in foreign countries.
Making an opening statement yesterday, Sri Lanka's Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, Ravinatha Aryasinha noted the many measures that have been implemented by the government in order to ensure it respects human rights and reiterated Sri Lanka’s dedication to uphold human rights.
Among the issues that were raised during the reviewing process were ‘white van’ abductions involving military, paramilitary and police, rehabilitation of child soldiers, extra judicial killings and the government's lack of corporation in individual communication procedures.
Concerns were also raised regarding the reprisals against human rights defenders and journalists that include arbitrary detentions and enforced disappearances.
UN Human Rights Committee member Yuval Shany questioned the Sri Lankan delegation on whether investigations have been launched into the factual findings by the Panel of experts and raised issues on accountability. Shany also asked the Sri Lankan government whether it would reconsider its position on the investigation that has been launched by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on the alleged abuses that occurred in Sri Lanka during the final phases of the war.
Meanwhile, Committee member Anja Seibert-Pohr addressed concerns over extrajudicial killings, pointing out there is information that indicates that such killings and abductions have continued even after 2009 and questioned the delegation on the steps that have been implemented to stop them. The Committee also questioned the Sri Lankan delegation over the low participation of women in political decision making processes, discriminatory laws against women and made a note on the discriminations against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual individuals.
The review has been scheduled to continue this morning where more concerns over the human rights situation in Sri Lanka is due to be raised and reviewed through discussions between the Committee members and the Sri Lankan delegation.
