COLOMBO – UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet on Monday (21) flagged a series of developments in Sri Lanka as issues of concern, noting that recent counter-terrorism regulations – which include the listing and/or prohibition of more than 300 Tamil and Muslim groups and individuals for alleged support of terrorism – will not advance reconciliation.
Bachelet, who was delivering her human rights update at the ongoing 47th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva, expressed concern over government measures perceived as targeting Muslims, and by the harassment of Tamils, including in the context of commemoration events of 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, noting another issue of concern, the recently introduced counter-terrorism regulations which permit the arbitrary administrative detention of people for up to two years, without trial for the purposes of de-radicalization.
“I also note a continuing series of deaths in police custody and in the context of police encounters with alleged criminal gangs,” she said, calling for a thorough, prompt, and independent investigation into these deaths.
However, she said the rights body will continue to engage with the government, and that she would update the Council further at the September session, including on progress in implementing the new accountability mandate.
Deeming this a time of grave setbacks in human rights in many parts of the world Bachelet said extreme poverty, inequalities, and injustice were rising, while democratic and civic space was being eroded. “Navigating a clear way out of the complex COVID-19 crisis, and towards an inclusive, green, sustainable, and resilient future, will be the work of this generation of world leaders – or their downfall,” she warned.
She said the Secretary-General’s Call to Action on Human Rights was a blueprint that connects, more closely than ever before, the UN pillars of development, peace and security, and human rights.
-ENCL