An Oral Statement to the 11th Session of the UN Human Rights Council from the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC), a non-governmental organization in general consultative status
ASIA: Human rights in Sri Lanka and Pakistan
Thank you Mr. President,
Firstly, we regret that NGO speaking times in this most substantive section of discussions are again being sacrificed due to unfortunate time management. The Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) is gravely concerned that the Human Rights Council is abdicating from its mandate to protect individuals’ human rights, notably by failing to address impunity.
A prime example is Sri Lanka. At present any voices critical of the government’s many past and present human rights violations are being silenced through an intense climate of fear and threats. Radio broadcasts have in recent days branded some human rights defenders and journalists as traitors, calling for them and their families to be killed.
Journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge, who was killed this January 8th, stated in a posthumously published letter that, in the event of his murder, the government would be responsible. The Secretary General of the Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association, Poddala Jayantha, was seriously assaulted last week.
Sri Lanka’s Chief Justice, Sarath Silva, spoke out last week about the horrific conditions in the so-called ‘relief villages’ in which Vanni’s IDPs are being kept, stating that “they cannot expect justice from the law of the country.” Despite his position, he stated expecting reprisals for having spoken out.
IDPs are not alone in effectively being outside of the law in Sri Lanka. Thousands of cases of torture, extra-judicial killing and forced disappearance committed in recent years have not been investigated or prosecuted, leaving the victims and perpetrators beyond the reach of justice.
The ALRC is also gravely concerned by the deteriorating security and human rights situation in Pakistan. We have previously informed this Council of: the breakdown of the rule of law in the country; the widespread use of torture, including in at least 52 army-run torture centres; grave and pervasive violations of women’s rights; as well as thousands of unresolved forced disappearances and extra-judicial killings. The police alone are accused of 150 killings in the first five months of this year. This situation is now being compounded by attacks on civilians and intensified fighting, leading to over three million IDPs living in precarious conditions. Continued inaction concerning such situations in Asia and around the world will only further discredit this Council.
Thank you
Webcast video: http://webcast.un.org/ramgen/ondemand/conferences/unhrc/eleventh/hrc090608pm1-eng.rm?start=00:51:56&end=00:54:06
