The International Crisis Group has today released a report, accusing the Sri Lankan state of dismantling of its "independent judiciary system" and leaving "Sri Lanka's battered democracy on life support."
The report also noted that Sri Lanka's insistence of investigating its own shortcomings and war crime allegations, were made implausible as one of the last 'independent' institutions, the court, is dismantled.
See here for the TG view of Sri Lanka's previously 'functioning' independent judiciary system.
Highlighting Sri Lanka's violations of basic Commonwealth principles, the report asserted that member states should call on the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) to put Sri Lanka on the agenda, whilst shifting the location of the next Commonwealth heads of government meeting, which is currently set to take place in Sri Lanka.
Addressing the upcoming session at the Human Rights Council (HRC), the report urged member states to work towards a strong follow up on last year's resolution, and call for an independent investigation into all credible allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity, following the Sri Lankan government's failure to implement significant portions of the recommendations made last year.
The report went on to outline the ICG's conclusions, which echoed the longstanding Tamil civic society rhetoric, regarding the demeanour of the Sri Lankan government.
"There have been no credible investigations into war crimes, disappearances or other serious human rights violations;"
"No independent institutions for investigation or accountability have been established; instead the regime has dismantled the last traces of judicial independence through its assault on the chief justice;"
"Rather than moving towards a lasting and fair constitutional settlement of the ethnic conflict through meaningful power sharing, the president and his brothers have expressed their intention to repeal or weaken the already limited provincial powers granted under the 13th Amendment."
"Despite the council many others calling for the demilitarisation of the Tamil-majority northern province, the Sri Lankan military continues to control virtually all aspects of life in the north, with the civil administration intimidated and sidelined."
"The government has cracked down hard on Tamil protest in the north, wit peaceful demonstrations disrupted by the military, students arrested on the groundless charges of working with the LTTE and other forms of dissent denied."
