The United Nations listed Sri Lankan among 16 nations where governments are believed to be cracking down on critics with impunity, reports the Associated Press.
Addressing a special session of the Human Rights Council, the High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said that the 16 nations had been “far from sufficient” in preventing intimidation and attacks by government members on various activists.
Along with Sri Lanka, the other named nations were Algeria, Bahrain, Belarus, China, Colombia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Lebanon, Malawi, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Uzbekistan and Venezuela.
Ms Pillay further said:
“Reprisals and intimidation against individuals continue to be reported. People may be threatened or harassed by government officials, including through public statements by high-level authorities. Associations and NGOs may see their activities monitored or restricted. Smear campaigns against those who cooperate with the U.N. may be organized. Threats may be made via phone calls, text messages or even direct contacts. People may also be arrested, beaten or tortured and even killed.”
“[There has also been a] lack of accountability in relation to the majority of reported cases of reprisals.”
A report submitted to the UNHCR details alleged killings, beatings, torture, arrests, threats, harassments and smear campaigns against human rights defenders and other government critics in the various named nations.
Urging the council and the world’s nations to do more, Ms Pillay said:
“We need more coherent and solid strategies to put an end to reprisals. Reprisals are not only unacceptable: they are also ineffective in the long term. Preventing people from expressing their will or their dissent freely, does not succeed. Ultimately, freedom will always prevail. And information will always find its way to the outside world.”
