Amnesty International (AI) this week called on the Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers to “act urgently to stop the downward spiral of violence and human rights abuses in the north and east of the country.”
“The situation is very grim and time is running out,” said Ms. Irene Khan, the Secretary General of AI said as she concluded her four-day visit to Sri Lanka. “We called on President Mahinda Rajapakse to seize the initiative urgently to de-escalate the violence.”
“We have urged the government to be open and flexible on monitoring mechanisms and on establishing effective systems of accountability, including through independent investigations,” said Ms. Khan. “Without a rapid reduction of human rights abuses, the prognosis for peace is poor.”
Commenting on the President Rajapakse’s assurances to address all allegations of human rights violations by the Sri Lankan security forces, Khan said, “While we welcome his assurances, we want to see concrete action on the ground.”
“A significant number of attacks and killings are happening in government-controlled areas,” said Ms. Khan.
“Although there is confusion as to who is behind these attacks, there can be no doubt about the clear responsibility of the state to investigate and prosecute,” she noted.
“Recent killings and attacks in Jaffna are an indication of the volatility of the current situation,” Ms. Khan said.
“Prospects for conflict prevention will depend on how fast and how far the government and the LTTE are willing to address the extremely fragile security situation now in the north and east.”
Khan also criticised Sri Lanka’s response to people displaced by the conflict and the tsunami disaster.
“The inequitable, and at times inadequate, response to hundreds of thousands of people displaced by conflict and by the tsunami disaster last year has added to the volatility of the situation,” her statement said.
On Saturday, Ms. Khan met in Kililnochchi with the head of the LTTE’s Political Wing, Mr. S. P. Tamilselvan.
Ms. Khan expressed Amnesty International’s serious concerns over the increasing violence and allegations of underage recruitment by the Liberation Tigers.
She also expressed the need to explore mechanisms to end violence and upgrade human rights standards in conformity with international norms.
In response, Mr. Tamilselvan extended an invitation to Amnesty International to send a fact finding mission to Tamil areas to investigate matters related to child recruitment and other human rights concerns.
Ms Khan also met with NorthEast Secretariat on Human Rights (NESOHR) to learn about its functions, staff strength, on complaints received and how the complaints are resolved.
“The situation is very grim and time is running out,” said Ms. Irene Khan, the Secretary General of AI said as she concluded her four-day visit to Sri Lanka. “We called on President Mahinda Rajapakse to seize the initiative urgently to de-escalate the violence.”
“We have urged the government to be open and flexible on monitoring mechanisms and on establishing effective systems of accountability, including through independent investigations,” said Ms. Khan. “Without a rapid reduction of human rights abuses, the prognosis for peace is poor.”
Commenting on the President Rajapakse’s assurances to address all allegations of human rights violations by the Sri Lankan security forces, Khan said, “While we welcome his assurances, we want to see concrete action on the ground.”
“A significant number of attacks and killings are happening in government-controlled areas,” said Ms. Khan.
“Although there is confusion as to who is behind these attacks, there can be no doubt about the clear responsibility of the state to investigate and prosecute,” she noted.
“Recent killings and attacks in Jaffna are an indication of the volatility of the current situation,” Ms. Khan said.
“Prospects for conflict prevention will depend on how fast and how far the government and the LTTE are willing to address the extremely fragile security situation now in the north and east.”
Khan also criticised Sri Lanka’s response to people displaced by the conflict and the tsunami disaster.
“The inequitable, and at times inadequate, response to hundreds of thousands of people displaced by conflict and by the tsunami disaster last year has added to the volatility of the situation,” her statement said.
On Saturday, Ms. Khan met in Kililnochchi with the head of the LTTE’s Political Wing, Mr. S. P. Tamilselvan.
Ms. Khan expressed Amnesty International’s serious concerns over the increasing violence and allegations of underage recruitment by the Liberation Tigers.
She also expressed the need to explore mechanisms to end violence and upgrade human rights standards in conformity with international norms.
In response, Mr. Tamilselvan extended an invitation to Amnesty International to send a fact finding mission to Tamil areas to investigate matters related to child recruitment and other human rights concerns.
Ms Khan also met with NorthEast Secretariat on Human Rights (NESOHR) to learn about its functions, staff strength, on complaints received and how the complaints are resolved.
