Terrorist activities in one nation must not threaten security of others: Lanka tells UNHRC

By Dharisha Bastians

Countries of the world have a responsibility to ensure that activities within their territories do not pose a threat to other nations who could be victimised by terrorism, Sri Lanka told the UN Human Rights Council yesterday.  

The Sri Lankan Delegation to the UNHRC’s 22nd Session noted that the Special Rapporteur had recognized some of the gravest violations of human rights were committed by or on behalf of non state actors operating in conflict situations including by domestic or international terrorist networks.

“Countries have a duty to ensure that activities in its jurisdiction do not pose a threat to present and potential victims of terrorism in other nations,” Deputy Solicitor General Buveneka Aluvihare told the Council on behalf of the Sri Lankan Delegation.DSG Aluvihare was speaking at a clustered Interactive Dialogue with Ben Emmerson, the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms while countering terrorism and the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention at the 22nd Session of the UNHRC.

He said Sri Lanka was aware of the many faceted dangers of these international networks operating in foreign jurisdictions including in the form of front organizations while continuing to receive overt and tacit support from host societies. “This tolerance and accommodation could lead to the resurfacing and rejuvenation of terrorism which has been effectively suppressed in countries that have suffered from it. Such support from overseas, whether it be by fundraising or other logistical support or even civic or political manifestations that espouse terrorist in victim countries or other fora must be stringently guarded against,” the Sri Lankan delegation noted.