Colombo, Geneva fired up over arrests of rights activists

Wednesday, 19 March 2014 00:51 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Govt. circulates note explaining detentions to all Geneva embassies
Claims arrests necessary to determine whereabouts of LTTE suspect
Parents, HRCSL granted access to Ruki and Fr. Praveen
Rights watchdogs, civil society slam arrests
Sara says detentions send chilling message to other HR activists in the country
Britain says arrests show why UNHRC must continue to focus on Lanka

By Dharisha Bastians Civil society and international outrage over the detention of a Tamil widow and two human rights activists persisted in Colombo and Geneva yesterday, but the Government dug in its heels, insisting the detentions were imperative to ensure national security. The Government has claimed the arrests under the Prevention of Terrorism Act were in connection with an investigation into attempts to “revive the LTTE by operatives”. Human Rights advisor Ruki Fernando and Father Praveen Mahesan who was attached to the Jaffna based Centre for Peace and Reconciliation were brought from Vavuniya to Colombo on Monday evening. The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka had been granted access to the detainees and Fernando’s parents had also been permitted to see him, the legal team confirmed. However their lawyers are yet to be permitted access and they have not yet been produced before a court and served with detention orders ahead of the 72 hour deadline that expires at 10 p.m. today. Police Spokesman SSP Ajith Rohana told Daily FT last night that authorities "may conclude investigations" and said he was not aware of any plans to produce the two detainees in court. The Sri Lankan Government issued a diplomatic note to all permanent missions to the UN except the US in Geneva dated 17 March, explaining the circumstances behind the detentions of Balendran Jeyakumari, the disappearances campaigner from Kilinochchi who was transferred to Boosa on a detention order after her arrest last Thursday (13), and Fernando and Father Praveen. The Government said the ICRC had access to detainees at the Boosa camp. The note provides a detailed statement about the regrouping activities of LTTE suspect K.P. Selvanayagam aka “Gobi” in the north, who investigations had revealed, had recruited 50 unemployed youth. The Government said these youth had already been “mobilised in the north, east and Colombo.” The explanation noted that Gobi was evading arrest and that the TID had located explosives and military equipment, mortars and RPG type ammunition and a 2.5 kg claymore bomb. “Pursuant to the recovery the police obtained a lead on the whereabouts of the chief suspect Gobi which resulted in a team of officers proceeding to the residence of Balendran Jeyakumari in Kilinochchi,” the note said, adding that a mine detector had been found in her residence. According to the Government, investigations had revealed that Fernando and Father Praveen were in Kilinochchi, engaging with persons connected to Gobi. “Their questioning is continuing at present to ascertain the whereabouts of Gobi and other operatives,” the statement explained. In its note to the missions the Government added that the developments underscore the need to be vigilant about the activities of LTTE remnants. The Sri Lanka delegation also issued the same statement while exercising its right of reply about statements made on the arrest at the UNHRC yesterday.

Govt. trying to prove case against it in Geneva: Paikasothy

The Government appeared to be trying to prove the case against it at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva by arresting human rights activists while it faces censure over its rights record, Centre for Policy Alternatives Executive Director and civil society activist, Pakiasothy Saravanamuttu said yesterday.

Dr. Saravanamuttu said the arrests were aimed deterring other human rights defenders from standing up. “Everyone that is taken is also taken with the intention of sending out a message to the rest of us, “Will you be next”?” he told a press conference in Colombo. The CPA Chief said authoritarian regimes scare people and demoralise them. “They take the heart out of people. They take the fight out of people. And they do that by egregiously violating their rights so that anyone else is deterred from standing up. That is what is happening,” he charged. It is precisely people like Jeyakumari, Ruki and Father Praveen who have stood for all time as champions of those whose rights have been violators, he said. “They provide information from the ground that is pivotal to the counter narrative that we as human rights defenders and civil society can give to the distorted picture the Government gives the international community,” Dr. Saravanamuttu said.

US Embassy disturbed about state media attacks on NGOs

The US Embassy in Colombo said it was “disturbed” to see ongoing state media attacks on civil society organisations, after the military spokesman alleged that the arrested activists were members of a leading NGO and had major links to LTTE cadres. “Disturbing trend to see Sri Lanka state media target NGOs for their work,” the US Embassy tweeted yesterday. It said civil society is essential in democracy and added that non government organisations lead reconciliation.

Watchdogs slam detentions

Human Rights Watch (HRW) flagged the PTA arrests at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva yesterday demanding the “unconditional release” of activists Ruki Fernando and Father Praveen Mahesan. In a joint statement issued late Monday (17), HRW, Amnesty International, the International Crisis Group, the International Commission of Jurists and FORUM Asia said the arbitrary arrest and detention of prominent human rights defenders is an attempt to silence criticism and divert the spotlight from ongoing abuses. The human rights groups said that the arrests are particularly disturbing since a resolution on Sri Lanka’s failure to address accountability is under discussion and will be voted on soon at the ongoing Human Rights Council (UNHRC) sessions in Geneva. “The international community has long called for Sri Lanka to take meaningful steps to end its culture of impunity,” the statement said.

The world is watching: UK

UK Foreign Office Minister Hugo Swire expressed concern over the arrests of human rights defenders in Sri Lanka yesterday and warned that the “world was watching”.

“I urge the Sri Lankan Government to respect human rights defenders and uphold the principles of free expression and movement,” Minister Swire said in a statement. The UK Minister said that with the March UN Human Rights Council underway and a resolution on Sri Lanka under draft, these arrests underline why the Council must continue its focus on Sri Lanka. “Ruki Fernando and Father Praveen have a strong record of promoting peace, justice and reconciliation across the country. We are urging the Government of Sri Lanka to allow them immediate access to lawyers and their families, and to clarify the basis on which they have been detained,” he said.