GoSL attacking critics instead of fixing HR situ: Amnesty International

The Government of Sri Lanka has spent the past year deflecting international criticism and lashing out at Sri Lankan critics instead of remedying its human rights violations and preventing new ones, London based human rights watchdog Amnesty International told the 22nd Session of the UN Human Rights Council yesterday.

Speaking during the General Debate Amnesty International dealt exclusively with Sri Lanka, urging the Council to establish a mechanism to monitor and report on the Sri Lankan human rights situation and support the call for an international investigation into alleged violations of international law in the country.

The Amnesty International submission was highly critical of the Government’s reliance on the defence forces to investigate and police themselves.

“The Ministry of Defence, armed forces and police cannot credibly investigate alleged violations by their own personnel possibly acting on the orders of senior commanders and government ministers,” AI said in its submission before the Council.

Intolerance of dissent, “even at the apex of the judicial system” was also impeding progress on human rights and post-conflict reconciliation, the rights body said.

 (DB)