Human rights situation in SL 2012 remained of serious concern: UK

Sri Lanka’s human rights situation last year remained of serious concern, with a number of negative developments, including with regard to freedom of expression and media and judicial independence, Britain said in a report released today.

UK Foreign Secretary William Hague today launched the ‘Human Rights and Democracy report for 2012’ prepared by the foreign and commonwealth office.

The report, which documents UK’s action to raise standards and stamp out abuses occurring globally, said serious human rights violations including intimidation of human rights defenders continued in Sri Lanka in 2012 and reports of enforced disappearances continued in the year.

While observing that further progress was made on reintegration of ex-combatants and resettlement of internally displaced persons (IDPs), the Human Rights and Democracy report said further abductions and disappearances continued, although the number was reduced from spring 2012 onwards compared to 2011 levels.

Noting that there was no progress in the investigation into the 2011 disappearance of Frontline Socialist Party campaigners Lalith Kumar Weeraraj and Kugan Murugan in Jaffna, the report noted that no conclusive investigations into past incidents of right violations took place.

While noting that there were no reported killings of journalists in 2012, in contrast to previous years, the report concluded that there was no progress on investigations into the previous murders and disappearances of journalists, especially the killing of Sunday Leader editor Lasantha Wickrematunga and the disappearance of cartoonist Prageeth Ekneliyagoda.

Restrictions on free assembly continued through 2012 while an increase in religiously motivated violence in 2012 has been observed.

Despite the prioritisation of torture prevention in the 2011 National Human Rights Action Plan, there was no change in laws in 2012 to give effect to recommendations, and reports of torture continued, the UK Human Rights Report said.

According to the report, during the last year, the UK has taken several measures to help Sri Lanka to address human rights challenges, including those resulting from the 30-year conflict. The UK has also funded several projects addressing issues such as language rights, women’s rights and police reform.

The report said a key focus in 2013 will be follow-up to the 2012 HRC resolution on Sri Lanka, including implementation of the 2011 Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) recommendations.

Universal Periodic Review follow-up will also be important, it added. “We will do all we can to encourage Sri Lanka to demonstrate adherence to Commonwealth values of human rights, democracy and the rule of law, particularly ahead of Sri Lanka’s hosting of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in November,” the UK said.