The Government of Sri Lanka emphasized that it rejects all the allegations of human right violations contained in the Annual Report of the United Nations Secretary-General (UNSG) on Sri Lanka submitted to the UN Human Rights Council.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dayani Mendis, Sri Lanka’s Acting Permanent Representative to the Government in Geneva, made this observation yesterday (30) at the 45th session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) with regard to the reference contained in the Annual Report of the Secretary-General on “Cooperation with the United Nations, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights”, presented to the UNHRC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With regard to alleged \u201cintimidating visits\u201d, \u201csurveillance\u201d, complaints of harassment\u201d and \u201creprisals\u201d referred to in the UNSG\u2019s Report, the government invited to the parties concerned to make formal complaints to law enforcement authorities or to independent national institutions such as the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka or the National Police Commission, so that action can be taken to investigate the alleged incidents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Government has already publicly refuted these allegations, and is committed to protecting and promoting freedom of expression and civil society space, and ensure that complaints received on alleged attacks against journalists, human rights defenders and civil society are investigated and prosecuted, MS. Mendis said delivering the government\u2019s response.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is also reiterated that, apart from operating routine security networks in the interest of national security, particularly after the devastating Easter Sunday terrorist attacks, the Security Forces and intelligence agencies are not engaged in monitoring any specific group of people in the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe believe that, for any country compromising its national security interests amidst looming sophistication of strategies of radical and extreme elements world around, is bound to face regrettable consequences. Hence, the GoSL requests all parties to be mindful of that ground reality in this context,\u201d MS. Mendis said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Following is the section on Sri Lanka in the UNSG\u2019s Report presented to the UNHRC:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c120. OHCHR received continued allegations of surveillance of civil society organizations, human rights defenders and families of victims of violations, including repeated visits by police and intelligence services, questioning organizations about, inter alia, their staff and activities related to the UN. In her February 2020 report, the High Commissioner for Human Rights noted that harassment or surveillance of human rights defenders and victims of human rights violations increased during 2019 and \u201cin some cases, Sri Lankans who travelled to Geneva to attend sessions of the Human Rights Council were questioned about the motives of their trips, either at the airport or during visits by the police to their homes upon their return\u201d (A\/HRC\/43\/19, para. 32). The High Commissioner \u201curged the authorities to immediately end the intimidating visits by State agents and all forms of surveillance and harassment of and reprisals against human rights defenders, social actors and victims of human rights violations and their families\u201d (A\/HRC\/43\/19, para. 39).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
121. Allegations were also reported to OHCHR that several participants at the 43rd session of the Human Rights Council were questioned by authorities before and after travelling to Geneva, and several organizations reported incidents of surveillance during the Human Rights Council session and its side events in March 2020. In December 2019, the Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights addressed patterns of intimidation and reprisals to the Government in writing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
122. Following his July 2019 visit to Sri Lanka, the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association condemned surveillance of members of civil society, including that he witnessed, and reminded the Government that it has an obligation to ensure that no acts of reprisal occur against those who wish to interact with UN human rights mechanisms. The Special Rapporteur stated that before, during and after his consultations with civil society in Sri Lanka, participants at the meetings reported \u201creceiving intimidating phone calls, demanding information on other participants, topics discussed and route plans.\u201d The Special Rapporteur further noted that during a consultation in Trincomalee, \u201cpresumed intelligence personnel in civilian clothing were observed monitoring participants outside of the meeting place. In another location, military personnel took note of our vehicles\u2019 number plates.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
123. On 8 July 2020, the Government responded to the note verbale sent in connection to the present report. Regarding alleged \u201cintimidating visits\u201d, \u201csurveillance\u201d, \u201ccomplaints of harassment\u201d and \u201creprisals\u201d, it invited the parties concerned to make formal complaints to law enforcement authorities, or to independent national institutions such as the Human Rights Commission or the National Police Commission, so that action can be taken to investigate the alleged incidents. The Government stated its commitment to ensuring that complaints received are investigated and prosecuted. It reiterated that, apart from routine security operations in the interest of national security, particularly after the devastating Easter Sunday terrorist attacks of 21 April 2019, the Security Forces and intelligence agencies are not engaged in monitoring any specific group in the country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Courtesy: Colombo Page<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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