Sri Lanka needs to come clean on rights issues
May 2, 2013
Tamils’ rights need to be restored and they should be allowed back into the nation’s mainstream
The government of Sri Lanka should sense an opportunity to get into the good books of the UN by using the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government summit, that it is scheduled to host in November, by heralding confidence-building measures against the country’s minorities, particularly the Tamils. Recent reports by Amnesty International, stating that President Mahinda Rajapakse’s government was exerting a vice-like grip by clamping down on dissidents and critics to consolidate their power base is only damaging Sri Lanka’s international image.
Space for criticism in the country seems to be diminishing rapidly, yet there is no panacea for age-old wounds. An independent international probe into allegations that up to 40,000 civilians were killed by Sri Lankan troops in the war against the Tamil rebels in 2009 seems to be the logical solution. Though Colombo has denied the charge, Rajapakse must demonstrate fairness and accept the call to pursue this serious allegation to give his country and its citizens the legitimacy they deserve in the international community.
An alarming number of Tamils are still displaced inside and outside Sri Lanka. Their rights need to be restored and they should be allowed back into the mainstream with due political and social representation. Their human rights must not be violated or infringed upon. Rajapakse should seize this opportunity and address international concerns.
By Ananth Palakidnar
The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) requested the presence of international observers at the Northern Provincial Council (NPC) polls during a meeting with Commissioner of Elections, Mahinda Deshapriya, in Colombo on Friday.
TNA spokesperson, Suresh K. Premachandran, told Ceylon Today, all constituent parties in the TNA had met the Elections Chief on his invitation and discussed the issues with regard to the NPC polls.
"We want to have a free and fair Provincial Council polls in the North. The Tamil parties believe the presence of international observers is essential for a trouble-free polls," Premachandran said, adding the Tamil parties have also pointed out to the Elections Chief, Department of Elections should ensure international observers are present in the North from the time the election office makes the formal announcement of the date of the election as it will enable all activities related to the polls to be monitored and, foul play could be prevented.
The Tamil parties also outlined the need to allow the expatriates to vote in the Northern polls.
They particularly mentioned permitting the participation of the Tamil refugees in the Northern polls.
Responding to the Tamil parties, polls Chief Deshapriya said, except for the general elections and presidential polls, international observers were not invited and he could not say anything on the particular issue, as the date for the election was not yet finalized.
He also pointed out the necessity of the candidates to declare their assets.
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