Sri Lanka’s Human Rights Record To Be Reviewed Today
October 7, 2014
Sri Lanka’s human rights record is due to be reviewed before the UN Human Rights Committee today and tomorrow (7 and 8 October) and the list of issues that are to be discussed before the 18-member Committee includes counter terrorism measures, accountability as well as rights of persons belonging to minorities.
The review of the human rights record of Sri Lanka is being carried out for the fifth time before the Committee that comprises of 18 independent experts and the dialogue that has been scheduled to be carried out tomorrow and the day after between the Committee members and the Sri Lankan delegation would discuss a wide range of issues to which includes allegations that have been leveled against the government in terms of violation freedom of expression, assembly and association.
Several reports submitted by NGOs on Sri Lanka’s human rights situation is also due to be discussed however, many of them do not seem to contain content favourable to Sri Lanka. The report submitted by the International Society for Human Rights for example has noted that the ‘human rights defenders and others working to promote truth, justice and accountability in relation to a UN estimated 40,000 civilian deaths in Sri Lanka in 2009 alone face a systematic pattern of threats, harassment, intimidation and violence. . .’
It has also shed light on the arbitrary arrests and detentions of human rights defenders, murders of journalists, crackdown on the rights to freedom of expression and association as well as intimidation, threats, reprisals and defamation of human rights defenders as ‘traitors’ by government officials and government affiliated media institutions.
De Facto Chief Justice Says The Only Person Who Knows Everything Is Gotabaya
October 7, 2014
In an appalling display of his close affiliations with the Rajapaksas, de facto Chief Justice Mohan Pieris has stated in Courts today that the ‘only person who knows everything is the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Secretary.
Pieris and Gotabaya
This remark had been made by Pieris today during the hearing of a Fundamental Rights application (No: 414/14) where a group of Agricultural engineers/experts had challenged the new service minutes, pointing out it has deprived them of being promoted to higher positions in the Agricultural Department due to being forced to remain part of the Sri Lanka administrative service.
Whilst the case was being heard, Pieris had told that he is well aware and knowledgeable on solid waste management and agriculture and had gone on to criticize the engineers, calling them ‘useless’. At this point, the lawyer appearing on behalf of the petitioners, Manohara De Silva had pointed out the de facto CJ should not let his personal knowledge interfere with the ongoing case while adding that the only knowledge that should be applied is legal knowledge.
However, Pieris had dismissed De Silva’s statement adding that as a judge, he has the power to refer to his personal knowledge as well.
As the hearing proceeded, certain comments had been made on the Colombo Municipal Council, which is not at all relevant to the case that was being heard. However, Pieris had continued to comment on it as he moved on to speak about the Sathutu Uyana fund, which he had claimed was initially mismanaged but is now in right hands of MOD Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
“The only person who knows everything is the Defence Secretary. He also knows about waste management,” the de facto CJ had stated shamelessly violating professional ethics and the independence of the judiciary. Manohara de Silva had responded to this claim stating, “But I do not want him to do the job of my clients.”
