WHO identifies cadmium and pesticides as root cause of kidney disease

Saturday, 28 September 2013 

The WHO Coordinator, Chronic Diseases Prevention and Management (WHO-CCDPM), Prof. Shanthi Mendis, on Thursday (26), identified exposure to low levels of cadmium through food and pesticides, as the causative factors for the Chronic Kidney Disease of Uncertain Aetiology (CKDu).

Addressing a gathering of WHO representatives, researchers and doctors at the BMICH, to brief them on the collaborative research findings of CKDu, Prof. Mendis said that the people of the North Central Province (NCP) were also affected by the arsenic and lead found in pesticides and food. The disease could also be hereditary. The fact that patients also suffer from Selenium deficiency may also make them vulnerable to nephrotoxins which causes CKDu, she said.

The WHO had made several recommendations to the government to enable it to control the disease, which had increased the poverty levels of those suffering from it. Treatment was very expensive and patients were left with no other option. The affected areas of the NCP - especially Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Mahiyangana - should be provided with pipe-borne clean drinking water. "Don’t make them buy bottled water. A majority of patients as well as the rest of the population were of a low income level and they cannot be expected to purchase bottled water," she adviced.

The level of cadmium in the use of tobacco and beedi were very high as the tobacco retained a high level of cadmium - especially in the smoke. Not only users but even passive smokers were highly vulnerable to CKDu under such circumstances.

Prof. Mendis appealed to the people of the North-Central Province to curtail the consumption of the lotus yam due to its Cadmium deposit. Chena cultivators were more vulnerable than paddy farmers, she explained.

There were also nephrotoxic herbal remedies which should be halted. Sapsanda, which was used to treat poisonous bites was included in over 60 ayurvedic prescriptions. "However, further studies were required to objectively evaluate whether ayurvedic practitioners were using those remedies to treat patients," she said. If so they should be dissuaded from doing so.

The WHO CCDPM urged the government to test pesticides Cadmium, arsenic and lead, before importing. NCP farmers should be banned from using agro chemicals like Propanil, Diazinon, Carbaryl, Paraguat and Chlorpyripho.

The Government appealed to the WHO to research the CKDu which had been affecting the people of the NCP for a long period. The research was carried out in Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Mahiyangana, while Hambantota was used as a control area. Over 66,650 persons were tested from over 20 devisional secretariats during the research.

Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena invited more research into the disease which had also affected the lives of the people in his electorate.

Dilanthi Jayamanne
http://www.island.lk/

Obama, Iran's Rouhani hold historic phone call

By Jeff Mason and Louis Charbonneau

WASHINGTON/NEW YORK | Sat Sep 28, 2013

(Reuters) - President Barack Obama and new Iranian President Hassan Rouhani spoke by telephone on Friday, the highest-level contact between the two countries in three decades and a sign that they are serious about reaching a pact on Tehran's nuclear program.

Obama, Iran's Rouhani Hold Historic Phone Call by nelvely

Video: MR says Pillay's report highly prejudiced

SATURDAY, 28 SEPTEMBER 2013

President Mahinda Rajapaksa said that the people of Sri Lanka believe that UN Rights Chief Navi Pillay had written her report even before she visited Sri Lanka.

“People of Sri Lanka think that she (Pillay) has written the report before she came here ...  when she met me she didn't complain about anything .... This is a democratic country, they (the people) can say anything ....,” the President said in an interview with Al-Jazeera television.

Speaking further he said, “We allowed her to go anywhere, allowed her to meet anybody she wants .... This is propaganda against Sri Lanka, so please compare with other countries, don't isolate a small country like Sri Lanka and try to bully Sri Lanka.”

The full interview

“What Matters Is The First Five Minutes” – Nehru

By S.Sivathasan -September 28, 2013

S.Sivathasan

In the very early years after India’s Independence, an important issue needed resolution. Nehru was of a strong opinion while the higher echelons of the Indian Civil Service (ICS) had a different view. The latter delegated KPS Menon a much respected member and a confidant of Nehru to present their views. As the discussion proceeded, it became clear that Nehru was in no mood to change his mind. He told Menon, KPS you have done horse riding, in that what matters is the first five minutes. Either you decide or the horse decides for you. Diplomatically, convincingly and yet obliquely Nehru conveyed that in the initial phase of decision making he has to be swift, decisive, unwavering, and firm.

The Northern Provincial Council (NPC) is in place with the Chief Minister formally elected and is poised to assume office. It is at this moment that a myriad views will begin to float around. In the last two months, he has shown his capacity for independent thought and action. His ability to chart an unconventional course is becoming clear. Detractors have seen their negative wishes pulverized by the discerning voter. In a Province where elected institutions have ceased to be functional for far too long and where military rule was getting increasingly riveted, the need has become all the more insistent to initiate a fresh process of governance. In such a circumstance, it seems likely that not a minute will be allowed to be lost. Taking the cue from Nehru, the CM Elect will give no pace for the horse to gallop about. Who calls the shots will come to be known all too soon. The decisiveness of the mandate is making for vaulting expectations in the country and outside, which can leave no rest for the Chief Minister and his lieutenants.

What has welled up for long will now seek to burst its banks. The water has to be shored up and purposefully canalized. How? Through sound policy and spirited execution. By whom? The former by those elected, having a sense of power through the mandate and a feel of people’s pulse. The latter by the permanent bureaucracy with legitimate authority flowing from the central and provincial apparatus and with a sense for the practicable. Policy thus is never formulated in the void but is jointly forged, for which effort study and analysis are basic. The bureaucracy has to gain its competence not by age but through intellectual equipment and experience.

 Read More

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL ELECTIONS NORTHERN, CENTRAL AND NORTHWESTERN PROVINCES SEPTEMBER 21ST, 2013:FINAL REPORT

2013-09-27

Elections are a process, not one single event. One cannot judge whether an election was free and fair by the events which unfolded on the Election Day. A thorough analysis of the entire election process is warranted to determine whether the election was conducted in accordance with the universally accepted norms or not. During the pre-election period of the 2013 Provincial Council election for Central, Northern and Northwestern Provinces, CaFFE received 579 complaints. This is the highest number of complaints that CaFEE received after it commenced operations in April 2008. One must also bear in mind that the election was held only in three provinces and the fact that such a large number of election-related violence took place during the pre election time gives an indication of the very uncertain atmosphere in which it was held.

Provincial Council Elections Northern, Central and Northwestern Provinces September 21st 2013 Final Report by nelvely

Sri Lankan Government gives with one hand, takes away with the other

27/09/2013

Less than a week after historic elections to the Northern Provincial Council were comprehensively won by a Tamil anti-government party, and only a few hours before the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group is due to meet, the Sri Lankan Government has stripped the new council of one of its most important powers.

Having power over land rights has always been one of the key demands of the Tamil Community and it was for this reason that it was placed in the Sri Lankan constitution under the 13th amendment. It was to be one of the main powers of the newly elected Northern Provincial Council - whose election the Government has heralded as a sign of progress and its commitment to reconciliation.

However Sri Lanka's supreme court (whose Chief Justice is the President of Sri Lanka's former personal legal advisor following the unlawful impeachment of his predecessor) has now ruled that land powers should lie with the central Government.

The timing of the decision is particularly suspect. Sri Lankan provincial councils have had power over land rights for all of the 27 years that the 13th Amendment has been in existence, and these powers have been supported by two previous supreme court decisions. And yet in that time there has never been a provincial council in the majority Tamil north. Less than a week after the Northern Provincial Council is elected for the first time ever, this key power is taken away.

This further demonstrates how cosmetic the Sri Lankan Government's attitude to reconciliation truly is.

Labels: Commonwealth, Politics, Reconciliation

Launch of De Zoysa-Sivanayagam 2014 Fellowship in Global Journalism

Image courtesy Simon Fraser University-

by Groundviews

- on 09/27/2013 

On September 21, 2013, Sri Lankans Without Borders in partnership withGroundviews launched the De Zoysa-Sivanayagam 2014 Fellowship in Digital Journalism. As noted on SLWB’s website,

Lasantha Wickrematunge led the fight for press freedom in Sri Lanka, “unbowa cause that was bequeathed to him by a numed and unafraid,” for a number of years before he was assassinated in 2009. It was ber of courageous journalists who came before him. In commemorating Wickrematunge, we also pay homage to the memory of two other journalists whom Wickrematunge knew. Although Richard De Zoysa and Subramaniam Sivanayagam belonged to two different generations and had different social and political backgrounds and experiences, their legacies are united in their struggle for the right to free expression in Sri Lanka.

Richard De Zoysa (1958 – 1990) was a well-known Sri Lankan journalist, author and poet, human rights activist and actor. On February 18, 1990, an armed group of men broke into De Zoysa’s family home and forcibly abducted him in front his mother. The following day, his dead body was found washed ashore on a beach in the outskirts of Colombo. Fellow journalist and friend, Dharmeratnam “Taraki” Sivaram (who himself was assassinated in 2005), identified his body. In 2005, three police officers were indicted for De Zoysa’s murder – they were acquitted of all charges. De Zoysa was only 32 years when he died but in life and death, he has come to symbolize the beginning of the free media movement in Sri Lanka.

Subramaniam Sivanayagam (1930 – 2010) was a popular Tamil journalist and author from Sri Lanka. Throughout his long career, Sivanayagam was a courageous witness to the political and social history of Sri Lanka that led to his imprisonment, at different times, by the Governments of Sri Lanka and India before he finally sought asylum in Europe for a number of years. He subsequently returned to Sri Lanka and died of natural causes in Colombo on November 29, 2010.

More details about the new Fellowship can be read here. The partners will jointly select one candidate for a six-month fellowship with Groundviews to be based out of Colombo, Sri Lanka.

The launch of the Fellowship in Toronto saw very moving tributes to both De Zoya and Sivanayagam, by Arjuna Ranawana and Siva Sivaprgrasam respectively.

Commonwealth Ministers: Press Sri Lanka on Rights

The UN rights chief decried a worsening situation in Sri Lanka and listed past and present problems that contradict official ‘Commonwealth values.’ The Commonwealth should not bury its head in the sand and ignore Sri Lanka’s serious human rights problems.

Brad Adams, Asia director

SEPTEMBER 26, 2013

(New York) – The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) should make the human rights situation in Sri Lanka a priority. CMAG, a rotating group of foreign ministers from eight Commonwealth countries, will meet in New York on September 27, 2013.

Two days earlier, the United Nations high commissioner for human rights, Navi Pillay, reported to the UN Human Rights Council about ongoing human rights concerns in Sri Lanka and the government’s failure “to independently or credibly investigate the allegations” of war crimes during the country’s armed conflict. However, CMAG and the Commonwealth Secretariat have largely refused to discuss Sri Lanka’s human rights situation.

“The UN rights chief decried a worsening situation in Sri Lanka and listed past and present problems that contradict official ‘Commonwealth values,’” said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “The Commonwealth should not bury its head in the sand and ignore Sri Lanka’s serious human rights problems.”

Sri Lanka is scheduled to host the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in November, despite a worsening human rights situation in the country. Only Canada has thus far indicated that its head of government, Prime Minister Stephen Harper, will not attend CHOGM due to Sri Lanka’s rights record.

CMAG members should ask the Commonwealth secretary-general to put Sri Lanka on its agenda for the September 27 meeting and invite Pillay to debrief its members on her August trip to the country, as human rights organizations requested earlier in September.

Human Rights Watch reiterated its concerns that holding the summit in Sri Lanka casts serious doubts on the Commonwealth’s commitment to supporting human rights, democratic reform, and fundamental human rights enshrined in the Commonwealth Harare Declaration of 1991. The Commonwealth and its participants risk major embarrassment by holding the meeting in Colombo, particularly given Pillay’s September 25 statement to the Human Rights Council, which highlighted a range of human rights problems, Human Rights Watch said.

CMAG is empowered to investigate serious or persistent violations of the Harare Declaration and to recommend measures for action. The group also has the authority to suspend a member country of the Commonwealth for serious infringements.

“Commonwealth ministers should at least be willing to hear an independent account of the situation in Sri Lanka,” Adams said. “Why haven’t they invited Pillay to their September 27 meeting?”

Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma has stated that the Commonwealth is active in promoting its values in Sri Lanka, such as respect for human rights and free speech.  But he has repeatedly ignored the issue and even appeared to shield Sri Lanka from criticism, Human Rights Watch said.

Ahead of an April CMAG meeting, Sharma commissioned two independent legal reports on the impeachment of Sri Lankan Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranaike. Despite calls by the Canadian government and others to make those reports available to the group, Sharma has not released the reports, even to the members. One of the reports, leaked on September 8, states that the impeachment of the chief justice was unconstitutional and a “direct violation” of the rule of law and contravened Commonwealth Values and Principles.

Pillay’s report to the Human Rights Council underscored the need for an independent, international investigation into abuses in the final months of Sri Lanka’s conflict. A panel of experts appointed by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon found that as many as 40,000 civilians were killed as a result of violations of international law by both sides. Commonwealth countries should actively support such an investigation, and should press Sri Lanka to cooperate fully, Human Rights Watch said.

“The Commonwealth does itself a disservice by ignoring wartime atrocities and growing authoritarian rule in Sri Lanka, which challenge the Commonwealth’s purpose and identity,” Adams said. “The CMAG meeting is an important opportunity to finally address rights issues in Sri Lanka and agree to a course of action. In this way the Commonwealth can make a genuine contribution to promoting the welfare of its citizens.”

Black July: Some Missing Threads

By Rajan Hoole -September 27, 2013

Rajan Hoole

Sri Lanka’s Black July – Part 31

“…Next came attempts to appease heaven. After consultation of the Sibylline books, prayers were addressed to Vulcan, Ceres, and Proserpina; Juno too was propitiated. But neither hu- man resources, nor imperial munificence, nor appeasement of the gods, eliminated sinister suspicions that the fire [that raged in Rome] had been instigated. To suppress this rumour, Nero fabricated scapegoats – and punished with every refinement the notoriously depraved Christians (as they were popularly called). Their originator, Christ, had been executed in Tiberius’ reign by the governor of Judaea, Pontius Pilatus…” - Publius Gaius Tacitus, from Histories 
Sinha Ratnatunga’s account of the July 1983 violence is contained in the first two chap- ters of his book, The politics of terrorism: the Sri Lankan experience. It was published in mid- 1988 by the International Fellowship for Social and Economic Development Inc., Australia. Ratnatunga’s material provides an opportunity to sharpen our conclusions about the events of July 1983. Both in his book, and in his column for the Weekend under the name Migara, Ratnatunga’s accounts display signs of close access to the ruling establishment of the day. The book is defensive of the conduct of the UNP and most particularly of Jayewardene. While much valuable testimony is given, the writer continu- ally suggests, or cites persons to the effect, that the formation of the mobs and the violence were spontaneous, thus absolving the UNP of all re- sponsibility. While referring to allegations against Mathew, he offers only Mathew’s denial. The value of the information is often lost by the failure to ask appropriate questions, a failure to push matters to their logical conclusion, and by overlaying facts with misleading suggestions.Read More

Commonwealth giving Sri Lanka carte blanche for human rights abuses

27 September 2013

Sri Lanka will host the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in November.

© Brendan McDermid-Pool/Getty Images

“

Today’s meeting is an opportunity for the Commonwealth to show some real leadership on human rights. The organization has been shamefully silent so far about Sri Lanka’s human rights crisis– including the persistent lack of justice for past crimes and ongoing attacks on human rights defenders and other activists.

”

Polly Truscott, Amnesty International’s Deputy Asia- Pacific Director.

Sri Lanka’s disturbing human rights record means it should be barred from hosting a key Commonwealth summit in November or chairing the organization, Amnesty International said ahead of a key meeting of Commonwealth foreign ministers today.

The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group - made up of foreign ministers and Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma, who gather to address violations of the Commonwealth’s fundamental values, including human rights - is meeting in New York today.

“Today’s meeting is an opportunity for the Commonwealth to show some real leadership on human rights. The organization has been shamefully silent so far about Sri Lanka’s human rights crisis– including the persistent lack of justice for past crimes and ongoing attacks on human rights defenders and other activists,” said Polly Truscott, Amnesty International’s Deputy Asia- Pacific Director.

“Instead of giving Sri Lanka carte blanche for human rights violations, Commonwealth leaders should be supporting calls for an independent and international investigation into alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity, and condemning reprisals against civil society still taking place.”

Today’s meeting comes less than two months ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Colombo, after which Sri Lanka is set to serve as the Commonwealth’s Chair for two years.

“Allowing Sri Lanka to host CHOGM and then chair the Commonwealth would give the country a seal of approval that it does not deserve. The Commonwealth must think twice before allowing such a blow to its own credibility,” said Truscott.

“As Chair, Sri Lanka would be charged with helping the Secretary-General address violations of human rights in other Commonwealth countries – it’s difficult to think of a bigger irony.”

There are credible allegations that the Sri Lankan military and Tamil Tigers armed group committed war crimes and crimes against humanity during the armed conflict ending in 2009. But Sri Lanka has resisted calls for an international and impartial investigation into the conflict, while its own domestic efforts have been wholly ineffective.

Since the war’s end, President Mahinda Rajapaksa has steered his country in what the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has described as “an increasingly authoritarian direction”. The government has concentrated powers in its own hands and led an assault on dissent, harassing and attacking critics including journalists, human rights defenders and opposition politicians.

“Despite repeated demands from the UN and others, the Sri Lankan government has not stopped violating people’s rights. There’s a huge risk of increased reprisals against activists and others in November around CHOGM. Sri Lanka is not a safe pair of hands for the Commonwealth,” said Truscott.

C’wealth Giving Sri Lanka Carte Blanche For Human Rights Abuses – AI

September 27, 2013 

Sri Lanka’s disturbing human rights record means it should be barred from hosting a key Commonwealth summit in November or chairing the organization, Amnesty International said ahead of a key meeting of Commonwealth foreign ministers today.

Polly Truscott

The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group – made up of foreign ministers and Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma, who gather to address violations of the Commonwealth’s fundamental values, including human rights – is meeting in New York today.

“Today’s meeting is an opportunity for the Commonwealth to show some real leadership on human rights. The organization has been shamefully silent so far about Sri Lanka’s human rights crisis– including the persistent lack of justice for past crimes and ongoing attacks on human rights defenders and other activists,” said Polly Truscott, Amnesty International’s Deputy Asia- Pacific Director.

“Instead of giving Sri Lanka carte blanche for human rights violations, Commonwealth leaders should be supporting calls for an independent and international investigation into alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity, and condemning reprisals against civil society still taking place.”

Today’s meeting comes less than two months ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Colombo, after which Sri Lanka is set to serve as the Commonwealth’s Chair for two years.

“Allowing Sri Lanka to host CHOGM and then chair the Commonwealth would give the country a seal of approval that it does not deserve. The Commonwealth must think twice before allowing such a blow to its own credibility,” said Truscott.

“As Chair, Sri Lanka would be charged with helping the Secretary-General address violations of human rights in other Commonwealth countries – it’s difficult to think of a bigger irony.”

There are credible allegations that the Sri Lankan military and Tamil Tigers armed group committed war crimes and crimes against humanity during the armed conflict ending in 2009. But Sri Lanka has resisted calls for an international and impartial investigation into the conflict, while its own domestic efforts have been wholly ineffective.

Since the war’s end, President Mahinda Rajapaksa has steered his country in what the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has described as “an increasingly authoritarian direction”. The government has concentrated powers in its own hands and led an assault on dissent, harassing and attacking critics including journalists, human rights defenders and opposition politicians.

“Despite repeated demands from the UN and others, the Sri Lankan government has not stopped violating people’s rights. There’s a huge risk of increased reprisals against activists and others in November around CHOGM. Sri Lanka is not a safe pair of hands for the Commonwealth,” said Truscott.

Baird Attends Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting

Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada

September 26, 2013 - New York City - Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird attends a Commonwealth foreign affairs ministers meeting on the margins of the 68th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.

The meeting provided an opportunity for ministers to discuss a troubling lack of progress in Sri Lanka and the volatile situation in the Maldives. On Sri Lanka, Canada has repeatedly called for Commonwealth engagement in response to that country’s violations of the organization’s core values and principles.

“Again today, I spoke out loudly and clearly on the issue of human rights in Sri Lanka, including on our concerns on the lack of accountability for the serious allegations of war crimes, the lack of reconciliation with the Tamil community and with the events that have taken place since the end of the civil war.

“As the Prime Minister has stated very clearly, we expect our concerns to be addressed seriously by the Government of Sri Lanka. Unfortunately, given the current circumstances in Sri Lanka and the lack of substantial progress to date, it would be difficult for the Government of Canada to fully participate.

On Tuesday, the Minister issued a statement on the Maldives and called for the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group to examine the situation at its meeting tomorrow.

“The delay of the runoff election in the Maldives is extremely concerning, and I relayed to my Commonwealth partners the need for this issue to be addressed immediately.

“The democratic will of the Maldivian people must be heard, and we call on judicial authorities to not unduly delay this process.”

Tomorrow, Baird will attend a smaller group of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group, where he will express Canada’s continued concern about the Maldives and Sri Lanka.

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Navi Pillay's oral update, a gross betrayal of Tamils: Prof Ramasamy

Prof P Ramasamy

[TamilNet, Friday, 27 September 2013, 09:24 GMT]
The United Nations Human Rights High Commissioner Navanetham Pillay, in her latest oral update to the UN Human Rights Council is more concerned with whitewashing the Sri Lankan government than looking at the tragic situation of Tamils, writes Malaysia’s Penang State Deputy Chief Minister Professor P. Ramasamy, in an article sent to TamilNet on Thursday. “I think that the report should be more appropriately entitled ‘Strengthening Democracy in Sri Lanka’. In essence, close reading of the report in its entirety will reveal that she picked her words carefully to drive home the point that her main interest in Sri Lanka is not about inquiring into gross violation of human rights against Tamils, but to strengthen democracy and human rights in Sri Lanka. Tamils are not given prominence in the report. In fact, Tamils are treated just like another minority in the country, he further writes. 

Navi Pillay's Oral Update, A Gross Betrayal of Tamils Prof Ramasamy by nelvely

The people need an independent international investigation into all violations of international human rights law

The people need an independent international investigation into all violations of international human rights law

Nimalka Fernando

Nimalka Fernando ( IMADR) -Friday, September 27, 2013
Thank you Mr. President,
IMADR welcomes the visit of High Commissioner to Sri Lanka and her oral update thereon conducted under item 2. We also would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere appreciation to Madam High Commissioner for providing precious time in the busy schedule to listen to a variety of civil society actors during her visit. In our dialogue with the Madam High Commissioner in Sri Lanka, we have expressed our concerns over the continuing violence and increasing religious intolerance.
Up to date we have not heard of the progress made by the Commission appointed to investigate into the disappearances in the North and East in the eve of your arrival. We urge the GOSL to widen the mandate of this Commission to investigate into all disappearances and abductions that have taken place since 2005 up to now.

As you stated in your statement on 31 August, “the war has ended. But the pain lingers on”. It is this stark reality that was demonstrated in the recently concluded Provincial Council Elections in the North of Sri Lanka. We Sri Lankan human rights defenders were on the ground working with all stakeholders to facilitate the holding of a free and fair election in a region which is heavily militarised and controlled through regular military surveillance. The election was held in a peaceful atmosphere with few reported incidents of election violence. Nonetheless, the 18th Amendment to the Constitution, enacted in 2010, undermined the constitutional and legal framework for a credible and competitive election. In particular, the provision for an independent Electoral Commission has been negated. There was inadequate enforcement of existing laws that provide for a level playing field for all candidates, such as the use of state resources in electoral campaigns.

Mr. President,
Enough time and space were given to the GOSL to fulfil its fundamental responsibility. However, a number of them remain as serious concerns, continuing culture of impunity, collapse of the rule of law, removing impediments to the functioning of civil society and free media, upholding the right of peaceful assembly and demonstration of people, to name a few. We still continue working with and for the affected communities cooperating with you and the UN despite the attacks by ruling party politicians and at times His Excellency himself for what appears to them as carrying tales to the international community. All these facts clearly show the failure of the GOSL to seriously tackle the issues and the lack of credible domestic mechanism. Reconciliation cannot be realised only through infrastructure development which does not facilitate the participation of the community.

Accountability and justice is crucial for all people affected by the 30 years of war. The 83% vote cast in the North is the voice from them, from those who are still searching and waiting for the disappeared, their loved ones. The visit of High Commissioner has indeed paved the way towards reconciliation and accountability. However, further steps must follow from the competent UN bodies taking decisive actions. The people need an independent international investigation into all violations of international human rights and humanitarian laws.

Thank you Mr. President.

Statement delivered at the 24th session of UNHRC. 
IMADR is an NGO in consultative status (Special) with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations

Lawyers Rights Watch call for 'complete' withdrawal of military from N-E
26 September 2013
In a statement delivered at the UN Human Rights Council on Thursday, Lawyers Rights Watch Canada condemned the military's interference at the Northern Provincial Council this weekend, drawing particular attention to the attack against the TNA candidate, Ananthi Sasitharan.

Calling on the Sri Lankan government to "fully withdraw its military from the North and East of Sri Lanka", the group demanded that the "withdrawal of the military  should be immediate, unconditional, and complete and should take place
by December 31, 2013".

Delivering the statement, Vani Selvarajah of LRWC said: 

"The interference of the military in the Northern Provincial election in Sri Lanka this past Saturday is one case in point. The military’s interference in the election offers compelling evidence of the government’s endless oppression of Tamils. Uniformed and non-uniformed members of the military reportedly attacked Tamil candidates and their supporters, including in a midnight raid against the lone female candidate, Ananthi Sasitharan. She and her daughters had already fled, but her supporters and an election monitor were brutally beaten by uniformed Army personnel. An earlier attack in Mullaitivu resulted in the death of a Tamil campaigner."

See here for full statement.

LRWC - Militarisation HRC24-Lawyers Rights Watch Call for 'Complete' Withdrawal of Military From N-E by nelvely

Sri Lanka: Commission of Inquiry on Disappearances does not meaningfully address the phenomenon of enforced disappearances

Sri Lanka: Commission of Inquiry on Disappearances does not meaningfully address the phenomenon of enforced disappearances

Pooja Patel , FORUM-ASIA -

Friday, September 27, 2013
Thank you, Mr. President. FORUM-ASIA appreciates the High Commissioner’s updates to the Council on her mission to Sri Lanka, as well as her serious efforts to meet with a broad section of victims, civil society representatives, local authorities and opposition politicians, as requested in our letter to her prior to the mission.(1)

We express our deep regret to reports of reprisals against many who engaged with the High Commissioner during the visit and urge the Sri Lankan government to investigate these cases immediately and provide an update on action taken at the Council’s next session. (2) We are significantly disappointed that the government has made no efforts to address and correct misinformation campaigns against the High Commissioner by State media and government officials.

Mr. President, we fear that hurried measures announced by the government just before the High Commissioner’s visit do not adequately respond to grave concerns of human rights in the country. We strongly urge the government to seriously take on board offers of assistance by the OHCHR. In particular, we note that the government’s Commission of Inquiry on Disappearances does not meaningfully address the phenomenon of enforced disappearances that is widespread throughout the country as its scope covers only the Northern and Eastern provinces. We stress that any genuine effort in this regard must include an invitation to the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances to conduct its official country visit and provide inputs on revising the Commission’s scope of work. Furthermore, we urge the government to ratify the Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances without delay.(3)

Mr. President, we note that the government delegation has gone to great lengths to update this Council on physical reconstruction efforts undertaken. However, we concur with the High Commissioner that a holistic approach which requires truth, justice and reparations for victims is necessary for genuine reconciliation. While the recommendations of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) are an important step in that direction, we reiterate the LLRC falls far short of an independent and impartial mechanism to investigate violations of international humanitarian and human rights law by both parties to the conflict. (4) We strongly echo calls made by civil society groups in Sri Lanka and across the globe for the establishment of independent and credible international investigations.

Finally, FORUM-ASIA has repeatedly drawn the Council’s attention to continued deterioration of the rule of law in Sri Lanka, including the 18th amendment to the Constitution which weakened important checks and balances on the Executive. (5) We share the High Commissioners’ concern that the country is headed towards a direction where pluralism and dissent are not tolerated while power is increasingly getting centralised. We call upon the government of Sri Lanka to restore the independence of the three wings of government at the earliest with the assistance of OHCHR.

Thank you, Mr. President.
Wednesday, 25 September 2013

24th Regular Session of the UN Human Rights Council, Item 2
Oral Statement Delivered by Ms. Pooja Patel on Behalf of Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA)


1 FORUM-ASIA, Letter to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights regarding Her Impending Visit to Sri Lanka, 30 July 2013
2 OHCHR, Press Briefing Notes , 20 September 2013
3 Joint Civil Society Submission to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on Her Visit to Sri Lanka, 26 August 2013
4 FORUM-ASIA, Oral Statement, 22nd Regular Session of the UN Human Rights Council, Item 2: Annual Report of the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights and Reports of the OHCHR and the Secretary-General, 20 March 2013
5 FORUM-ASIA, Oral Statement, 15th Regular Session of the UN Human Rights Council, Item 4: Human Rights Situations that Require the Council’s Attention, 20 September 2010