A Brief Colonial History Of Ceylon(SriLanka)
Sri Lanka: One Island Two Nations
A Brief Colonial History Of Ceylon(SriLanka)
Sri Lanka: One Island Two Nations
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Thiranjala Weerasinghe sj.- One Island Two Nations
?????????????????????????????????????????????????Saturday, July 15, 2017
Sri Lanka: Women’s Call
End Impunity and Ensure Non-Recurrence with Enforced and Involuntary Disappearances in Sri Lanka
( July 14, 2017, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian)
We, as conflict affected women and victims, have searched for
disappeared loved ones and witnessed thousands of others searching for
their loved ones. Many have gone before numerous state initiatives
including several commissions of inquiry appointed by successive
governments with no answers given or effective steps taken to prevent
future disappearances. After many years of empty promises, we were
heartened by the Government of Sri Lanka’s ratification of the
International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced
Disappearance in May 2016 and looked forward to domestic legislation
being introduced to criminalise enforced disappearances in Sri Lanka and
make it meaningful locally. In February 2017, the International
Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance
Bill was gazetted and we waited for Parliament to debate and thereby
criminalise disappearances. On 5th July, we were disappointed to hear of
the indefinite postponement of the debate without any reasons given. We
believe the Bill is essential for reconciliation as it will prevent
future disappearances, end impunity and ensure that no loved ones will
have to experience the pain many have experienced for decades.
We are also aware that several actors are spreading false information of
the proposed law and attempting to prevent the Bill being taken up for
debate. Such persons through their actions are effectively sending the
message that no action should be taken on enforced and involuntary
disappearances and thereby promoting the culture of impunity. We are
indeed saddened by such irresponsible statements and action, as it shows
that many are unaware of the pain and suffering caused by
disappearances to families and communities and are encouraging a crime
that has a devastating impact and perpetuates the suffering faced by
thousands across Sri Lanka, in the north, south, east and west.
Numerous commissions over the years and most recently the Public
Representations Committee on Constitutional Reform and Consultation Task
Force on Reconciliation Mechanisms from 2016 highlighted the plight of
victims of enforced and involuntary disappearances. Many women who came
before the consultation processes in 2016 spoke of the need for
guarantees of non-recurrence in relation to disappearance. We believe
criminalizing disappearances in Sri Lanka is a critical step in this
process. Therefore, we call on the Government of Sri Lanka and political
leaders to take a firm stand on a crime that has been unaddressed for
too many years and to take immediate steps to debate and enact the Bill
into Sri Lankan law. Such a measure will provide confidence to us and
the many affected persons in all communities that genuine steps are
finally being taken to stop future disappearances and ensure
non-recurrence.
Signatories;
Signature-list-Final-396.pdf by Thavam Ratna on Scribd