This week Just Asia begins with Sri Lanka, where investigations are ongoing into the abduction and murder of two businessmen from Rathgama. Until now, two police officers have already been arrested. Sri Lanka’s Criminal Investigation Department has revealed that the two businessmen, Manjula Asela and Rashin Chinthaka were abducted and murdered, and their bodies were then burnt. Just Asia speaks to Basil Fernando, Director of Policy and Program Development, AHRC, for details. Next, in the Philippines, Senator Leila de Lima marked her second year in detention last Sunday. She was…
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From enforced disappearances of rebels to businessmen
The discovery of body parts of two businessmen from Rathgama, Bussa area, who were abducted, disappeared, and later killed, allegedly by several policemen, including the Officer-In-Charge of the southern province special crime investigating unit, is major news in Sri Lanka these days. According to the newspapers, the two businessmen were kidnapped from Rathgama Bussa area, taken to a house in Akmeemana, where they were detained, beaten and finally killed. Their bodies were then taken to a forest reserve in the Walasmulla area, where they were burnt and buried. This was…
Read MoreArun Siddhartha’s positive contribution to the contemporary debate on the Sri Lankan Crises
The Internet broadcasted the long interview with Arun Siddhartha by Hiru on TV and separately on the YouTube channel, Vishwa Karma. One perspective that comes out of Arun Siddhartha’s reflections can be enormously positive. It can be used in trying to understand ways to resolve the present prolonged crises which have dragged the country into anarchy. The most important insight of Arun Siddhartha is that the situation faced by the entire country is the crises of a whole people, not just merely a crisis of one specific group or another.…
Read MorePublic space decreasing as talk of presidential election looms large
In an unprecedented move, Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena attacked the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) for carrying out its duty to vet soldiers to participate in United Nations Peacekeeping Missions. While the United Nations Peacekeeping Operations requires the HRCSL to vet the human rights record of persons proposed for participation in peacekeeping missions, the President and the military are opposing this move. As a result, an earlier group of peacekeepers already in the Missions continue to be there, while a new group is unable to go. Two…
Read MoreFrom instability to greater disability
Perhaps one thing that was forgotten when Lord Dunmore gave Adult Franchise for all, and also when Sri Lanka became an independent nation, is the stability of the social structure of a country. This is what provides for the establishment of the government, which will ensure security and stability to all. When these matters are talked or written about, the invariable reaction is that we have gone deep into this crisis. Not just cynics, but those who know the ground reality, feel that whatever description is given about this crisis…
Read MoreOFFICE FOR REPARATIONS ACT, No. 34 OF 2018 ( Sinhala, English, Tamil,)
AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE OFFICE FOR REPARATIONS; TO IDENTIFY AGGRIEVED PERSONS ELIGIBLE FOR REPARATIONS, AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE PROVISION OF INDIVIDUAL AND COLLECTIVE REPARATIONS TO SUCH PERSONS; TO REPEAL THE REHABILITATION OF PERSONS, PROPERTIES AND INDUSTRIES AUTHORITY ACT, NO. 29 OF 1987 ANDTOPROVIDE FORALLMATTERS CONNECTED THEREWITH OR INCIDENTAL THERETO. WHEREAS the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka recognizes the inherent dignity and equal and inalienable human rights of all Sri Lankans and the State’s obligation to respect, secure and advance these…
Read MoreASSISTANCE TO AND PROTECTION OF VICTIMS OF CRIME AND WITNESSES (AMENDMENT) ACT, No. 27 OF 2017 ( Sinhala, Tamil, English)
AN ACT TO AMEND THE ASSISTANCE TO AND PROTECTION OF VICTIMS OF CRIME AND WITNESSES ACT, NO. 4 OF 2015 BE it enacted by the Parliament of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka as follows:— read the full act in english read the full act in Sinhala read the full act in Tamil
Read MoreINTERNATIONAL COMMISSION OF JURISTS’ SUBMISSION TO THE UNIVERSAL PERIODIC REVIEW OF SRI LANKA 2017.
SUBMISSION OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION OF JURISTS TO THE UNIVERSAL PERIODIC REVIEW OF SRI LANKA ”Composed of 60 eminent judges and lawyers from all regions of the world, the International Commission of Jurists promotes and protects human rights through the Rule of Law, by using its unique legal expertise to develop and strengthen national and international justice systems. Established in 1952, in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council since 1957, and active on the five continents, the ICJ aims to ensure the progressive development and effective implementation…
Read MoreJOINT ALTERNATIVE REPORT From the Sri Lankan NGO Collective to the Committee Against Torture
”2.1 A protracted civil war of 26 years between government forces and the LTTE inflicted devastating consequences at a human, social, and institutional level. In May 2009, a military victory declared by the Sri Lankan Government saw the end of the war”. ”2.3 In September 2010, constitutional reform was rushed through Parliament (18th Amendment to the Constitution), which among other things, effectively removed the two term limit on the Executive Presidency, thereby solidifying the president’s power over the Attorney-General, judiciary and various “independent” commissions. The president was conferred unfettered powers…
Read MoreOFFICE ON MISSING PERSONS (ESTABLISHMENT, ADMINISTRATION AND DISCHARGE OF FUNCTIONS) ACT, No. 14 OF 2016
AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE OFFICE ON MISSING PERSONS; TO PROVIDE FOR THE SEARCHING AND TRACING OF MISSING PERSONS; TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO RELATIVES OF MISSING PERSONS; FOR THE SETTING UP OF A DATABASE OF MISSING PERSONS; FOR SETTING OUT THE PROCEDURES AND GUIDELINES APPLICABLE TO THE POWERS AND FUNCTIONS ASSIGNED TO THE SAID OFFICE; AND TO PROVIDE FOR ALL MATTERS WHICH ARE CONNECTED WITH OR INCIDENTAL TO, THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT. read the full act
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