UNHRC report distorted as endorsement, says Shanakiyan

Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam raised a series of questions in Parliament yesterday under Standing Order 27(2), challenging the Government over what he described as a distortion of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights’ recent report on Sri Lanka.

Rasamanickam said some media reports had sought to portray the High Commissioner’s statement as an endorsement of the Government’s actions. “This is a distortion of what the High Commissioner has actually stated,” he said, adding that the High Commissioner had instead expressed concern and dissatisfaction over the lack of satisfactory progress on several issues during the past two years and had called on the Government to make meaningful progress during the remaining period.

He questioned whether the Government remained firmly committed to the positions it had communicated internationally, particularly on accountability for serious human rights violations and conflict-related crimes, noting that the Government has stated it is committed to investigating credible allegations and bringing individuals against whom there is sufficient evidence before competent courts.

The MP also raised questions on prosecutions relating to enforced disappearances, including whether 2018 legislation had been used in any prosecutions, and on credible allegations against state officials. “As an elected representative of the Tamil community affected by the conflict, there is a lack of confidence in purely domestic mechanisms,” he said, asking what position the Government had presented internationally on international participation, independent prosecutors, forensic expertise, and victim and witness protection in such investigations.

On the Chemmani-Siththupaththi mass grave, where 582 human remains have reportedly been recovered, Rasamanickam asked what position had been communicated to the Human Rights Council regarding international forensic assistance.

On land release, he said the Government’s claim that more than 250 acres previously held by security forces had been released did not reflect the situation on the ground, with only limited land returned in some areas and roads merely reopened in others. He asked the Government to clarify its international communications concerning land under the control of, or claimed by, the military, the Archaeology Department, Wildlife Department, Forest Conservation Department and Mahaweli Authority.

Rasamanickam further questioned the Government’s international commitments on the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), including an immediate moratorium, release of political prisoners and complete repeal, and asked it to clarify its position on the proposed Protecting the State from Terrorism Bill, which he said had been described as potentially more serious than the existing PTA.

He also raised the matter of Provincial Council elections, the promised new Constitution and meaningful devolution of power, noting that a committee appointed to examine Provincial Council elections, of which he is a member, was increasingly becoming a process of delay rather than progress.

“The central issue is whether the Government’s commitments to the international community are being matched by concrete action at home,” Rasamanickam said, adding that affected communities had repeatedly expressed a lack of confidence in domestic investigations even as the Government continued to tell the international community that accountability would be pursued through domestic mechanisms.

He welcomed the arrest of Pillayan in connection with serious allegations, along with stronger action against corruption and the acceleration of investigations into the Easter Sunday attacks, as well as the arrest of Namal Rajapaksa. “I have consistently supported genuine action against corruption and accountability, regardless of political affiliation, and I will continue to give my full cooperation to such efforts,” he said.