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TOMAS HUSAK, (Czech Republic), speaking on behalf of the European Union, said The High Commissioner should brief the Council on the evolving human rights situation in Sri Lanka.

CHRISTOPHE GUILHOU (France) said that the situation in Sri Lanka was also alarming. France was particularly concerned by the dramatic situation of the persons held in the conflict zone. Everything had to be put in place in order to protect those civilians.

SHINICHI KITAJIMA (Japan) said regarding the situation in Sri Lanka, Japan was concerned about the serious damages and casualties surrounding internally displaced persons and other civilians in the north of the country. In order to resolve the ethnic conflict, it was of paramount importance that the political process be pursued.

BOUDEWIJN J. VAN EENENNAAM (Netherlands) said there was also deep concern for the situation in Sri Lanka.

TERRY CORMIER (Canada) said the human rights situation in Sri Lanka continued to deteriorate with the intensification of the civil conflict. There had been politically-motivated killings by paramilitary forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), violent attacks on journalists, enforced disappearances, restrictions of freedom of movement and arbitrary arrests in Sri Lanka.

Canada called on Sri Lanka to respect the human rights of internally displaced persons consistent with the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement.

MURIEL BERSET (Switzerland) said the tenth session of the Council gave them the opportunity to address many human rights situations both through the reports of Special Procedures, reports of the High Commissioner, different agenda items and the different reports examined in the context of the Universal Periodic Review.

The issue of internally displaced persons in Sri Lanka was also of great concern to Switzerland as the situation was worsening. As a result, Switzerland appealed to all parties in the conflict to respect international law, on proportionality, among other things. Switzerland also recalled the responsibility incumbent to the Sri Lankan authorities to prevent and punish forced executions, forced disappearances, and appealed for an immediate halt of all hostilities and work towards lasting peace.

KONRAD SCHARINGER (Germany) said, the human rights situation in Sri Lanka was deplored - violations were committed by both sides to the conflict.

MELANIE HOPKINS (United Kingdom) said the United Kingdom was concerned about the human rights situation in Sri Lanka. The United Kingdom welcomed the progress made in some areas, in particular to tackle the recruitment of child soldiers and the political commitment by the TMVP to disarm. But they said there were still credible reports of widespread human rights violations, including disappearances, extortion, extra-judicial killings and attacks and intimidation against the media. The murder in January of the Chief Editor of the Sunday Leader was a particular concern.

CAROLINE MILLAR (Australia) said, Up to 200,000 civilians continued to be caught up in the conflict zone in Northern Sri Lanka - long-term political stability would only be achieved through a political solution that met the needs of all.

JULIE DE RIVERO, of Human Rights Watch, said the statement of the High Commissioner on Sri Lanka was a call for the Council to take decisive action to respond to the urgent needs of civilians trapped in the fighting in the Vanni. What was being seen could amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity, and there should be an urgent independent investigation of what was happening. The Government should give the United Nations and other independent agencies full access to the conflict zone.

LUKAS MACHON, of International Commission of Jurists, said, In Sri Lanka, many civilians had been exposed to unlawful killings and other human rights violations. There was an eminent need to analyse that situation through a fact-finding mission.

Ms. DI POGGIO, of France Libertés – Fondation Danielle Mitterrand, said, Regarding Sri Lanka, a failure by the Council to undertake urgent action would be tantamount to allowing the genocide of the Tamil people. The Council should insist on a resolution of the conflict, guaranteeing the full human rights of the Tamils, including their right to choose their future.

Secondly, since 2006, the item on self-determination was no longer on the agenda, but there were situations where serious human rights violations resulted from the denial of that right,

GEORGE SIGAMONY, of Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (Forum-Asia)/, in a joint statement with Asian Legal Resource Centre, called for urgent action of the Human Rights Council on the human rights catastrophe in Sri Lanka. The grave concern of the international community was not only limited to the current situation of civilians in northern Sri Lanka. The core problems of discrimination and impunity had been allowed to go unabated throughout the country in the past years. The world had witnessed a sharp increase of the un-investigated killings and disappearances against human rights defenders and prominent religious personalities there.

Right of Reply

RAJIVA WIJESINHA (Sri Lanka), speaking in a right of reply, said their statement was in response to the statements made by Japan, Australia and the United States, among others. Sri Lanka did in fact take care of its civilians. The Government of Sri Lanka intended to restore democratic process in the country after years of totalitarian rule. The Government would pursue investigations into violations against human rights in the country. Sri Lanka took note of the concern of the United States with respect to the need to train the law enforcement officials, but Sri Lanka said that that was something that many other Member States remained to implement as well. Sri Lanka stressed that it was not too late for a concerted effort. Sri Lanka said that the Human Rights Council must deal with the behaviour of State parties. Sri Lanka was concerned about the continued disappearance of children who had been recruited by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) for armed conflict, and wondered why no other Member State had made any comment about such acts, whereas the issue of family reunification was of deep concern to the Government of Sri Lanka.

You can access the full report @: UNHRC

Published: Mar 19, 2009 11:00:52 GMT