Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), Convention against Torture (CAT) and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and the Convention on Rights of the Child (CRC).
Through its latest decision the European Union has agreed to suspend its termination for a further six months if the Sri Lankan government gives an undertaking in writing to meet specific human rights requirements by July 1, 2010. They reportedly include the implementation of the 17th Amendment, the release of those arrested under Emergency Regulations and the abrogation of the Prevention of Terrorism Act. These are issues that have been canvassed by the democratic opposition and civil society groups within the country and pertain to broad principles of good governance that need to accompany the process of normalisation and reconciliation after a long period of civil war.
Sri Lanka is the only country in Asia and one of only 14 countries in the world that enjoys this special status with the EU in which more than 7,200 products categories are allowed duty-free into the EU. The EU process is clear and it is well known that the Commission is obliged to start an investigation if there are doubts that the conventions have not been implemented. There have been several reports by UN rapporteurs on the human rights situation. In the Sri Lankan case the investigations were launched at least eighteen months before the end of the war with the LTTE.
The National Peace Council notes that, despite considerable resentment and negative publicity, the government has taken a considerable effort over the past several months to retain the GSP Plus concession, repeatedly sending delegations of its senior officials and even religious dignitaries to dialogue with the EU on this matter. There have been improvements that have accompanied these dialogues. The government has been resettling persons displaced by the war, rehabilitating and releasing former LTTE cadre and has recently appointed a Commission on Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation. Government officials have also pointed out that the loss of the GSP Plus concession will jeopardize the government's plan to rehabilitate former LTTE cadres by employing many of them in the factories that export to the EU.
One year after the end of the war, there is a governmental perception that some international actors, in particular the EU and UN, are unfairly pursuing and cornering it. The UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon has appointed a three member international panel to advise him on issues of human rights in Sri Lanka. However, with its ideals of righteous governance from ancient times and tradition of democracy in modern times, Sri Lanka should have no difficulty in re-asserting its own commitment to the practices of good governance and respect for human rights to any party. Instead of seeking to insulate the country from international concerns, it is important that the government ensures the continuation of trade concessions with the EU while positively re-engaging with the international community on governance issues. .
Governing Council
The National Peace Council is an independent and non partisan organisation that works towards a negotiated political solution to the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka. It has a vision of a peaceful and prosperous Sri Lanka in which the freedom, human rights and democratic rights of all the communities are respected. The policy of the National Peace Council is determined by its Governing Council of 20 members who are drawn from diverse walks of life and belong to all the main ethnic and religious communities in the country. |
