Reprisals against HRDs in Sri Lanka: Civil Society Organisations accused by state broadcaster for their appeal to UNHRC

MARCH 8, 2014

Sri Lanka Briefing Note, Special Topic 8/2 - 10 March 2014 In its 8 M pri!e ti!e ne"s #$lletin on 0% March 2014 the state controlle& Sri Lanka '$pa(ahini )T*+ ,orporation acc$se& 24 ,i(il Societ- organisations in the co$ntr- for iss$ing the ./INT ,I*IL S/,I0T1 M0M/'2N34M T/ T50 54M2N 'I65TS ,/4N,IL 2N3 T50 INT0'N2TI/N2L ,/MM4NIT1 2s the acc$sing ne"s ite! "as rea& the photographs of 8 ci(il societ- lea&ers "ere sho"n in the #ack gro$n& "ith the na!es of the ,i(il Societ- /rganisations the- associate& "ith7 2ll &irectors of the Sri Lanka '$pa(ahini )T*+ ,orporation )SL',+ are political appointees of the present go(ern!ent7 4ntil fe" !onths ago the chair person of the SL', "as the Me&ia spokesperson for the resi&ent 'a8apaksha7 SL', is the state #roa&caster of the co$ntr-7 This is a clear example of reprisals against the human rights defenders by the Sri Lankan Government for their engagement with the United Nations. ere is the verbatim transcribe of the relevant sections of the said News !ulletin. Sri Lanka "upavahini #T$% &orporation ' (nglish News !ulletin on )*th +arch ,)-..)/. )0 It had been found that group of non governmental organisations has submitted false information to the international community to discredit the country. The Washington Post and several foreign media has reported that 24 non governmental organisations in Sri Lanka has appealed to the nited !ations "uman #ights $ouncil in %eneva to carry out a &ar crimes investigation against Sri Lanka. The non governmental organisations have alleged that Sri Lanka is a la&less human rights violating religious e'tremist country moving to&ards autocracy. The ne&s paper reported that the organisations have made a document demanding an international investigation. (..The non governmental organisation have included in their document large number

of allegations e'cluding large number of positive steps that have been taken. They have pointed out in their document that the religious e'tremism prevailing in the country and mistreatment of other religions. Political analysts have pointed out that this document &ould damage the peace and reconciliation prevailing in the country among various ethnic groups and regions. !%)s have sternly accused that the !orthern Province ins under heavy military presence. .. The document has been singed by 24 !%)s including the $enter for Policy *lternatives+ I,*-# *sian $ommittee+ #ights !o&+ .isheries $ooperation/s *ssociation+ and Peoples -ebate $entre. It has been found out that 0 !%)s among them are not registered in Sri Lanka. There is a common allegation in the country that to for fulltime activities of some !%)s get funds by highly e'aggeration various situations in Sri Lanka. The Sinhala language News !ulletin of the same day had more targeted and stronger accusations against the ,. NG1s who singed the statement. The photographs #screen shots% of the leading figures of the &ivil Society organisations shown on the T$ screen are follows2 Sudarshana Gunawardana Executive Director Rights Now

Dr. P. Saravanamuttu Executive Director - CPA

Dr. Nimal a !ernando President "#ADR$ "nternational

!redd% Gamage Coordinator Plat&orm &or !reedom$ Center &or 'eo'les Dialogue

(rito !ernando Precedent Right to )i&e

*erman +umara Convenor$ National !isheries Solidarit%

Sheen Saviour *ome &or *uman Rights

Saro,a Sivachandran Chair'erson$ Center &or -omen and Develo'ment

!r. Emanuel Se.amale President$ #annar Citi/en Committee

"ead as a 345 here