AI says space for human rights defendants to speak out human rights issues is shrinking

Speaking to BBC Tamil Service after issueing the 2010 annual report, Dr.Yolanda Foster, Amnesty Internationals' researcher on Sri Lanka & Nepal, said “if there is a political will the UN General Secretary or Human Rights Commission can set up a commission of enquiry”.

Pointing out that the UN had set up a commission of enquiry into the killing in Guinea in 2009 Yolanda Foster said that the UN can set up a similar commission of enquiry to investigate the war crimes in Sri Lanka.

“We saw UN Human Rights Commission draft resolution welcoming the end of war instead of raising consideration on high number of civilian deaths” she added.

Sri Lanka is not making human rights a priority Yolanda Foster, AI

According to Amnesty International, rule of law issues are prominent in Sri Lanka and justice seems to be in retreat.

Reform Justice Sector

Amnesty calls for an immediate reformations in Judicial Sector and expresses concerned about the concentration of power with the executive, "striping away checks and balances within the system that safeguards democratic values".

Custodial torture, disappearances and civilian protection are other key human rights issues in Sri Lanka the Amnesty said “Sri Lanka is not making human rights a priority”.

It is also concerned about the ‘shrinking space for human rights defendants to speak out on human rights issues'.

“It is important to implement the Seventeenth Amendment, safeguard the independence of institutions and rebuild Sri Lanka with human rights as the priority” Yolanda Foster said.