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- 1. 30 March 2007 Lionel Bopage 1 Sri LankaSri Lanka ------
ChallengesChallenges ToTo Peace and DemocracyPeace and
Democracy
- 2. 30 March 2007 2 SummarySummary Successive governments have
responded to the democraticSuccessive governments have responded to
the democratic demands of the masses with an increasing use of
repression anddemands of the masses with an increasing use of
repression and terrorterror The centralisation of the democratic
decision making apparatus intoThe centralisation of the democratic
decision making apparatus into the unaccountable hands of the
Political executive and the armedthe unaccountable hands of the
Political executive and the armed forcesforces The gradual erosion
of the independence of the judiciaryThe gradual erosion of the
independence of the judiciary The curtailment of the freedom of
individuals, political organisationsThe curtailment of the freedom
of individuals, political organisations and the media to express
their opinions and put their case to theand the media to express
their opinions and put their case to the general populationgeneral
population The gross abuse of human rights as reflected in the rise
of extraThe gross abuse of human rights as reflected in the rise of
extra judicial murders, the unaccounted disappearance of vast
numbersjudicial murders, the unaccounted disappearance of vast
numbers of people and the increasing number of people being
torturedof people and the increasing number of people being
tortured The exponential increase in the amount of bribery and
corruptionThe exponential increase in the amount of bribery and
corruption
- 3. 30 March 2007 3 SUPPRESSION OF DEMOCRACYSUPPRESSION OF
DEMOCRACY Sri Lanka more often ruled underSri Lanka more often
ruled under emergency lawsemergency laws The parliament does not
bear the supremeThe parliament does not bear the supreme power, but
the armed forces dopower, but the armed forces do Election process
is continually beingElection process is continually being
underminedundermined
- 4. 30 March 2007 4 JUSTICE AND LEGAL SYSTEMJUSTICE AND LEGAL
SYSTEM Drawbacks in the existing legal system:Drawbacks in the
existing legal system: Allows the Executive to politically appoint
retired judges to theAllows the Executive to politically appoint
retired judges to the higher courtshigher courts No separation of
power between the Executive and the LegislatureNo separation of
power between the Executive and the Legislature The
Attorney-General not accountable for decisions either to theThe
Attorney-General not accountable for decisions either to the
Parliament or to the Minister of JusticeParliament or to the
Minister of Justice No legal or political remedy against the
decisions of the Attorney-No legal or political remedy against the
decisions of the Attorney- GeneralGeneral The findings of many
commissions appointed to investigate intoThe findings of many
commissions appointed to investigate into killings, disappearances
and abductions not made public, orkillings, disappearances and
abductions not made public, or Investigations did not progress due
to many external influencesInvestigations did not progress due to
many external influences
- 5. 30 March 2007 5 FREEDOM OF EXPRESSIONFREEDOM OF EXPRESSION A
number of journalists assassinatedA number of journalists
assassinated Many journalists and media workers harassedMany
journalists and media workers harassed and intimidatedand
intimidated Restrictions imposed on mediaRestrictions imposed on
media Self-censorship imposedSelf-censorship imposed Newspapers
proscribed from circulationNewspapers proscribed from circulation
Continuous threats to the editors of independentContinuous threats
to the editors of independent newspapersnewspapers
- 6. 30 March 2007 6 HUMAN RIGHTSHUMAN RIGHTS Violation of
customary international lawsViolation of customary international
laws Torture and summary executionsTorture and summary executions
extensively used as a method of obtainingextensively used as a
method of obtaining information and intimidating the
generalinformation and intimidating the general
populationpopulation No justice for victims and their families
forNo justice for victims and their families for past human rights
abusespast human rights abuses
- 7. 30 March 2007 7 HUMAN RIGHTSHUMAN RIGHTS Current spate of
disappearances andCurrent spate of disappearances and kidnappings
blamed on a small undisciplinedkidnappings blamed on a small
undisciplined minorityminority Legal Protection from arbitrary or
preventativeLegal Protection from arbitrary or preventative arrest
and detention left vaguearrest and detention left vague Emergency
regulations provide impunity to theEmergency regulations provide
impunity to the forces to act outside their professionalforces to
act outside their professional jurisdictionjurisdiction
Assassinations of political leadersAssassinations of political
leaders
- 8. 30 March 2007 8 CORRUPTION AND BRIBERYCORRUPTION AND BRIBERY
Existing laws - usually enforced againstExisting laws - usually
enforced against small playerssmall players Many scandals exposed,
but rarelyMany scandals exposed, but rarely responses or
denialsresponses or denials Use of Emergency laws and
nationalisticUse of Emergency laws and nationalistic feelings to
prevent exposure of corruptionfeelings to prevent exposure of
corruption and briberyand bribery
- 9. 30 March 2007 9 FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONSFREE AND FAIR
ELECTIONS Consistent use of terror to coerce people andConsistent
use of terror to coerce people and communities not to
votecommunities not to vote Introduction of false
ballotsIntroduction of false ballots Arbitrary proscription of
political partiesArbitrary proscription of political parties The
people of Sri Lanka can no longer hope forThe people of Sri Lanka
can no longer hope for the peaceful exercise of their right to
freely electthe peaceful exercise of their right to freely elect
their representatives at national, or even local,their
representatives at national, or even local, elections...The concept
of free and fair electionselections...The concept of free and fair
elections has become an illusion in Sri Lankahas become an illusion
in Sri Lanka.. -- Asian Human Rights Commission, 1999Asian Human
Rights Commission, 1999
- 10. 30 March 2007 10 ConclusionConclusion Need broader
perspectives for developingNeed broader perspectives for developing
sustainable solutionssustainable solutions Government bears major
responsibility inGovernment bears major responsibility in
protecting human and democratic rightsprotecting human and
democratic rights Recognition of common suffering of allRecognition
of common suffering of all peoplepeople
- 11. 30 March 2007 11 ConclusionConclusion Ensuring democratic
rights of TamilEnsuring democratic rights of Tamil people, their
security and safety not onlypeople, their security and safety not
only in basic law but also in practicein basic law but also in
practice Breaking down barriers, and openingBreaking down barriers,
and opening communication channels is an urgent taskcommunication
channels is an urgent task inside and outside Sri Lankainside and
outside Sri Lanka Urgent need to build a vibrant, andUrgent need to
build a vibrant, and democratic oppositiondemocratic
opposition
- 12. 30 March 2007 12 Thank youThank you