NewsClick

NewsClick
  • हिन्दी
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Covid-19
  • Science
  • Culture
  • India
  • International
  • Sports
  • Articles
  • Videos
search
menu

INTERACTIVE ELECTION MAPS

image/svg+xml
  • All Articles
  • Newsclick Articles
  • All Videos
  • Newsclick Videos
  • हिन्दी
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Science
  • Culture
  • India
  • Sports
  • International
  • Africa
  • Latin America
  • Palestine
  • Nepal
  • Pakistan
  • Sri Lanka
  • US
  • West Asia
About us
Subscribe
Follow us Facebook - Newsclick Twitter - Newsclick RSS - Newsclick
close menu
×
For latest updates on nCOVID-19 around the world visit our INTERACTIVE COVID MAP
Politics
International
Sri Lanka

“Don’t Give Additional Time to Sri Lanka”, Mothers of Disappeared Persons Tell The UN

Families of tens of thousands of Tamils are still waiting for justice for the mass atrocities committed by the Sri Lankan government during the civil war that lasted 26 years.
Peoples Dispatch
28 Feb 2019
Sri Lanka

Protest in the Killinochi town of the Northern Province in Sri Lanka on February 25 (Photo: Tamil Mirror)

A huge protest, headed by the Tamil Mothers of Disappeared, was held in the Killinochi town of the Northern Province in Sri Lanka, demanding justice for war-time human rights abuses across the country. The protest followed the 40th session of the United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) that began in Geneva on February 25. The protesters raised slogans, such as “Where is my son?” and “UN do not give additional time to Sri Lanka for war crimes investigations”, among others. Most of the business establishments and shops remained closed on Monday, in solidarity with the relatives of missing persons.

“Most of us personally and voluntarily handed-over many of our family members, including children, to the Sri Lankan security forces at the end of the war in May 2009 in reliance on assurances that they would be safe. But almost ten years have passed, but there is no answer from the government about those we surrendered and they all remain disappeared,” Tamil Mothers of the Disappeared wrote in a letter sent to the UN high-commissioner for human rights.

Even though the Sri Lankan war ended about ten years ago, the letter stated that, “Tamils are still waiting for justice for the mass atrocities committed by the Sri Lankan government. Tens of thousands of Tamils were killed, according to the UN and other international organizations, and numerous Tamil women were sexually assaulted and raped by the Sri Lankan security forces, in the final six months of the war that ended in May 2009.”

The UNHRC passed two resolutions on the abuses committed against the Tamil population, including the enforced disappearances. The Sri Lankan government voluntarily co-sponsored the resolution and assured the UNHRC that they will fulfill the requirements of the resolution: “But two year extension has passed but Sri Lanka did not fulfill its promise and voluntary commitment to the UNHRC,” it remarked.

In August last year, a large number of graves were discovered in Sri Lanka’s Mannar area. Many activists said that almost 300 people were dumped in this graveyard, and upto 23 of those could be children below the age of 12. The discovery of mass graves in the region has alarmed the relatives of enforced persons who are seeking justice. With the presence of a large number of security forces in the Tamil majority areas, as well as the government trying to delay the investigation process at the UNHRC, the Tamils are apprehensive that the evidence of war crimes, which includes the mass graves, can be destroyed and tampered with by the security forces.

Courtesy: Peoples dispatch,
Original published date:
26 Feb 2019
Get the latest reports & analysis with people's perspective on Protests, movements & deep analytical videos, discussions of the current affairs in your Telegram app. Subscribe to NewsClick's Telegram channel & get Real-Time updates on stories, as they get published on our website.
Sri Lanka
Disappeared people
human rights violations
Sri Lankan civil war
Tamil Mothers of Disappeared
War Crimes
UNHRC
Related Stories
farmers UNHRC.

Farmers’ Unions Write to United Nations Human Rights Council, Seek Protection from Illegal Detention

Sri Lankan.

Family of Slain Sri Lankan Journalist in Search of Justice

Sri Lanka’s President Gotabaya Rajapaksa (R) received US Secretary of State  Mike Pompeo (L), Colombo, October 28, 2020

Lankan Dreams: India's 'Naivete' May Cost in the Long Run

Violations of Rights and Compensation: India’s Failure to Adhere to International Standards

Violations of Rights and Compensation: India’s Failure to Adhere to International Standards

Hathras Protest Delhi

Hathras Gangrape: UK’s Feminist, Dalit Organisations Write to UNHR Commissioner, Demand Action for UP CM’s Dismissal

Rights groups, opposition parties in the UK oppose bill claiming it provides amnesty to war crimes

Rights Groups, Opposition Parties in the UK Oppose Bill Claiming it Provides Amnesty to War Crimes

Saharawi Activist Mahfouda Bamba Lefkir

Saharawi Activist Mahfouda Bamba Lefkir, “I Left the Small Prison Just to Enter the Big One”

Ahmed Mustafa Erekat, killed by Israeli forces on his sister's wedding day.

Israeli Soldiers Kill Palestinian Man on his Sister’s Wedding Day

Donald Trump's executive order on economic sanctions on International Criminal Court

US’s Stand on ICJ and Caesar Act: The ‘Rogue Elephant’s’ Hypocrisy

With a Virtual Candle Light March, Chileans Honour Victims of the Military Dictatorship

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on WhatsAppShare via EmailShare on RedditShare on KindlePrint
Share
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on WhatsAppShare via EmailShare on RedditShare on KindlePrint
Share

Related Stories

M.K. Bhadrakumar

Colombo Port Deal Calms India’s Paranoia

03 March 2021
The Sri Lankan government has announced that it is going ahead with a project to develop jointly with India and Japan a new container terminal from
M.K. Bhadrakumar

US Exceptionalism Surges Again. Will it Fly?

27 February 2021
In a statement marking the “return” of the United Sta
Peoples Dispatch

Hearings Continue Against anti-terror Law in the Philippines

12 February 2021
On Tuesday, February 9, the second day of the hearings on Philippines’ controversial Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), the Supreme Court continued to recei

Pagination

  • Next page ››

More

  • Race, Title and Anguish: Meghan and Harry Explain Royal Rift

    Race, Title and Anguish: Meghan and Harry Explain Royal Rift

  • Jan Swastha Abhiyan

    Need to Regulate Private Sector Though Clinical Establishment Act, Say Public Health Experts

  • Bareily Airport

    UP: Teachers Called at Dawn for Decorating Stage Ahead of CM’s Visit, Bareilly BSA Draws Flak

  • AIDWA protest in TN

    TN This Week: Seat Sharing Talks, Rise in COVID-19 Cases and Cash Seized Ahead of Polls

  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with
about