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Canadian Human Rights Mission to Sri Lanka 1992

The Canadian Human Rights Mission to Sri Lanka visited the island for eight days commencing 20 February 1992. The visit was in response to growing international concern over human rights abuses in Sri Lanka. The team leader was the Very Rev Dr.Lois Wilson who is an ordained Minister of the United Church of Canada. She was a former moderator of the United Church and an immediate Past President of the World Council of Churches.

The other members of the Mission were Mr. Pierre Duquette, an Immigration Lawyer and Legal Counsel to the former Minister of State for Immigration, Gerry Weiner; Ms. Marian Botsford Fraser, writer and broadcaster and member of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Centre of International PEN; Ms. Beryl Gaffney, Member of the Canadian House of Commons and Liberal party critic for Human rights; Dr.Kenneth Kuhn, Executive Director of the Lutheran's Church Division for Church and Society; Mr.Peter McCreath, Member of the Canadian House of Commons, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of State for Finance and Privatisation and President of the Canadian Council for Multicultural and Intercultural Education; Mr. Svend Robinson, Member of the Canadian House of Commons and New Democratic party spokesperson on External Affairs and International Human Rights; and Dr.Stephen Toope, Associate Dean of Graduate Studies and Research at the Faculty of Law at the University of McGill who teaches and writes in the field of International Law and Constitutional Law.

Staff support for the Mission was provided by Mr. Robin Gibson who was the Asia/Pacific Development Coordinator for the Primate's World Relief and Development Fund of the Anglican Church of Canada and Chairperson of the Consultative Committee on Human Rights of the Canadian Council of Churches.

In a Press Release, the Mission stated that its visit had come about as part of an international effort to promote peace and justice in Sri Lanka where since June 1990, over 3,000 civilians have been killed and more than one million people displaced from their homes. In 1991, Canada received over 4,000 refugee claimants from Sri Lanka. ''The Mission will make recommendations on the effectiveness of the current Canadian government policy of linking human rights issues to aid development commitments and on the constructive Canada should play in the achievement of a ceasefire, on peace talks, and in a negotiated settlement between the Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam''.

Press Release 5 February 1992

Canadian Human Rights Mission Calls for Immediate Internationally Monitored Cease Fire and Negotiations to Resolve the Conflict in Sri Lanka

At a Press Conference today in Ottawa, a group of prominent Canadians called upon the government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to agree to an immediate internationally monitored case fire and a move towards a negotiated peace settlement.

Attending the Press Conference were the Very Reverend Dr Lois Wilson, former Moderator of the United Church of Canada and past president of the World Council of Churches; Beryl Gaffney, MP for Nepean; Peter McCreath, MP for South Shore, NS; and Svend Robinson, MP for Burnaby-Kingsway, BC; immigration lawyer Pierre Duquette; and broadcaster/journalist Marian Botsford Fraser. All are members of a group who travelled to Sri Lanka last month to study the impact of that country's eight-year civil war on the Sri Lankan people.

While in Sri Lanka, the Canadian team investigated continuing reports of human rights abuses and growing concern that a full-scale military offensive is likely to be mounted in the Jaffna peninsula. The Sri Lankans with whom the team met urged the team members to increase external economic pressure on the Sri Lankan government to end these abuses. "The ethnic conflict will not be resolved by a military offensive, and the loss of life would be massive and inexcusable," said the Very Rev Dr Lois Wilson. "We are profoundly disturbed by the lack of political will to move with urgency towards a negotiated settlement."

The Canadian team met this morning with Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) officials, urging them to step up the discussion of human rights and the level of economic assistance provided to Sri Lanka at the meeting of the Sri Lanka Donors Consortium in Paris.

The Canadian delegation will deliver its final report on February 21, 1992, with more than 40 recommendations to the Canadian and Sri Lankan governments. The most urgent recommendations were presented at the Press Conference on February 5, 1992.

The recommendations included the following:

The Sri Lankan government and the LTTE must agree to an immediate, internationally monitored cease fire leading to a negotiated settlement. The international community must apply pressure to achieve these objectives.

Canada should take the lead to facilitate international mediation of the conflict through the United Nations, the Commonwealth, or another appropriate multilateral body.

Canada should suspend the part of Canadian bilateral assistance that is channelled to Sri Lankan government projects. These funds should be re-allocated to other programs in Sri Lanka.

Canada should continue to channel aid through Sri Lankan, Canadian and international non� governmental organizations.

Canada should intensify its leadership role within the donor community and urge international financial institutions (such as the World Bank) to relate levels of aid to an improvement in the human rights situation.

Given the current state of civil war in Sri Lanka, Canada should refrain from the involuntary removal of Sri Lankans who have claimed refugee status in Canada.

Canada should establish appropriate quota levels to allow for the reunification within two months of spouses and dependent children once a refugee claimant has been recognized as a refugee in Canada. Canada should immediately allocate the necessary resources to achieve this objective.

During their eight days in Sri Lanka, the Canadian delegation met with government officials, political leaders, NGO spokespersons, church leaders, community representatives and members of various human rights task forces. The group heard representations from all sides of the ethnic conflict, including the LTTE and found clear evidence of continuing disappearances, unlawful detentions by security forces and numerous unrecorded deaths. Says Mr McCreath, "The people of Sri Lanka are still subject to arbitrary and undocumented arrest, confinement without charge in unofficial detention centres and in some cases, torture and death. This is unacceptable."

The Canadian Human Rights Mission to Sri Lanka will present its final recommendations to CIDA and external Affairs on February 21, 1992.


Summary Findings

The incredible beauty of Sri Lanka, its enormous potential and rich human resources seemed to magnify the deep tragedy of the ethnic conflict which threatens all that Sri Lanka could be. Team members of the Canadian Human Rights Mission to Sri Lanka were alarmed by the extent of human rights violations and the enormous human cost of the conflict. Equally distressing was the fact that the severity of the situation is so little known or addressed by the international community.

The team members hope that the following report of the current situation in Sri Lanka will contribute in some small way to a just and lasting resolution of the ethnic conflict and restoration of peace and justice to Sri Lanka.

Human Rights Violations

Human rights violations continue to occur in Sri Lanka at an alarming rate. Team members were approached throughout their visit by persons who sought assistance with individual cases of extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests and detentions and disappearances. The team received written documentation regarding hundreds of such cases. Most distressing was the failure of the government to acknowledge the level of human rights abuses occurring in the country.

The team also heard reports of human rights abuses committed by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Violations including kidnapping of individuals to be held for ransom, massacres and forced removal of Muslim populations and arbitrary detention.

While the level of human rights violations has decreased to some extent since the appalling levels occurring in 1989 and 1990, the continuation of any violations is completely unacceptable.

Military Stalemate

Following meetings with Spokespersons for both the government security forces and the LTTE acknowledge it was clear that it is not possible for either side to achieve a military victory. High levels of militarization exist with an occupation force of the LTTE in the North and of the security forces in the East. Militarization also includes Muslim and Sinhala Homeguard Units. The militarization has a mixed reception. It was apparent to team members that many Tamils are genuinely grateful for the protection provided to them by the LTTE. In the East there is wide support by the Muslim community for the role of the Sri Lankan security forces. However, the armed conflict provides the context and the rationale for ongoing serious human rights abuses and further polarizes the situation. Notwithstanding the military stalemate there is considerable offensive actions by both security forces and the LTTE. Considerable anxiety was expressed regarding potential loss of civilian life should the security forces move with an offensive to regain control of the North. An internationally monitored case-fire is an urgent step towards creating conditions conducive to negotiating a political settlement.

Negotiated Settlement

A negotiated political settlement to the conflict is an urgent need. Regrettably the team members found themselves pessimistic regarding the likelihood of such a settlement. There appears to be a complete lack of political leadership or resolve by either the government or the LTTE to take steps that would lead to negotiations. The LTTE has indicted a willingness to participate in talks but is unlikely to compromise on a number of key issues. The government has shown a willingness to talk about possible solutions through the establishment of the Select Parliamentary Committee but party politics appear to effectively eliminate any real movement towards placing a concrete proposal on the table.

Given that there is little real internal will for a negotiated settlement, many in Sri Lanka and the team members felt that only strong external pressure will bring the parties to negotiations.

Lack of Accountability Regarding Human Rights

While the government has established a number of commissions or task forces over the past year to examine issues of human rights it is clear that the terms of reference of and the level of resources provided to these bodies are entirely inadequate. As a result there is a de facto impunity for members of the security forces who commit human rights violations.

Likewise the LTTE has not developed procedures that would allow for the discipline of combatants and the investigation of allegations of human rights abuses.

Climate of Distrust, Fear and Repression

There is a pervasive climate of fear and mistrust throughout the country. This climate is reinforced by the levels of militarization in the North and East and ongoing human rights abuses. Minority community sentiments are manipulated by politicians and extremists from all ethnic groups. There is an urgent need to rebuild trust and understanding between Tamil, Muslim and Sinhalese communities. The establishment of guarantees for all minority groups is of utmost importance.

Contributing to the problems in Sri Lanka is a climate of repression. Electronic media is state controlled. The print media is largely used to a significant extent to promote the government point of view or give voice to Buddhist chauvinistic opinions. There seemed to be little public participation in the political process. Freedom of expression and freedom to organize alternative political opinion was limited by fear of repressive action on the part of the government and the LTTE.

Humanitarian Concerns

The ongoing cost of the conflict is devastating. In the North, there are serious shortages of food, medical supplies and fuel. Should military activity in the North increase the situation there would quickly become desperate. The means of livelihood for most of the population in the North and much of those in the East is destroyed. Normal life is not possible.

Official figures indicate that over one and half million people internally displaced in Sri Lanka. Approximately 250,000 live in overcrowded and under-serviced refugee camps.

The flight of refugees to other countries continues. Arbitrary arrests of young Tamils are commonplace throughout the country. The team concluded that virtually any young Tamil male could have a well-founded fear of persecution from either the government security forces or, in some instances, the LTTE.

Economic Disparities

At the very heart of the conflict in Sri Lanka is the widening gap between the rich and the poor and between the North/East and the rest of the country. many people indicated to team members that dissatisfaction with central government economic policies are at the root of support for the LTTE in the North and East and for the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) in the south. The continuing conflict further disqualifies the North and East from any benefits of the six per cent growth rate achieved by the Sri Lankan economy over the past year.

Development Assistance

People in the North and East asserted strongly that overseas development assistance does not reach the most affected sectors of the population except in the form of relief. Some analysts pointed to the terms of foreign debt repayment and the Structural Adjustment Programs associated with loans from the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank as contributing to the gap between the rich and the poor.

The work of non-governmental organizations was seen as being constructive but the ongoing conflict on the North and East limits the capacity of even NGOs to address basic socioeconomic conditions in these areas.

Many people argued that conditions tying human rights to levels of overseas development assistance, particularly in a concerted manner, by donor nations and international financial institutions could usefully influence the government to end human rights abuses and take concrete measures towards a negotiated political settlement.

The Role of the International Community

Team members were told that the international community had played and would continue to play an important role in pressuring the Sri Lankan government to improve the human rights situation. The visit of the Canadian team generated considerable interest by the media and the general public. Many people approached the team with requests to intervene on individual cases as well as urged the international community to apply pressure on the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE to end abuses and resolve the conflict. It is important that international teams continue to visit Sri Lanka and that pressure be maintained.

Recommendations

Negotiated Settlement

1) The Sri Lankan government and the LTTE must agree to an immediate internationally monitored cease-fire leading to a negotiated political settlement. The international community must apply pressure to achieve these objectives.

2) Under no circumstances should the government of Sri Lanka resort to a military offensive in an effort to end the conflict through military means, particularly in the Jaffna peninsula.

3) The government of Sri Lanka should demonstrate its good faith by presenting proposals and a clear timetable for a concrete political settlement to the ethnic problem as soon as possible.

4) Canada should take the lead to facilitate International mediation of the conflict through the United Nations, the Commonwealth or another appropriate multilateral body.

5) The government of Sri Lanka should repeal repressive legislation, including the Prevention of Terrorism Act and Emergency Regulations and ensure that all legislation fully conforms to international law.

6) Religious leaders should be encouraged to take a prominent role in promoting inter� cultural understanding.

Human Rights

7) All of the 32 recommendations contained in the Amnesty International report entitled Sri Lanka - the North-East, Human Rights Violations in the Context of Conflict, should be implemented and their implementation should be independently monitored.

Detainees

8) The government of Sri Lanka should establish and maintain a centralized list, accessible to the public, of all detainees held in all places of detention.

9) The government of Sri Lanka must establish and implement clear and unequivocal procedures for the handling of detained persons, including the right to notify, communicate with and be visited by next of kin.

10) Only one Minister should be authorized to issue detention orders under s.9 of the Prevention of Terrorism Act. (This recommendation subject to Number 5.)

11) Given that risk to detainees is highest within the first twenty four hours of detention, the government of Sri Lanka should ensure that all persons in detention are seen promptly after arrest or capture by representatives of an independent body such as the Human Rights Taskforce or the International Committee of the Red Cross.

12) The LTTE should implement, in areas they control, recommendations 8,9 and 11.

13) Conditions of detention should meet internationally established standards.

Impunity

14) Procedures for the discipline and criminal prosecution of security forces who commit, or who have committed, human rights abuses or violations of the law should be established and enforced.

15) The government of Sri Lanka should repeal the Indemnity (Amendment) Act as an indication that perpetrators of human rights abuses will not be shielded from prosecution.

Commissions of Inquiry

16) The Presidential Commission of Inquiry investigating the massacre at Kokkadichcholai must be remandated, with power to compel witnesses to give evidence subject to full safeguards against self incrimination, to allow for a full and independent investigation into the circumstances of the incident.

17) As recommended by Amnesty International and the United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, the mandate of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the involuntary Removal of Persons should be extended to include cases of "disappearances" which took place prior to Janaury 11, 1991.

18) An independent Commission of Inquiry should be established, and sufficient resources provided, to investigate all allegations of human rights abuses such as the massacre at Kattenkudy, Batticaloa District and killing of two complete families at Kattaiparichchan, Trincomalee District.

Human Rights Standards

19) In all cases of death occurring during arrest or detention, death certificates should be issued and bodies released to next of kin for burial.

20) The government of Sri Lanka should ratify the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

21) The government of Sri Lanka should ensure that the Sri Lankan constitution and all laws fully comply with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

22) The government of Sri Lanka should ratify and fully respect International Labour Organization Conventions regarding the rights of working men and women, both organized and unorganized.

23) The Constitution of Sri Lanka should be amended to guarantee fundamental rights, including freedom of speech, freedom of association and freedom of the press.

Non Governmental Organizations

24) With respect to the findings of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry in Respect of Non-Governmental Organizations; NGOs must be allowed to function without interference by the State.

Language Rights

25) The Sri Lankan constitution should be amended to recognize full equality of the Sinhala and Tamil languages and relevant legislation enacted and administrative procedures implemented to achieve this.

United Nations Commission on Human Rights

26) Canada should take the lead at the 48th Session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights urging the Commission to pass a strong resolution on the situation of human rights in Sri Lanka

Arms Control

27) Canada should ensure the complete embargo on all arms exports to Sri Lanka.

28) Canada should call on the international community to impose a complete embargo on all arms to Sri Lanka.

Overseas Development Assistance

29) Canada should suspend the part of Canadian bilateral, assistance that is channelled to Sri Lankan government projects. These funds should be re-allocated to other programs in Sri Lanka.

30) Canada should continue to channel aid through Sri Lankan, Canadian and International non-government organizations.

31) Canada should intensify its leadership role within the donor community and urge international financial institutions to relate levels of aid to an improvement in the human rights situation.

32) At the upcoming February 7th Sri Lanka Donors' Consortium meeting in Paris, Canada should urge that development assistance and other financial involvements be directly linked to a timetable for improvements in the human rights situation and should propose mechanisms for monitoring the human rights situation in Sri Lanka by the donor community.

33) Canada should continue to seek out and support Sri Lankan organizations which promote ethnic understanding and human rights. Documentation of human rights abuses should be facilitated.

34) Canada should continue to identify and promote linkages between Canadian institutions and organizations and groups in Sri Lanka working on common issues.

35) Canada should ensure that its overseas development assistance promotes sustainable development, protects the environment and decreases economic disparities.

36) Canada should address concerns regarding the impact of World Bank and International Monetary Fund supported Structural Adjustment Programs on the poorest and most vulnerable communities in Sri Lanka.

Humanitarian Concerns

37) All efforts should be made to ensure adequate provision of food, medical supplies and fuel to the Northern Province of Sri Lanka.

38) Canada should give high priority to providing funding and logistical support to ensure that humanitarian needs of the population in the North and East, with particular attention to those in Jaffna district, are adequately met.

39) An international observer team should monitor the adequacy of humanitarian assistance in the North.

Refugees

40) Given the current state of civil war in Sri Lanka, Canada should refrain from the involuntary removal of Sri Lankans who have claimed refugee status in Canada.

41) Canada should establish appropriate quote levels to allow for the reunification within two months of spouses and dependent children once a refugee claimant has been recognized as a refugee in Canada. Canada should immediately allocate the necessary resources to achieve this objective.

42) Canada should continue to give high priority to both the short term and long terms needs of internally displaced refugees in Sri Lanka.

43) The government of India should be urged to ratify the United Nations Convention on refugees in order that the UNHCR might have access to Sri Lankan refugees in India.

 

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