Worst period for human rights violations in Sri Lanka - Mano Ganesan

Worst period for human rights violations in Sri Lanka - Mano Ganesan

By Rathindra Kuruwita

Human rights activists are being systematically silenced in what is one of the worst periods for human rights violations in Sri Lanka, Western Peoples’ Front Leader Mano Ganesan charged yesterday.

Ganesan made the statements speaking at the prize distribution ceremony of the International Human Rights day slogan competition, Peace through Negotiation organised by the National Peace Council.

There have been periods of grave human rights violations in the country like the 1988/89 period. But even in these darkest periods, there was space for human rights activists to voice their anger about these incidents, Ganesan said. He added that what is serious about the present situation is that that space for dissent was being destroyed.

At present there are grave human rights violations that are occurring at an alarming rate,he said. But now there is no space for human rights activists to express themselves. If we open our mouths there are forces that are ready to silence our voice, he said. He added that the Government has no right to neither stoop to the level of terrorists nor hide behind the logic that, the terrorists are doing the same.

A legitimate Government has to abide by accepted norms regarding human rights, he said. Meanwhile TNA Parliamentarian R. Sampanthan said that there is an opinion that the only way to resolve an issue is by using force. That mentality is dragging the country towards doom.

Look at our ministers; they think that the only way to settle an issue is to throw their weight around, Sampanthan said. The law enforcement agencies are powerless in front of them and the people no longer believe in these institutions, he added.

http://www.thebottomline.lk/2008/08/20/index%2022.htm