SLMC endorses Pillay’s stand on religious extremism in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka Muslim Congress leader and Justice Minister Rauff Hakeem yesterday demanded that the government take punitive action against those who had been inciting violence against the Muslim community.
An irate Hakeem accused certain members of Buddhist extremist groups of causing chaos in the country. The Minister was participating in the debate on a motion submitted by nine government MPs against a UNHRC investigation into alleged human rights violations in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka : Navi Pillay alarmed at communal violence

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay expressed her deep alarm at inter-communal violence taking place in south-western Sri Lanka in which two, or possibly three, people have reportedly been killed and scores injured.

The violence erupted on Sunday 15 June in the town of Aluthgama following a large rally of the Buddhist group Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) to protest an alleged assault a few days earlier by a Muslim youth against the visiting monk at the local temple.

UN urges Sri Lanka to engage constructively with international community

I support - Ban

The United Nations encourages the Sri Lankan Government to engage constructively with the international community, to strengthen the existing domestic reconciliation process and to work towards lasting peace in Sri Lanka, a spokesman said today.

Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to the UN in Geneva Ravinatha Aryasinha this week announced that the Sri Lankan government will not cooperate with the human rights investigation approved by the UN Human Rights Council and being staffed by outgoing High Commissioner Navi Pillay.

My Office has now put in place a staff team for the Sri Lanka Inquiry - Navi Pillay

All set for the SL inquiry

''I note also that last month marked the fifth anniversary of the end of the war in SriLanka, where the scars created by terrorism and conflict have yet to heal.  My Office has now put in place a staff team that will be supported by several experts and Special Procedures mandate holders, to conduct the comprehensive investigation mandated by this Council in order to advance accountability, and thus reconciliation. I encourage the Government to take this opportunity to cooperate with a credible truth-seeking process'' 

Read the full speech: Opening Statement by  Ms. Navi Pillay, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

Minister Hakeem stands by report to Navi Pillay on anti-minority violence

Navi Pillay  with Rauf Hakeem

Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) leader and Justice Minister Rauff Hakem says he stands by his decision to submit a report to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay related to reconciliation issues.

Speaking to reporters after meeting the Chief Prelate (Mahanayake) of the Malwathu Chapter in Kandy today, Hakeem said that the report to Pillay focused purely on shortcomings in implementing the recommendations of the Lessons Learned and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC).

Sri Lanka debate at UNHRC 25: Positions of the countires and Tactics that failed

 UNHRC Requests High Commissioner to Undertake a Comprehensive Investigation into Alleged Serious Human Rights Violations in Sri Lanka  

Pillay: a  madate to go ahead (UN /Jean-Marc Ferré )

In a resolution (A/HRC/25/L.1/Rev.1) on promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka, adopted by a vote of 23 in favour, 12 against and 12 abstentions, the Council requests the Office of the High Commissioner to undertake a comprehensive investigation into alleged serious violations and abuses of human rights and related crimes by both parties in Sri Lanka during the period covered by the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission, and to establish the facts and circumstances of such alleged violations and of the crimes perpetrated with a view to avoiding impunity and ensuring accountability, with assistance from relevant experts and special procedures mandate holders. 

Sri Lanka war criems:New evidence continues to emerge, and witnesses are willing to come forward - Navi Pillay

Navi Pillay ( UN photo)

HC opening statement on 26th March 2014 at HRC 25:

I am pleased to introduce to the present session of the Council the report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on promoting reconciliation and accountability in Sri Lanka (A/HRC/25/23).  The report examines the progress the Government has made in implementing the recommendations of its Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC), as well as those I formulated in my report which were endorsed by the Council in March 2013, and following my visit to the country in August 2013.

UN Human Rights HC Pillay is a liar says SriLanka minister, Samarasinghe

Samarasinghe

The Government, today castigated the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay calling her a “liar” who is bent on being aggressive with Sri Lanka. Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe, speaking at a rally today, said that the Government will not succumb to pressure from some countries or the UN Human Rights Chief to betray the soldiers who fought the war against the LTTE. He recalled that domestic investigations were underway into allegations raised against some soldiers and the army will take action against them, if found guilty.

Report presented by SLMC to HC Navi Pillay: Religious Violence in Sri Lanka Jan 2013 – Dec 2013

SLMC leader Hakeem with HC Navi Pillay

An update of “Muslims’ Concerns” presented by the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, August 2013

Key Information

1.    Over the 12 month period between January and December 2013 there were at least 241 anti-Muslim attacks andat least 69 anti-Christian attacks in Sri Lanka. 51 of the anti-Muslim incidents were violent, involving either physical violence against individuals or destruction of property. 15attacks against Christians were violent. There were no significant attacks against Buddhists and Hindus. 

Read the Annex 01 of incidents  as a PDF here

Time has come for the Council to establish its own international inquiry mechanism on Sri Lanka - HC Navi Pillay in her annual report

Navi Pillay and Ban ki-Moon at the opening session

Opening Statement by Ms. Navi Pillay, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
 (to be delivered on 6 March 2014)

Impunity and the rule of lawStrengthening the administration of justice remains a priority for OHCHR, with focuses on such fundamental issues as the independence of the judiciary and the protection of the rights of persons deprived of their liberty. We continue to support human rights mechanisms that specifically address these issues. My Office has also continued its advocacy in favour of a moratorium on the death penalty, with the goal of its complete abolition.  I am heartened to note that the list of countries which have abolished this cruel measure, or adopted a moratorium, is growing constantly.

Commissions of Inquiry have highlighted massive violations which demand engagement by the Security Council and ICC - Navi Pillay

Remarks by the High Commissioner for Human Rights to the opening of the twenty-fifth session of the Human Rights Council
3 March 2014
“Today I address this High-Level Segment of the Council for the last time as High Commissioner for Human Rights. I do so acknowledging the many achievements of the Human Rights Council. The significance of this Council’s work is reflected in the fact that up to 100 Ministers will participate in this Council’s session. We are particularly honoured today by the presence of the President of Tunisia, whom I wish to warmly welcome. This 25th Session of the Human Rights Council launches an ambitious year of activities to promote and protect human rights of all people everywhere and strengthen human rights mechanisms in all countries.

GoSL response to Pillay report failed to argue in Sri Lanka’s favour

Sunday Times Editorial: Geneva: Be substantive, not combative Slowly but surely, the dreaded United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) sessions have stealthily crept up. A resolution against Sri Lanka — sponsored by the US and promoted by Britain and India — is on the cards this month. With the solitary backing of China from among the big and powerful nations, it would be a Herculean task to defeat the resolution in the 47-member Council.

Sri Lanka: TNA welcomes HC Navi Pillay report; emphasis impermissibility of amnesty for gross violations of HR

War victim in Sri Lanka

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) welcomes the Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on promoting reconciliation and accountability in Sri Lanka to the 25th session of the Human Rights Council. The High Commissioner’s report contains a comprehensive and accurate depiction of the serious human rights issues facing Sri Lanka. The Report has benefited from the High Commissioner’s visit to Sri Lanka, where she was able to observe first-hand the issues of concern to victims and survivors in the Northern and Eastern Provinces.

Conclusions and recommendations of the HC Navi Pillay report to UNHRC on Sri Lanka

Promoting reconciliation and accountability in Sri Lanka  

Report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights*
Summary
    In the present report, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights acknowledges the progress made in reconstruction and the implementation of some of the recommendations made by the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission. The Government of Sri Lanka has, however, failed to ensure independent and credible investigations into past violations of international human rights and humanitarian law. The report also contains updates on the ongoing attacks on religious minorities, and the harassment and intimidation of human rights defenders, lawyers and journalists.

Sri Lanka: Pillay report next week: Western powers likely to base resolution on it

Even the help of deities is being sought to defeat the latest United States backed resolution on Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva next month. President Mahinda Rajapaksa flew from Colombo to Nuwara Eliya in his Air Force helicopter on Friday to take part in a special Pooja according to Hindu rites.
........
The religious event came as the US and a core group supporting it including Britain and Canada (though not a member of the UNHRC) were locked in consultation on the text of the draft resolution. It is being based largely on the recommendations of the report to be presented to the Council next week by UN Human Rights High Commissioner Navi Pillay. The Sunday Times (Political Commentary) last week revealed exclusively the recommendations made by Pillay.

High Commissioner Navi Pillay report on Sri Lanka leaked: international inquiry mechanism recommended

Pillay’s bombshell report corners Rajapaksa regime


A damning 20-page report from United Nations Human Rights High Commissioner Navi Pillay became the subject of close scrutiny by the UPFA Government this week.  Pillay’s office urged the Government, as is the practice, to respond to the contents of this 74-point report — the precursor to the United States backed latest resolution on Sri Lanka next month — within a week. The External Affairs Ministry (EAM), which co-ordinated the point by point answers converting it to a formal document kept to the deadline which was last Wednesday (February 12).

The key now is to implement thelaws and standards to make enjoyment of human rights a reality on the ground - Navi Pillay

A 20-20 Human Rights Vision

Statement by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay for Human Rights Day, 10 December 2013

 Twenty years ago, a historic document was adopted in Vienna. It crystallized the principle that human rights are universal, and committed States to the promotion and protection of all human rights for all people, regardless of their political, economic and cultural systems.

Sri Lanka govt not answerable for civil war deaths: foreign minister

 “Sri Lanka is not stalling,”
Peiris told The Associated Press

New York: Sri Lanka’s foreign minister said his government has no case to answer over the reported deaths of thousands of civilians at the end of its civil war, even as pressure grows for an international inquiry to account for the dead.

The U.N.’s top human rights official said last week that Sri Lanka needs to show progress by next March or the international community should establish its own inquiry into allegations of civilian casualties and summary executions in the final months of the quarter-century conflict that ended in 2009, when government forces crushed ethnic Tamil rebels.

Tamil Net says Navi Pillay is lying on her visit to Sri Lanka

Question raised on truth of Navi Pillay statement (Tamil Net)
UN Human Rights chief Ms Navanetham Pillay, in a press interview in Colombo towards the end of her recent visit to the island, has said that no one she had met there used the word genocide. TamilNet comes to know that there were specific instances in which responsible civil society members meeting her had told her about genocide in the island, using the very word genocide in English.

US backs Pillay on Lanka

The US State Department says the US backs the oral report and comments made on Sri Lanka by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay at the UN Human Rights Council at its 24^th session which concluded last week.