Minister Samarasinghe at UNHRC 22nd Session in Geneva:

VERIFYING FACTS ON CIVILIAN DEATHS

‘We rescued a civilian population held by a ruthless group of terrorists’ :

‘Ground verification of facts is continuing in the aftermath of results of a national census of 2012 -- and the enumeration in the North preceding it in 2011 which were of such importance.

We believe we will be able to gain an accurate picture of the several causes of civilian deaths’, said Mahinda Samarasinghe MP, Minister of Plantation Industries, Special Envoy of President on Human Rights and Leader of the Delegation of Sri Lanka to the 22nd Session of the UN Human Rights Council Geneva, yesterday, (March 15), at the sessions in Geneva.

“A Cabinet Memorandum titled “Assistance and Protection of Victims of Crime and Witnesses Bill” was submitted by the Ministry of Justice and was taken up for policy approval at the Meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers on February 7, 2013. It was decided to obtain the views of the Attorney General on this matter to aid in the deliberations of the Cabinet,” the Minister said. Minister Samarasinghe added that subsequent to the recommendations of the LLRC, the Attorney-General reviewed the cases relating to the five students from Trincomalee and of the Action Contre La Faime (ACF) workers.

Having concluded the work on the five students from Trincomalee, the Attorney-General has directed the Police to commence Non-Summary Judicial proceedings.

The review with regard to the ACF case is also ongoing, he said He also refers to accountability, saying inquiries are in progress in the military as to questions of civilian casualties during the humanitarian operation, including the Channel 4 video footage irrespective of its authenticity.

“We have come a long way since the initial Universal Periodic Review of Sri Lanka during the first cycle in 2008. My country then was engaged in a conflict against terrorism – commencing in 2006 – trying to rescue a civilian population held by a ruthless group of terrorists. A year after that first review, we finally achieved success in the humanitarian operation and witnessed the dawn of a new era of peace, stability and prosperity for all Sri Lankans. Since May 2009 we engaged in a period of consolidation, removing military involvement in civil administration, reconstruction, demining, rehabilitation, resettlement and launched our initial efforts at national reconciliation and peace-building.

“Further to the recommendation of the LLRC, the database on detainees is available to next of kin (NoK) who are able to obtain details in response to their inquiries. The investigations into those allegedly disappeared are ongoing through national mechanisms.

“As we have regularly informed this Council, the National Plan of Action for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights (NHRAP), was a commitment that grew out of our initial Review in 2008. That was a principal pledge we made and one that we spent considerable time and effort in realizing. December 2012 marked the first year of implementation of the NHRAP.

“We are currently engaged in an evaluation of the first year and will shortly publish our progress. The NHRAP was conceived of as an overarching measure to consolidate our gains and to systematically address the various issues and challenges in the field of human rights.

“We will now have to conceive of a national mechanism that will take into consideration the recommendations supported and pledges made consequent to the adoption of the Report before the Council on this occasion.

We are confident that we can incorporate the outcome document into our national plans and programmes of action, so that, by 2017 when we next face a Review, that we will be able to demonstrate further advances in the promotion and protection of human rights for the benefit of the Sri Lankan people.

“I reiterate what I said earlier that Sri Lanka is deeply appreciative of Member and Observer States for their interest and positive engagement during its UPR Process as well as their acknowledgement of our efforts in the promotion and protection of human rights.

“As with the UPR, Sri Lanka will continue its transparent, proactive and constructive engagement with the Human Rights Council and keep Member and Observer States informed of further developments in Sri Lanka in the field of promotion and protection of human rights, “the Minister said.