AI & HRW jointly appeal Sri Lanka Government: 'End campaign to discredit civil society'
End Witch Hunt Against the Media and NGOs
Full text of Joint Press Release by AI & HRW
The Sri Lankan government should end its harassment of journalists and activists and take steps against those making threats, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International said in a joint statement today.
Since the January 2010 presidential election, the government has engaged in a campaign to silence and discredit journalists and nongovernmental organizations. A recently leaked document, which appears to be a government surveillance list of more than 30 journalists and activists, significantly raises concerns about the safety of the people on the list, the organizations said.
"The Sri Lankan government is conducting a carefully coordinated witch hunt aimed at discrediting critics of the government," said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "This is extremely dangerous and irresponsible in a country where journalists and activists have often been threatened and killed."
On March 4, the directors of two highly respected Sri Lankan organizations, the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) and Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL), wrote a joint letter to President Mahinda Rajapaksa expressing their grave concern about a press report of the government's apparent surveillance list. The list places the directors of the CPA and TISL among several people in the top category, presumably meaning that they are under particularly close surveillance.
News about the government surveillance list emerged amidst a government campaign in the media to discredit nongovernmental organizations. In several statements since February 20, government officials have made vague and unproven accusations against various groups, claiming that they have attempted to "destabilize democracy" in Sri Lanka.
Concerns about the safety of individuals on the alleged government surveillance list are heightened because of previous death threats and attacks, the organizations said. In September 2008 unknown persons threw two grenades at the TISL director's house. In August 2009 the director of the CPA received an anonymous death threat by mail. The authorities have failed to hold anyone accountable for either of the incidents.
Both the CPA and TISL played a crucial role in monitoring the January presidential election, reporting on electoral violations and the government's misuse of state resources to campaign in favor of the incumbent, Mahinda Rajapaksa.
"This smacks of retaliation for reporting on violations during the presidential election," said Sam Zarifi, Amnesty International's Asia-Pacific director. "Despite the elections and the end of the war against the Tamil Tigers, the government seems to have a hard time getting rid of the habit of repression."
4 Comments
Someone throw them a bone please.
What AI & HRW what about your witch hunt on SL during the war?
Seriously...NGOs around the world need to suck the blood out of small countries in order to survive. This is the only way they get funding(salaries) for their jobs from western countries. They dont work with governments, they only work with the terrorists. Its a fact! Just think about, how much of the money donated to these so called NGOs reach the people? probably 5% or so.
Audit and keep these NGOs in check!
A wateful rhetoric. It is time for the "stick". Strict economic sanctions should be brought against Rajapakse regime.
The people are with the govt This has become a thorn in the eyes of the international community and the AI,cpa and any other western stooge.Mugabe did the right thing for his people its a pity there was not one with such vision in SL..I do not expect you to publish this .as i am not beating your drum.
This is another example that how SL Government is witch hunting some NGO which criticises the ruling people. These organizations are internally reputable organizations.
If these are treated like shit, you may imagine how powerless Tamils would have been treated in the REHABILITATION/LIBERATON (CONCENTRATION) camps, in their villages.