![]() ![]() ![]() "This type of surveillance and harassment appears to be getting worse in Sri Lanka, which is a country where critical voices are quite often attacked or even permanently silenced. She said it was disturbing to hear reports of military or police visiting and questioning villagers with whom she spoke in the former war zone and alleged intimidation of rights activists she met with. "The controversial impeachment of the chief justice earlier this year and apparent politicization of senior judicial appointments have shaken confidence in the independence of the judiciary," she said.ĭescribing her visit to the former war zone in the north of Sri Lanka, Pillay said that she was concerned about the increasing military involvement in civilian affairs and urged the government to speed up demilitarization. "The war may have ended, but in the meantime democracy has been undermined and the rule of law eroded," Pillay said, citing the government's move three years ago to abolish provisions for independent police, judiciary and human rights commissions, and give the president the power to appoint officials to the commissions. She is to report her findings to the UN Human Rights Council next month. In a hard-hitting statement ending a weeklong visit to assess the human rights situation in Sri Lanka, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said she was "deeply concerned that Sri Lanka, despite the opportunity provided by the end of the war to construct a new vibrant all-embracing state, is showing signs of heading in an increasingly authoritarian direction."ĭuring her stay, Pillay met government officials, politicians, rights activists and people affected by the war. The United Nations rights chief has chastised the Sri Lankan government, saying it is showing signs of heading in an increasingly authoritarian direction despite the end of a civil war four years ago.
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