ASSASSINATION IS THE ANTITHESIS OF DEMOCRATIC RULE OF LAW

The assassination of TNA Member of Parliament for the Jaffna District, K Sivanesan on his way home to his family and four children after in voting in Parliament is an abominable crime. He was killed in a claymore mine explosion within LTTE-controlled territory in the Wanni where his home was. The National Peace Council condemns this assassination of an elected Parliamentarian. So far three TNA parliamentarians have been assassinated since the resumption of fighting in 2005. This continuing pattern is the antithesis of the democratic rule of law that Sri Lanka needs to attain.

The LTTE has claimed that the killing was by deep penetration units of the Sri Lankan military. This has been denied by the Sri Lankan military who have claimed that the LTTE is responsible. The inability of the institutions of law and justice in the country to ascertain the facts in a credible manner is a great weakness that requires remedial action.

In this context of continuing impunity, NPC regrets the departure of the Independent International Group of Eminent Persons who were invited to Sri Lanka by the government to give much needed credibility and technical assistance to the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into Serious Human Rights Violations. The IIEGP statement that they did not receive the necessary cooperation and respect by the Sri Lankan authorities is a matter of serious concern, as much hope was pinned on it in putting the brakes on the impunity that currently prevails.

In these circumstances, NPC reiterates its call to the government to implement the 17th Amendment to the constitution which will enable the establishment of credible and independent institutions of state, including the police, judiciary and Human Rights Commission. In the absence of such national institutions, we are left with no choice but to join the growing chorus of calls for a credible international human rights monitoring mechanism to be established in the country.