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>u¬ãQˆ¿ö!??ôâEÓà@GG*“àHUMAN€RIGHTS€COMMITTEEˆÐ ¿] ÐÌà@««+“àFifty„fourth€sessionˆÐ Eã ÐÌà@‹ ‹ #“àSUMMARY€RECORD€OF€THE€1436th€MEETINGˆÐ Ëi ÐÌà@õ õ "“àHeld€at€the€Ô_ÔPalaisÔ_Ô€des€Nations,€Geneva,ˆÐ Qï Ðà@½ ½ $“àon€Monday,€24€July€1995,€at€10€a.m.ˆÐ ² ÐÌà@éé'“àòòChairmanóó:€€Mr.€Ô_ÔAGUILARÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔURBINAÔ_ԈРš8 ÐÌÌà@1“àCONTENTSˆÐ ã  ÐÌCONSIDERATION€OF€REPORTS€SUBMITTED€BY€STATES€PARTIES€UNDER€ARTICLE€40€OF€THEÐ i" ÐCOVENANT€(òòcontinuedóó)€Ð ,Ê# ÐÌà b àòòThird€periodic€report€of€Sri€LankaóóÐ ²P% ÐÌÌÌÌÌÌß?€' ô#ÒdE+#Ñ?ßÐ #¥", ÐÌà b àThis€record€is€subject€to€correction.Ð Û#y#. ÐÌà b àCorrections€should€be€submitted€in€one€of€the€working€languages.€€TheyÐ a%ÿ$0 Ðshould€be€set€forth€in€a€memorandum€and€also€incorporated€in€a€copy€of€theÐ $&Â%1 Ðrecord.€€They€should€be€sent€òòwithin€one€week€of€the€date€of€this€documentóó€toÐ ç&…&2 Ðthe€Official€Records€Editing€Section,€room€E.4108,€Ô_ÔPalaisÔ_Ô€des€Nations,€Geneva.Ð ª'H'3 ÐÌà b àAny€corrections€to€the€records€of€the€public€meetings€of€the€CommitteeÐ 0)Î(5 Ðatthis€session€will€be€consolidated€in€a€single€corrigendum,€to€be€issuedÐ ó)‘)6 Ðshortly€after€the€end€of€the€session.Ð ¶*T*7 ÐÌÌÌÌÔå.å.ƒ.….#.ÔGE.95„17706€(E)Ð å.ƒ.< ÐÌÐ k0 0> ÐÔ_ÔÑØRÑÑ}‰ÑÖ€ÿÿÖÖ€ÿÿÖÓB.++b™ Ð >u¬ãQˆ¿ö!++7BÓà@É É “àòòThe€meeting€was€called€to€order€at€10.10€a.m.óóˆÐ É ÐÌCONSIDERATION€OF€REPORTS€SUBMITTED€BY€STATES€PARTIES€UNDER€ARTICLE40€OF€THEÐ O† ÐCOVENANT€(agenda€item€4)€(òòcontinuedóó)Ð I ÐÌòòThird€periodic€report€of€Sri€Lankaóó€(CCPR/C/70/Add.6;€HRI/CORE/1/Add.48)Ð ˜Ï ÐÌ1.à b àòòAt€the€invitation€of€the€Chairman,€Mr.€Goonetilleke,€Mr.€Perera,Ð  U ÐMs.Wijewardena€and€Mr.AbdulAzeez€(SriLanka)€took€places€at€the€CommitteeÐ á  Ðtableóó.Ð ¤ Û  ÐÌ2.à b àòòMr.€GOONETILLEKEóó€(Sri€Lanka)€thanked€the€Committee€for€its€understandingÐ * a  Ðattitude€concerning€the€delay€in€the€submission€of€his€country's€thirdÐ í $  Ðperiodic€report€(CCPR/C/70/Add.6)€and€renewed€his€Government's€commitment€toÐ °ç  Ðcontinued€dialogue€and€cooperation€with€all€human€rights€bodies€of€theÐ sª  ÐUnitedNations€system€as€well€as€non-governmental€organizations€(NGOs)€activeÐ 6m  Ðin€the€field€of€human€rights.€€He€drew€attention€to€the€supplementaryÐ ù0  Ðinformation€contained€in€an€unnumbered€document€distributed€by€his€delegation.Ð ¼ó  ÐÌ3.à b àThe€new€Government€of€the€People's€Alliance€Party€had€come€to€powerÐ By Ðfollowing€elections€in€1994€on€a€platform€that€included€commitments€to€aÐ < Ðnegotiated€political€settlement€of€the€conflict€in€the€Northern€andÐ Èÿ ÐEasternProvinces;€to€the€promotion€and€protection€of€human€rights;€and€toÐ ‹Â Ðconstitutional€reforms,€including€the€devolution€of€authority€to€addressÐ N… Ðconcerns,€notably€the€concerns€of€minority€groups,€at€the€provincial€level.€Ð H ÐSpeaking€in€the€UnitedNations€GeneralAssembly€at€its€forty-ninth€session,€Ð Ô  Ðthe€Minister€for€Foreign€Affairs€had€identified€a€"global€social€contract"Ð —Î Ðwhose€postulates€were€good€governance,€the€maintenance€of€human€rights,€equityÐ Z‘ Ðand€justice,€and€the€provision€of€opportunities€to€enhance€the€quality€ofÐ T Ðlife;€he€had€pointed€out€that,€in€SriLanka,€the€contract€involved€politicalÐ à Ðpluralism€and€decision-making€that€was€transparent€and€as€widely€accepted€asÐ £Ú Ðpossible,€all€who€took€part€in€public€life€being€accountable€for€theirÐ f Ðactions.Ð )`  ÐÌ4.à b àAs€would€be€seen€from€the€supplementary€information€to€which€he€hadÐ ¯æ" Ðreferred,€much€had€already€been€done€to€introduce€legislative,€executive€andÐ r©# Ðadministrative€changes€that€would,€among€other€things,€enhance€SriLanka'sÐ 5 l$ Ðposition€as€a€party€to€the€Covenant.Ð ø /% ÐÌ5.à b àAt€the€top€of€the€Government's€agenda€was€a€negotiated€politicalÐ ~"µ' Ðsettlement€of€issues€affecting€the€people€of€the€North€and€the€East;€to€thatÐ A#x( Ðend,€it€had,€soon€after€assuming€office,€begun€talks€with€the€LiberationÐ $;) ÐTigers€of€Tamil€Eelam€(LTTE),€having€first€relaxed€the€embargo€enforced€forÐ Ç$þ* Ðsecurity€reasons€during€the€previous€administration.€€The€principal€objectivesÐ Š%Á + Ðof€the€Government€were€the€alleviation€of€hardship€suffered€by€the€TamilÐ M&„!, Ðpeople€in€the€North€due€to€the€conflict;€the€conclusion€of€a€cessation€ofÐ 'G"- Ðhostilities€agreement€with€the€LTTE;€and€a€durable€solution€to€the€problems€ofÐ Ó' #. Ðthe€Tamils€through€the€commencement€of€a€political€dialogue.€€Adhering€to€aÐ –(Í#/ Ðconsistent€policy€which€recognized€the€responsibility€and€duty€of€the€State€toÐ Y)$0 Ðprovide€for€the€essential€needs€of€the€entire€population,€the€Government€hadÐ *S%1 Ðlifted€many€of€the€restrictions€on€the€transport€of€certain€items€to€the€NorthÐ ß*&2 Ðand€the€East,€substantially€reduced€the€prohibition€on€fishing€in€certainÐ ¢+Ù&3 Ðwaters€and€prepared€a€comprehensive€rehabilitation€and€reconstruction€packageÐ e,œ'4 Ðvalued€at€39billion€rupees€(approximately€$780million).€€Steps€had€beenÐ (-_(5 Ðtaken€to€facilitate€the€free€movement€of€people€and€goods€to€and€from€theÐ É ÐJaffnaPeninsula.€€The€Cessation€of€Hostilities€Agreement€concluded€with€theÐ ŒÃ ÐLTTE€on€8January1995€had€been€followed€by€the€creation€of€"Peace€Committees"Ð O† Ðheaded€by€representatives€of€the€Governments€of€Canada,€the€Netherlands€andÐ I ÐNorway.Ð Õ  ÐÌ6.à b àRegrettably,€the€LTTE€had€failed€to€respond€to€the€initiatives€of€theÐ [ ’ ÐGovernment,€raising€new€issues€and€making€new€demands.€€NotwithstandingÐ  U Ðthemilitary€implications€of€those€claims,€the€Government€had€undertakenÐ á  Ðtoconsider€them€within€three€months€and€had€made€further€concessions,Ð ¤ Û  Ðforexample€permitting€the€free€movement€of€armed€LTTE€cadres€in€theÐ g ž  ÐEasternProvince.Ð * a  ÐÌ7.à b àThe€LTTE's€refusal€to€enter€into€serious€political€dialogue€and€acceptÐ °ç  Ðforeign€mediation€had€been€followed€by€its€unilateral€resumption€ofÐ sª  Ðhostilities€on€19April,€resulting€in€hundreds€of€deaths,€the€interruption€ofÐ 6m  Ðthe€peace€initiative,€and€opprobrium€from€the€international€community.€€ForÐ ù0  Ðits€part,€the€Government,€recognizing€in€the€resumption€of€hostilities€the€Ð ¼ó  Ðpotential€for€transgression€of€human€rights,€had€taken€immediate€steps€toÐ ¶  Ðprevent€retaliatory€attacks€and€to€deal€firmly€with€certain€incidents€ofÐ By Ðviolence€occurring€in€the€South.€€It€nevertheless€remained€committed€to€theÐ < Ðpolitical€settlement€of€the€problems€involving€the€North€and€the€East€andÐ Èÿ Ðdetermined€to€do€everything€in€its€power€to€transform€the€firm€desire€of€allÐ ‹Â Ðthe€people€for€lasting€peace€into€reality.Ð N… ÐÌ8.à b àA€Select€Committee€of€Parliament€had€been€set€up€to€examine€the€questionÐ Ô  Ðof€constitutional€reforms.€€One€of€its€most€significant€and€important€tasksÐ —Î Ðwas€to€prepare€a€set€of€proposals€on€fundamental€rights,€with€due€reference€toÐ Z‘ Ðinternational€instruments€including€the€Covenant€and€the€European€ConventionÐ T Ðon€Human€Rights.Ð à ÐÌ9.à b àThe€principal€features€of€the€proposed€reforms€could€be€summarized€underÐ f Ðfive€main€headings.€€First€was€the€incorporation€of€new€rights€which€did€notÐ )`  Ðfind€expression€in€the€present€Constitution:€€the€right€to€life,€liberty€andÐ ì#! Ðsecurity€of€person,€to€own€property€and€to€freedom€from€unlawful€interferenceÐ ¯æ" Ðwith€one's€privacy.€€Next€came€expansion€of€the€scope€of€existing€rights,€withÐ r©# Ðproposals€covering€a€range€of€civil€and€political€rights,€notably€thoseÐ 5 l$ Ðguaranteeing€freedom€from€arbitrary€arrest,€detention€and€punishment:€€theÐ ø /% Ðoverall€aim€was€to€transform€established€principles€of€criminal€law€andÐ »!ò& Ðprocedure€into€constitutional€guarantees.€€Thirdly,€existing€constraints€onÐ ~"µ' Ðthe€exercise€of€fundamental€rights€under€the€Constitution€would€be€reviewedÐ A#x( Ðand€formulated€in€precise€terms,€with€due€regard€for€the€provisions€of€theÐ $;) ÐCovenant.€€Also€to€be€reviewed€was€the€current€distinction€between€citizensÐ Ç$þ* Ðand€non„citizens€with€respect€to€the€enjoyment€of€certain€fundamental€rights:€Ð Š%Á + Ðproposals€related€to€freedom€of€movement€and€of€speech€and€expression,Ð M&„!, Ðincluding€publication€and€the€right€to€peaceful€assembly,€had€been€tabled.€Ð 'G"- ÐLastly,€provision€was€made€for€a€new€procedure€for€petitioning€the€SupremeÐ Ó' #. ÐCourt€in€regard€to€the€infringement€of€fundamental€rights:€€a€relative€orÐ –(Í#/ Ðfriend€would€be€able€to€make€representations€on€behalf€of€a€person€unable€orÐ Y)$0 Ðincapable€of€doing€so;€any€person€or€body€of€persons€would€have€access€to€theÐ *S%1 ÐCourt€if€the€application€was€in€the€public€interest,€thereby€opening€the€wayÐ ß*&2 Ðto€public„interest€litigation.€€Ð ¢+Ù&3 Ðâ âÐ e,œ'4 Ð10.à b àThe€important€legislative,€executive€and€administrative€measures€adoptedÐ É Ðâ âby€the€present€Government€were€set€out€in€detail€in€the€supplementaryÐ ŒÃ Ðinformation€document€distributed€to€members€of€the€Committee.€€He€singled€outÐ O† Ðthe€progress€made€on€draft€legislation€relating€to€the€establishment€of€aÐ I ÐNational€Human€Rights€Commission;€the€adoption€by€Parliament€in€November€1994Ð Õ  Ðof€the€Convention€against€Torture€Act;€the€adoption€of€legislation€to€provideÐ ˜Ï Ðfor€the€registration€of€deaths€and€the€issue€of€death€certificates€in€respectÐ [ ’ Ðof€persons€reported€missing€and€believed€to€be€dead€so€that€mechanisms€forÐ  U Ðcompensation€might€be€set€in€motion;€executive€and€administrative€measures€forÐ á  Ðthe€active€promotion€and€protection€of€human€rights,€notably€throughÐ ¤ Û  Ðpresidential€directives€addressed€to€the€heads€of€the€armed€forces€and€theÐ g ž  Ðpolice€as€part€of€a€wide€range€of€activities€within€the€framework€of€the€HumanÐ * a  ÐRights€Task€Force€(HRTF);€the€establishment€of€regional€commissions€to€inquireÐ í $  Ðinto€matters€relating€to€missing€persons€with€a€view€to€providing€relief€toÐ °ç  Ðtheir€families;€the€enactment€of€legislation€to€render€the€office€of€theÐ sª  ÐOmbudsman,€created€in€1981,€more€effective,€expeditious€and€accessible;€theÐ 6m  Ðappointment€of€a€committee€to€inquire€into€matters€relating€to€personsÐ ù0  Ðdetained€under€the€Prevention€of€Terrorism€Act€and€the€Emergency€Regulations,Ð ¼ó  Ðwhich€had€already€submitted€important€recommendations€on€the€revocation€ofÐ ¶  Ðdetention€orders;€and€the€appointment€by€the€President€of€a€one-man€commissionÐ By Ðto€inquire€into€the€consequences€of€violence€at€the€time€of€the€parliamentaryÐ < Ðelections€in€August€1994€and€recommend€compensation€for€dependants€of€personsÐ Èÿ Ðwho€had€lost€their€lives€on€that€occasion.€Ð ‹Â ÐÌ11.à b àIn€conclusion,€he€stressed€that€the€Government€was€determined€to€achieveÐ H Ðnational€consensus€on€a€package€of€constitutional€reforms€including€proposalsÐ Ô  Ðfor€devolution€and€addressing€in€particular€the€legitimate€aspirations€ofÐ —Î Ðminorities.€€It€was€a€matter€of€satisfaction€that€the€Select€Committee€ofÐ Z‘ ÐParliament€had€reached€agreement€on€the€chapters€relating€to€fundamentalÐ T Ðrights,€language€provisions,€the€directive€principles€of€State€policy,€theÐ à Ðpublic€service€and€the€Constitutional€Council.€€The€Government€was€expected€toÐ £Ú Ðannounce€the€details€of€the€political€package€in€the€near€future.€€Ð f ÐÌòòóó12.à b àòòThe€CHAIRMANóó€invited€the€Sri€Lankan€delegation€to€respond€to€theÐ ì#! Ðquestions€in€section€I€of€the€list€of€issues,€which€read:Ð ¯æ" ÐÌà0 b à"I.à0™ bü#bü#àòòConstitutional€and€legal€framework€within€which€the€CovenantÐ 5 l$ Ðisimplemented;€non„discrimination€and€equality€of€the€sexes;Ð ø /% Ðstateof€emergency;€right€to€take€part€in€the€conduct€ofÐ »!ò& Ðpublicaffairs;€and€rights€of€persons€belonging€to€minoritiesóóÐ ~"µ' Ð(arts.€2,€4,€25€and€27)ÐA#x(™ ü#™ ü# ÐÌà0 b àà ™ à(a)à Ð àIn€the€light€of€the€discussion€that€took€place€during€theÐ Ç$þ* Ðconsideration€of€the€second€periodic€report,€please€clarify€whether€theÐ Š%Á + Ðproposed€Seventeenth€Amendment€to€the€Constitution€has€been€adopted€and,Ð M&„!, Ðif€so,€in€which€ways€it€has€enhanced€the€enjoyment€of€the€rightsÐ 'G"- Ðprotected€under€the€Covenant.ÐÓ' #.bü#bü# ÐÌà0 b àà ™ à(b)à Ð àIs€any€step€envisaged€to€harmonize€the€contents€ofÐ Y)$0 Ðrestrictions€and€derogations€to€the€exercise€of€human€rights€as€providedÐ *S%1 Ðfor€under€article€15€of€the€Constitution€with€corresponding€provisions€inÐ ß*&2 Ðthe€Covenant€(see€paras.€22€and€23€of€the€report)?Т+Ù&3bü#bü# Ðâ âÐ e,œ'4 Ðà0 b àà ™ à(c)à Ð àWhat€has€been€the€impact€of€the€imposition€of€successiveÐ É Ðâ âstates€of€emergency€on€the€exercise€of€the€rights€guaranteed€underÐ ŒÃ Ðarticles€1,€4,€25€and€27€of€the€Covenant?€€Please€clarify€what€safeguardsÐ O† Ðand€remedies€have€been€available€to€individuals,€and€what€status€has€beenÐ I Ðaccorded€to€the€rights€enumerated€in€article€4,€paragraph€2,€of€theÐ Õ  ÐCovenant€(see€para.€30€of€the€report).ИÏbü#bü# ÐÌà0 b àà ™ à(d)à Ð àPlease€provide€detailed€information€on€the€powers,€functionsÐ  U Ðand€activities€of€the€Advisory€Committee€mentioned€in€paragraph€29€of€theÐ á  Ðreport€which€has€been€established€under€the€Emergency€Regulations€toÐ ¤ Û  Ðreceive€individual€complaints.€€Has€the€draft€legislation€for€theÐ g ž  Ðestablishment€of€a€Human€Rights€Commission€in€Sri€Lanka,€mentioned€inÐ * a  Ðparagraph€60€of€the€core€document,€been€adopted?€€Please€clarify€theÐ í $  Ðrelationship€of€these€bodies€with€other€State€organs,€including€theÐ °ç  Ðcourts.Ðsª bü#bü# ÐÌà0 b àà ™ à(e)à Ð àPlease€clarify€which€set€of€rules€is€applicable€during€statesÐ ù0  Ðof€emergency.€€Are€there€rules€other€than€those€set€forth€in€theÐ ¼ó  ÐEmergency€Regulations?ж bü#bü# ÐÌà0 b àà ™ à(f)à Ð àPlease€provide€further€information€on€measures€taken€toÐ < Ðimplement€article€27,€paragraph€5,€of€the€Constitution,€which€purports€toÐ Èÿ Ðpromote€cooperation€and€mutual€confidence€among€all€sections€of€theÐ ‹Â Ðpopulation,€including€minority€groups.ÐN…bü#bü# ÐÌà0 b àà ™ à(g)à Ð àIn€the€light€of€the€discussion€that€took€place€during€theÐ Ô  Ðconsideration€of€the€second€periodic€report,€please€clarify€what€measuresÐ —Î Ðhave€been€taken€to€ensure€equitable€access€to€public€services€for€personsÐ Z‘ Ðbelonging€to€minorities,€particularly€through€the€introduction€of€'ethnicÐ T Ðrecruitment€quotas'.Ðàbü#bü# ÐÌà0 b àà ™ à(h)à Ð àWhat€measures€have€been€taken€and€what€progress€has€beenÐ f Ðachieved€in€ensuring€gender€equality€in€Sri€Lanka€in€promoting€theÐ )`  Ðparticipation€of€women€at€all€levels€of€the€political,€economic€andÐ ì#! Ðsocial€life€of€the€country,€and€in€particular€that€of€women€who€professÐ ¯æ" Ðdifferent€religions€existing€in€the€country?Ðr©#bü#bü# ÐÌà0 b àà ™ à(i)à Ð àWhat€steps€have€been€taken€to€disseminate€information€on€theÐ ø /% Ðrights€recognized€in€the€Covenant?€€Has€the€public€been€informed€of€theÐ »!ò& ÐHuman€Rights€Committee's€consideration€of€the€report?"Ð~"µ'bü#bü# ÐÌ13.à b àòòMr.€PERERAóó€(Sri€Lanka),€responding€to€the€questions€under€paragraph(a),Ð $;) Ðsaid€that€as€a€consequence€of€the€interruption€of€all-party€consultations€onÐ Ç$þ* Ðthe€subject,€the€Seventeenth€Amendment€to€the€Constitution€had€not€beenÐ Š%Á + Ðadopted.€€The€issues€addressed€in€that€Amendment,€such€as€freedom€fromÐ M&„!, Ðarbitrary€arrest,€the€right€to€life,€the€scope€of€restrictions€on€fundamentalÐ 'G"- Ðrights€and€the€question€of€collective€action€to€protect€those€rights€were,Ð Ó' #. Ðhowever,€considered€to€be€covered€by€the€proposed€constitutional€reforms€beingÐ –(Í#/ Ðdiscussed€in€the€Select€Committee€of€Parliament€which,€he€understood,€hadÐ Y)$0 Ðalready€reached€agreement.Ð *S%1 ÐÌÌ14.à b àConcerning€question€(b),€he€confirmed€that,€as€part€of€the€constitutionalÐ e,œ'4 Ðreform€process,€the€scope€of€restrictions€and€derogations€to€the€exercise€ofÐ (-_(5 Ðhuman€rights€as€provided€for€under€article15€of€the€Constitution€was€beingÐ É Ðnarrowed€with€the€aim€of€harmonization€with€the€provisions€of€the€Covenant.€Ð ŒÃ ÐDetails€would€be€published€shortly.Ð O† ÐÌ15.à b àRegarding€the€questions€in€paragraph€(c),€he€pointed€out€that€the€purposeÐ Õ  Ðof€the€Emergency€Regulations€was€to€deal€with€exceptional€situations€in€theÐ ˜Ï Ðinterest€of€public€security,€including€the€preservation€of€public€order€andÐ [ ’ Ðthe€maintenance€of€essential€supplies€and€services.€€The€Regulations€were€ofÐ  U Ðgeneral€application€and€singled€out€no€particular€group;€no€discriminationÐ á  Ðwhatsoever€was€involved;€nor€did€they€affect€in€any€way€the€rights€guaranteedÐ ¤ Û  Ðunder€articles1,€4,€25€and€27€of€the€Covenant.€€At€present,€the€RegulationsÐ g ž  Ðwere€in€force€in€the€Northern€and€Eastern€Provinces€and€certain€adjacentÐ * a  Ðareas,€and€in€the€city€and€suburbs€of€Colombo.€€Adequate€safeguards€and€accessÐ í $  Ðto€remedies€existed€through€the€advisory€committees€empowered€to€hearÐ °ç  Ðgrievances,€the€reinvigorated€Human€Rights€Task€Force€(HRTF)€and€theÐ sª  Ðdirectives€issued€by€the€President€to€the€heads€of€the€security€and€policeÐ 6m  Ðforces.Ð ù0  Ѐ€Ð ¼ó  Ð16.à b àTurning€to€paragraph(d),€he€said€that€the€Advisory€Committee€comprisedÐ ¶  Ðaminimum€of€three€persons€appointed€by€the€President€and€reporting€to€theÐ By ÐMinister€of€Defence.€€A€second€advisory€body,€appointed€by€the€latter€in€1987Ð < Ðand€headed€by€two€retired€judges€of€the€Court€of€Appeal,€made€recommendationsÐ Èÿ Ðto€the€Minister€concerning€the€release,€rehabilitation€or€prosecution€ofÐ ‹Â Ðsuspected€terrorists€held€in€detention;€it€was€extremely€active€and€engaged€in€Ð N… Ðfact-finding€and€the€processing€of€representations€not€only€from€arrestedÐ H Ðsuspects€but€also€from€persons€who€had€surrendered€to€the€authorities€andÐ Ô  Ðadmitted€their€involvement€in€terrorist€activities;€it€was€empowered€to€actÐ —Î Ðonits€own€initiative€in€launching€inquiries€on€the€basis€of€independentÐ Z‘ Ðinformation€received.Ð T ÐÌ17.à b àAs€already€stated,€draft€legislation€for€the€establishment€of€a€HumanÐ £Ú ÐRights€Commission€would€be€set€before€Parliament€shortly;€broad€consultationsÐ f Ðhad€been€held€and€close€attention€had€been€paid€to€international€standards€inÐ )`  Ðattempting€to€ensure€the€impartiality€and€independence€of€that€body€in€bothÐ ì#! Ðits€membership€and€functions.€€As€to€its€relationship€with€other€State€organs,Ð ¯æ" Ðincluding€the€courts,€the€Commission€would€inquire€into€any€appeals-relatedÐ r©# Ðmatter€referred€to€it€by€the€Supreme€Court,€reporting€back€to€the€Court€withinÐ 5 l$ Ðan€established€time-limit.€€Where,€in€the€course€of€an€investigation€by€theÐ ø /% ÐCommission,€the€scope€of€a€fundamental€right€was€called€in€question,€theÐ »!ò& ÐCommission€might€refer€the€matter€to€the€Supreme€Court€for€determination,€inÐ ~"µ' Ðaccordance€with€article125€of€the€Constitution.€€Legislation€establishing€theÐ A#x( ÐHuman€Rights€Commission€would€also€provide€that€all€arrests€and€detentionsÐ $;) Ðunder€the€Prevention€of€Terrorism€Act€and€the€Emergency€Regulations€must€beÐ Ç$þ* Ðreported€to€it;€the€Commission€must€be€informed€of,€and€have€access€to,€placesÐ Š%Á + Ðof€detention.Ð M&„!, ÐÌ18.à b àTurning€to€question€(e),€he€said€that€the€Emergency€Regulations€currentlyÐ Ó' #. Ðapplicable€were€set€out€in€the€Official€Gazette€of€4€November€1994.€€TheÐ –(Í#/ ÐEmergency€Regulation€establishing€the€Human€Rights€Task€Force€(HRTF)€hadÐ Y)$0 Ðbeenenacted€on€7€June€1995€and€the€directives€thereunder€had€been€issuedÐ *S%1 Ðbythe€President€to€the€heads€of€the€armed€forces€and€the€police€forceÐ ß*&2 Ðon14June€1995.€€The€Emergency€Regulations€reflected€a€number€of€changes,Ð ¢+Ù&3 Ðincluding€the€establishment€of€the€HRTF€with€corresponding€reportingÐ e,œ'4 Ðobligations.€€A€Regulation€relating€to€the€burial€or€cremation€of€dead€bodiesÐ (-_(5 Ðhad€been€removed,€making€it€unnecessary€to€comply€with€the€procedure€relatingÐ É Ðto€inquests;€it€had€been€replaced€by€Regulations44€to€46,€with€safeguardsÐ ŒÃ Ðsuch€as€post-mortem€inquiry€by€a€magistrate€and€inquiry€by€the€HighCourt.€Ð O† ÐThe€maximum€period€for€holding€persons€who€had€surrendered€hadpreviouslyÐ I Ðbeen21days;€since€1993,€under€Regulation22.2,€it€had€been7days.€€TheÐ Õ  ÐRegulations€gave€recognition€to€the€Committee€set€up€under€the€Ministry€ofÐ ˜Ï ÐDefence€which€performed€various€functions€related€to€detainees,€includingÐ [ ’ Ðtheir€rehabilitation,€and€had€the€power€to€investigate€on€its€own€initiative.€Ð  U ÐThe€offences€of€incitement€and€sedition€had€been€removed€from€the€EmergencyÐ á  ÐRegulations€in€1993,€briefly€reintroduced€thereafter€but€removed€againÐ ¤ Û  Ðin1994.€€The€period€of€detention€under€Emergency€Regulation18€had€beenÐ g ž  Ðreduced€from€90days€to€60days€in€the€North€and€East€of€the€country€and€toÐ * a  Ð7days€elsewhere.€€Provisions€on€incommunicado€detention€gave€access€toÐ í $  Ðnext-of-kin€and€lawyers,€and€detainees€were€no€longer€held€for€long€periodsÐ °ç  Ðunder€the€Emergency€Regulations;€after€the€initial€investigation€they€wereÐ sª  Ðeither€released€or€produced€in€court€and€remanded€in€custody.€€The€originalÐ 6m  ÐRegulations€had€consisted€of€72provisions€covering€a€range€of€offences.€Ð ù0  ÐManyhad€since€been€deleted,€and€57€provisions€were€currently€in€force.Ð ¼ó  ÐÌ19.à b àTurning€to€question(f),€he€said€that€his€Government€gave€the€highestÐ By Ðpriority€to€the€promotion€of€cooperation€and€mutual€confidence€among€allÐ < Ðsections€of€the€population,€including€minority€groups.€€The€present€GovernmentÐ Èÿ Ðhad€established€the€Ministry€of€Ethnic€Affairs€and€National€Integration€as€aÐ ‹Â Ðstep€towards€bringing€about€reconciliation€of€all€people€of€every€race,Ð N… Ðreligion€and€political€opinion€in€order€to€ensure€that€Sri€Lanka€was€equallyÐ H Ðthe€land€of€all€of€its€people.€€The€Ministry€functioned€directly€under€theÐ Ô  ÐPresident.€€It€was€recognized€that,€in€a€multi-ethnic€and€multilingual€societyÐ —Î Ðsuch€as€SriLanka,€ignorance€of€the€language€of€other€ethnic€groups€could€be€aÐ Z‘ Ðcause€of€contention€and€marginalization,€and€that€every€citizen€should€knowÐ T Ðall€three€of€Sri€Lanka's€languages,€including€his€or€her€mother€tongue.€€TheÐ à ÐEducation€Department€had€taken€measures€to€teach€Sinhala€and€English€inÐ £Ú ÐTamil-medium€schools€and€Tamil€and€English€in€Sinhala-medium€schools.€€TheÐ f Ð"Peace€through€Language"€programme€of€the€Department€of€Official€LanguagesÐ )`  Ðassisted€public€servants€in€gaining€proficiency€in€all€three€languages.€€TheÐ ì#! ÐWhite€Lotus€Movement,€launched€by€the€President€on€8July1995,€sought€toÐ ¯æ" Ðensure€communal€harmony€by€putting€across€the€message€of€peace€and€oneÐ r©# ÐSriLankan€identity,€and€to€defeat€separatist€politics;€its€message€was€to€beÐ 5 l$ Ðcarried€to€grass-roots€level,€and€in€particular€to€schoolchildren.€€At€theÐ ø /% Ðdistrict€and€provincial€levels,€there€were€citizens'€committees€and€peaceÐ »!ò& Ðcommittees€comprising€representatives€of€all€sections€of€the€population,Ð ~"µ' Ðincluding€minority€groups;€they€were€aimed€at€promoting€peace€and€harmonyÐ A#x( Ðamong€the€various€sections€of€the€SriLankan€community,€and€closely€interactedÐ $;) Ðwith€and€were€encouraged€by€the€organs€of€Government€in€the€common€interest€ofÐ Ç$þ* Ðthe€promotion€of€human€rights€and€fundamental€freedoms.Ð Š%Á + ÐÌ20.à b àTurning€to€question(g),€he€said€that€article12,€paragraph€2,€of€theÐ 'G"- ÐSriLankan€Constitution€provided€for€equitable€access€to€public€service.€Ð Ó' #. ÐCircular15€of€1990€of€the€Ministry€of€Public€Administration€guaranteed€theÐ –(Í#/ Ðapplication€of€ethnic€quotas€which€were€adhered€to€in€recruitment€to€theÐ Y)$0 Ðpublic€service.€€Recruitment€at€the€national,€provincial€and€districtÐ *S%1 Ðlevelswas€to€be€in€line€with€the€respective€ethnic€proportions€at€thoseÐ ß*&2 Ðlevels.€€Overall,€members€of€the€Sinhala€community€were€to€fill€75percentÐ ¢+Ù&3 Ðofthe€total€number€of€vacancies,€Tamils€12.7percent,€persons€ofÐ e,œ'4 ÐIndianorigin€5.5percent€and€Muslims€8percent,€with€a€permissibleÐ (-_(5 Ðvariation€of€òò+óó€2percent.€€A€recent€Supreme€Court€judgement€in€the€case€ofÐ É ÐòòRamuppillai€v.€the€Attorney-Generalóó€had€held€that€any€application€of€ethnicÐ ŒÃ Ðquotas€to€promotions€in€the€public€service€was€not€justified€in€the€light€ofÐ O† Ðarticle12€of€the€Constitution.€€The€Supreme€Court€had€also€expressed€strongÐ I Ðreservations€concerning€the€principle€of€ethnic€quotas€being€used€even€forÐ Õ  Ðrecruitment€to€the€public€service,€although€that€had€not€the€issue€before€theÐ ˜Ï Ðcourt.€€There€had€also€been€fundamental€rights€applications€filed€in€theÐ [ ’ ÐSupreme€Court€where€persons€from€minority€groups€had€alleged€that€despiteÐ  U Ðbeing€favourably€placed€in€the€order€of€merit€they€had€not€been€appointedÐ á  Ðbecause€of€the€application€of€ethnic€quotas€under€Circular15€of€1990,€therebyÐ ¤ Û  Ðchallenging€that€application.€€The€State€had€agreed€to€settle€those€casesÐ g ž  Ðwithout€adjudication,€concluding€that€the€ethnic€quota€circular€wasÐ * a  Ðinconsistent€with€article12€of€the€Constitution.€€However,€to€address€theÐ í $  Ðanomaly,€certain€proposals€had€been€made€to€the€Select€Committee€of€ParliamentÐ °ç  Ðconsidering€amendments€to€the€Constitution€to€the€effect€that€it€should€amendÐ sª  Ðarticle12€to€permit€benefits€to€be€conferred€upon€certain€groups€andÐ 6m  Ðdisadvantaged€sections€of€the€population€by€executive€measures,€thusÐ ù0  Ðpermitting€the€adoption€of€ethnic€quotas€in€employment.Ð ¼ó  ÐÌ21.à b àAs€for€question€(h),€he€said€that€article€12,€paragraphs€2€and€3,€of€theÐ By ÐConstitution€guaranteed€that€no€citizen€should€be€discriminated€against€orÐ < Ðsubject€to€any€social€disability€on€grounds€of€sex.€€Equality€between€theÐ Èÿ Ðsexes€was€guaranteed€in€education,€employment€and€political€participation.€Ð ‹Â ÐUniversal€adult€franchise€had€been€introduced€in€1931,€and€SriLanka€had€hadÐ N… Ðthe€first€female€head€of€State€in€the€world;€the€current€President€andÐ H ÐPrimeMinister,€as€well€as€a€number€of€Cabinet€Ministers€and€MPs€were€women.€Ð Ô  ÐSri€Lanka€had€ratified€the€Convention€on€the€Elimination€of€All€Forms€ofÐ —Î ÐDiscrimination€against€Women€in€1981,€as€well€as€ILO€Conventions€on€equalÐ Z‘ Ðremuneration€and€maternity€benefits.€€Maternity€leave€had€been€extended€toÐ T Ðthree€months€for€both€the€private€and€public€sectors€in€1985€and€1988Ð à Ðrespectively.€€Many€statutes€in€SriLanka€dealt€with€the€situation€of€women€inÐ £Ú Ðregard€to€family€relations,€employment€and€economic€rights,€and€conferredÐ f Ðequal€status€on€men€and€women.€€The€Married€Women's€Property€Ordinance€of€1923Ð )`  Ðgave€non„Muslim€women€equal€rights€with€men€to€separate€property,€and€theÐ ì#! Ðright€to€enter€into€contracts€or€other€transactions€independently€of€theirÐ ¯æ" Ðhusbands€or€fathers.€€The€Widows€and€Orphans€Ordinance€of€1983€conferred€equalÐ r©# Ðrights€in€matters€of€social€security€and€the€public€sector.€€Ð 5 l$ ÐÌ22.à b àThe€Women's€Charter€provided€for€the€enhancement€of€national€machineryÐ »!ò& Ðfor€women€by€the€establishment€in€1993€of€the€National€Committee€on€WomenÐ ~"µ' Ðwhose€objectives€and€functions€were€to€receive€and€scrutinize€complaints€ofÐ A#x( Ðgender€discrimination€and€channel€them€where€appropriate,€to€refer€complaintsÐ $;) Ðof€violations€of€provisions€contained€in€the€Charter€to€the€Government€andÐ Ç$þ* ÐNGOs€for€redress,€legal€aid€and/or€mediation,€to€monitor€such€action€andÐ Š%Á + Ðrequire€annual€reports€on€progress€from€relevant€administrative€authoritiesÐ M&„!, Ðand€to€make€such€results€widely€available€within€the€country,€to€evaluate€theÐ 'G"- Ðimpact€of€all€legislative€and€development€policies€on€the€rights€andÐ Ó' #. Ðresponsibilities€of€women€as€contained€in€the€Charter,€to€help€to€achieveÐ –(Í#/ Ðtheobjectives€of€the€Charter€through€the€encouragement€of€relevant€research,Ð Y)$0 Ðand€to€make€recommendations€for€reforms€on€the€basis€of€that€research.€€TheÐ *S%1 ÐNational€Committee€on€Women€also€advised€the€Minister€responsible€for€theÐ ß*&2 Ðstatus€of€women€on€matters€which€were€referred€to€it€by€the€Minister€or€whichÐ ¢+Ù&3 Ðthe€Committee€considered€relevant.€€The€Ministry€for€Women's€Affairs€was€theÐ e,œ'4 Ðnational€focal€point€and€apex€of€the€national€machinery€for€women,€concerningÐ (-_(5 Ðitself€with€the€formulation€of€national€policies€for€their€advancement.€Ð É ÐIn1993,€SriLanka€had€hosted€the€eighth€Asian€regional€seminar€on€traditionalÐ ŒÃ Ðpractices€affecting€the€health€of€women,€organized€by€the€United€NationsÐ O† ÐCentre€for€Human€Rights.€€Many€NGOs€were€active€on€gender€issues€andÐ I Ðgender-sensitizing€programmes.€€Ð Õ  ÐÌ23.à b àIn€January€1995€the€Cabinet€of€Ministers€had€approved€recommendationsÐ [ ’ Ðproposing€amendments€to€the€law€on€rape€and€other€sex€offences€following€aÐ  U Ðthorough€review€of€the€laws€in€force.€€Cabinet€approval€was€being€sought€forÐ á  Ðproposed€amendments€to€the€Penal€Code€which€would€incorporate€new€offencesÐ ¤ Û  Ðsuch€as€marital€rape€in€respect€of€a€judicially€separated€wife,€sexualÐ g ž  Ðharassment,€grave€sexual€abuse€and€protection€of€the€identity€of€a€victim.€Ð * a  ÐThe€definition€of€rape€was€to€be€amended,€and€likewise€the€definition€ofÐ í $  Ðgrievous€hurt€was€to€be€modified€to€include€more€forms€of€hurt.€€The€age€ofÐ °ç  Ðstatutory€rape€was€to€be€increased€to€16€years,€with€a€new€provision€reducingÐ sª  Ðthe€age€for€illicit€sexual€intercourse€with€girls€to€16€years,€and€reducingÐ 6m  Ðthe€legal€age€for€prostitution€in€respect€of€women€also€to€16€years.€Ð ù0  ÐMedicaltermination€of€pregnancy€was€to€be€approved€in€cases€of€pregnancyÐ ¼ó  Ðresulting€from€rape€and€incest,€and€termination€was€recommended€in€case€ofÐ ¶  Ðcongenital€abnormality€of€the€foetus.€€The€minimum€age€of€marriage€was€to€beÐ By Ðraised€to€18.Ð < Ѐ€Ð Èÿ Ð24.à b àTurning€finally€to€question€(i),€he€said€that€the€principle€of€theÐ ‹Â Ðequality€of€all€human€beings€in€respect€of€their€basic€human€rights€had€beenÐ N… Ðemphasized€in€the€study€of€various€subjects€in€SriLanka's€educationalÐ H Ðinstitutions.€€Human€rights€concepts€had€been€introduced€in€schools€in€1983,Ð Ô  Ðand€the€curriculum€now€included€the€study€of€discrimination€in€different€partsÐ —Î Ðof€the€world€on€the€basis€of€race,€religion,€colour,€gender€and€other€factors,Ð Z‘ Ðand€the€consequent€denial€of€fundamental€human€rights.€€Following€a€reviewÐ T Ðin1993€of€a€decade€of€human€rights€teaching€in€schools,€a€decision€had€beenÐ à Ðtaken€to€develop€an€in„service€programme€to€cater€to€the€needs€of€allÐ £Ú Ðeducational€officers€dealing€with€human€rights,€to€improve€textbooks€andÐ f Ðprepare€a€detailed€syllabus€and€course€guides,€to€build€school„basedÐ )`  Ðassessment€tasks€into€the€teaching€process,€to€improve€the€teaching€of€humanÐ ì#! Ðrights€by€using€more€teaching€aids,€and€to€give€teaching€programmes€moreÐ ¯æ" Ðpublicity,€especially€through€the€electronic€media.€€Human€rights€concepts€hadÐ r©# Ðbeen€taught€in€primary€schools€in€SriLanka€since€1985,€and€the€programme€wasÐ 5 l$ Ðcurrently€being€expanded.€€A€workshop€held€in€December€1993€had€identifiedÐ ø /% Ðtheright€to€life,€freedom€of€expression€and€respect€for€others€and€theirÐ »!ò& Ðviews€as€human€rights€concepts€suitable€for€teaching€in€primary€schools.€Ð ~"µ' ÐAcomprehensive€course€in€human€rights€law€had€been€introduced€as€an€optionalÐ A#x( Ðsubject€for€final-year€students€in€the€LL€B€course€in€the€Faculty€of€Law€ofÐ $;) Ðthe€University€of€Colombo€in€1993,€and€human€rights€was€a€specialized€field€ofÐ Ç$þ* Ðstudy€for€the€degree€of€LL€M€at€the€same€university.€€In€1991,€the€UniversityÐ Š%Á + Ðof€Colombo€had€established€a€Centre€for€the€Study€of€Human€Rights€within€itsÐ M&„!, ÐFaculty€of€Law;€its€aim€was€to€promote€and€facilitate€the€teaching€of€humanÐ 'G"- Ðrights€and€research€in€human€rights,€as€well€as€to€target€members€of€theÐ Ó' #. Ðsecurity€forces€for€particular€teaching€programmes.€€International€humanÐ –(Í#/ Ðrights€instruments€had€been€published€in€all€three€of€the€country's€languages,Ð Y)$0 Ðand€human€rights€issues€were€given€wide€coverage€in€the€Sri€Lankan€press,Ð *S%1 Ðwhich€had€reported€on€the€current€consideration€of€Sri€Lanka's€third€periodicÐ ß*&2 Ðreport€by€the€Human€Rights€Committee.Ð ¢+Ù&3 Ðâ âÐ e,œ'4 Ð25.à b àòòThe€CHAIRMANóó€invited€members€of€the€Committee€who€so€wished€to€putÐ É Ðâ âadditional€questions€in€the€light€of€the€replies€by€the€delegation€ofÐ ŒÃ ÐSriLanka€to€sectionI€of€the€list€of€issues.Ð O† ÐÌ26.à b àòòMr.€ANDOóó€said€the€additional€information€contained€in€the€supplement€toÐ Õ  Ðthe€third€periodic€report€was€valuable,€but€it€would€have€been€more€useful,Ð ˜Ï Ðespecially€for€NGOs,€if€it€had€been€issued€earlier.€€He€welcomed€theÐ [ ’ Ðinitiative€of€the€new€Government€and€President€to€negotiate€with€the€rebels,Ð  U Ðand€regretted€that€the€latter€had€so€far€refused€to€cooperate.€€He€notedÐ á  Ðthatthe€declaration€of€a€state€of€emergency€had€been€notified€to€theÐ ¤ Û  ÐSecretary-General€of€the€UnitedNations,€as€required€under€the€Covenant.€€AsÐ g ž  Ðfor€the€Advisory€Committee€set€up€under€the€Ministry€of€Defence,€he€askedÐ * a  Ðwhether€any€consideration€had€been€given€in€its€composition€to€ethnic€balance,Ð í $  Ðand€whether€the€fact€that€it€came€under€the€Ministry€of€Defence€precludedÐ °ç  Ðsubsequent€judicial€review€of€a€complaint.€€He€wondered€if€there€was€anyÐ sª  Ðjurisprudence€of€the€Supreme€Court€regarding€the€constitutionality€andÐ 6m  Ðcompliance€with€international€obligations€of€the€Emergency€Regulations€andÐ ù0  Ðemergency€legislation.€€Noting€that€the€report€contained€information€gatheredÐ ¼ó  Ðby€the€Centre€for€Women's€Research,€he€inquired€about€the€percentage€of€womenÐ ¶  Ðin€the€legal€profession€at€all€levels:€€judges,€lawyers€and€academics.€Ð By ÐParagraph11€of€the€report€referred€to€the€large€number€of€complaints€ofÐ < Ðdiscrimination,€and€in€that€connection€he€requested€more€detail€of€specificÐ Èÿ Ðcases€and€information€regarding€the€core€issues€contained€in€those€complaints.€Ð ‹Â ÐParagraph115€of€the€report€referred€to€the€transmittal€of€a€father'sÐ N… Ðcitizenship€to€his€newborn€child;€he€wondered€whether€a€mother's€citizenshipÐ H Ðwas€similarly€transmissible.€€As€for€family€property€rights,€it€had€beenÐ Ô  Ðstated€that€an€old€legal€provision€established€equality€for€men€and€women€withÐ —Î Ðregard€to€non-Muslims,€whereas€Muslims€were€covered€by€family€law;€he€inquiredÐ Z‘ Ðabout€the€content€of€that€family€law€and€whether€men€and€women€were€reallyÐ T Ðequal€in€matters€of€family€property.€€In€the€event€of€divorce,€wasÐ à Ðresponsibility€for€child€care€given€to€the€father€or€to€the€mother,€and€if€toÐ £Ú Ðthe€mother,€was€she€given€sufficient€financial€protection€to€enable€her€toÐ f Ðbring€up€the€child?Ð )`  ÐÌ27.à b àòòMs.€EVATTóó€regretted€that€SriLanka€was€once€again€witnessing€violentÐ ¯æ" Ðconflict,€but€commended€the€broad€range€of€laws€and€institutions€to€deal€withÐ r©# Ðits€consequences,€and€in€general€to€promote€human€rights.€€With€reference€toÐ 5 l$ Ðthe€Select€Committee€of€Parliament€which€was€looking€at€restrictions€on€rightsÐ ø /% Ðunder€the€Constitution€exceeding€those€under€the€Covenant,€she€asked€whetherÐ »!ò& Ðit€would€also€be€examining€other€discrepancies€between€the€Constitution€andÐ ~"µ' Ðthe€Covenant,€such€as€the€fact€that€some€rights€under€article14€of€theÐ A#x( ÐConstitution€were€limited€to€citizens€and€aliens€who€had€been€resident€inÐ $;) ÐSriLanka€for€10years.€€There€were€also€differences€in€the€grounds€ofÐ Ç$þ* Ðdiscrimination€as€between€the€Constitution€and€the€Covenant.€€It€was€herÐ Š%Á + Ðunderstanding€that€the€Supreme€Court€could€pronounce€on€the€compatibility€ofÐ M&„!, Ðprojected€legislation€with€the€Constitution€but€not€of€past€laws,€and€sheÐ 'G"- Ðtherefore€wondered€how€the€Supreme€Court€dealt€with€executive€actions€thatÐ Ó' #. Ðwere€based€on€existing€laws.€€Were€they€outside€its€jurisdiction?€€Would€theÐ –(Í#/ Ðconstitutional€review€process€extend€to€consideration€of€whether€it€should€beÐ Y)$0 Ðpossible€to€challenge€existing€laws€on€the€basis€of€their€compatibility€withÐ *S%1 Ðthe€Constitution?€€Ð ß*&2 ÐÌ28.à b àShe€asked€whether€the€National€Human€Rights€Commission€would€be€able€toÐ e,œ'4 Ðtake€certain€allegations€of€violations€of€rights€directly€to€the€Supreme€CourtÐ (-_(5 Ðand€what€would€be€the€relation€between€the€Commission€and€the€Human€RightsÐ É ÐTask€Force€(HRTF),€to€which€arrests€and€detentions€under€emergency€laws€wereÐ ŒÃ Ðto€be€reported.€€Would€the€Commission€take€over€that€function€from€the€HRTF?€Ð O† ÐWho€were€the€members€of€the€HRTF,€what€was€the€scope€of€its€mandate,€and€howÐ I Ðmany€arrests€and€detentions€were€made€under€the€current€emergency€laws?Ð Õ  ÐÌ29.à b àThere€seemed€to€be€certain€discrepancies€between€the€EmergencyÐ [ ’ ÐRegulations€and€directives€issued€in€respect€of€those€Regulations.€€TheÐ  U ÐRegulations€required€that€the€HRTF€should€be€notified€of€all€arrests€andÐ á  Ðdetentions€within€48hours,€while€the€appropriate€directive€required€officersÐ ¤ Û  Ðto€notify€the€HRTF€within€4days.€€The€Regulations€required€that€an€arrestÐ g ž  Ðreceipt€should€be€given€in€every€case,€while€the€directives€said€that€it€needÐ * a  Ðbe€given€only€upon€request.€€Those€seemed€to€be€serious€differences,€and€sheÐ í $  Ðwondered€whether€they€were€consistent€with€obligations€under€the€Covenant.€Ð °ç  ÐAsfor€the€Commission€for€the€Elimination€of€Discrimination€and€MonitoringÐ sª  ÐofFundamental€Rights€Regulations,€the€material€available€referred€to€theÐ 6m  Ðnumber€of€settlements€that€had€been€reached,€but€she€wondered€if€there€wasÐ ù0  Ðinformation€about€the€level€of€implementation€of€those€settlements.€€It€hadÐ ¼ó  Ðalso€been€suggested€that€the€National€Human€Rights€Commission€had€itselfÐ ¶  Ðcomplained€that€there€were€certain€deficiencies€in€its€own€powers,€for€exampleÐ By Ða€180-day€time-limit€on€raising€matters€before€it€and€the€fact€that€certainÐ < Ðcases€could€not€be€brought€before€it€because€its€remit€was€not€sufficientlyÐ Èÿ Ðextensive.€€Were€those€issues,€raised€by€the€Commission€itself,€to€be€givenÐ ‹Â Ðconsideration,€and€would€reforms€be€made€so€as€to€expand€its€jurisdiction?Ð N… ÐÌ30.à b àShe€supported€what€Mr.Ando€had€said€regarding€the€status€of€women,€butÐ Ô  Ðalso€wished€to€ask€why€the€immigration€regulations€did€not€accord€the€sameÐ —Î Ðentry€rights€to€non-citizen€husbands€of€SriLankan€women€as€they€did€toÐ Z‘ Ðnon-citizen€wives€of€SriLankan€men,€and€how€that€was€compatible€withÐ T Ðequality.€€She€wondered€whether€the€raising€of€the€age€of€marriage€to€18€wouldÐ à Ðapply€to€all€SriLankan€women€or€only€to€those€belonging€to€certain€groups,Ð £Ú Ðand€she€requested€further€details€regarding€the€raising€of€both€the€age€ofÐ f Ðconsent€and€the€age€of€marriage.€€Her€understanding€was€that€the€Women'sÐ )`  ÐCharter€had€no€legal€standing,€and€she€wondered€whether€consideration€wasÐ ì#! Ðbeing€given€to€ensuring€that€its€provisions€had€such€standing€and€consequentlyÐ ¯æ" Ðgave€rise€to€enforceable€rights.Ð r©# ÐÌ31.à b àòòMr.€LALLAHóó€said€that€the€report€was€long€on€legal€detail€but€short€onÐ ø /% Ðpractical€data.€€The€additional€information€submitted€had,€however,€provedÐ »!ò& Ðhelpful.Ð ~"µ' ÐÌ32.à b àSriLanka€was€engaged€in€a€national€conflict€of€grave€proportions.€Ð $;) ÐRegrettably,€tasks€which€were€usually€the€responsibility€of€the€civil€policeÐ Ç$þ* Ðhad€devolved€on€the€military.€€What€sort€of€training€had€been€provided€to€theÐ Š%Á + Ðlatter€to€assist€them€in€their€relations€with€the€population?€€What€measuresÐ M&„!, Ðwere€taken€to€discourage€soldiers€from€embracing€the€attitude€that€to€be€a€Ð  'G"- ÐTamil€was€to€be€a€terrorist?€€The€efforts€of€the€new€Government€to€promoteÐ É Ðpeace€were€encouraging;€the€setback€to€that€process,€for€which€the€LTTE€wasÐ ŒÃ Ðcertainly€responsible,€was€correspondingly€regrettable.Ð O† ÐÌ33.à b àMuch€had€been€said€about€projected€legal€and€institutional€reforms.€€ToÐ Õ  Ðhis€mind€the€most€important€of€those€measures,€because€it€addressed€the€rootÐ ˜Ï Ðcauses€of€the€social€malaise€in€Sri€Lanka,€was€the€establishment€of€theÐ [ ’ ÐMinistry€of€Ethnic€Affairs€and€National€Integration,€which€would€deal,Ð  U Ðòòinteraliaóó,€with€language€policy.€€The€endeavours€of€the€President€herself€toÐ á  Ðfurther€national€integration€were€also€commendable.€€The€history€of€SriLankaÐ ¤ Û  Ðover€the€course€of€the€previous€10years€in€fact€demonstrated€that€a€conceptÐ g ž  Ðof€national€integration€had€been€lacking;€inevitably,€breaches€of€fundamentalÐ * a  Ðrights€occurred.€€Ð í $  ÐÌ34.à b àThe€report€stated€that€the€Supreme€Court€was€competent€to€review€theÐ sª  Ðconformity€of€draft€legislation€with€certain€fundamental€human€rightsÐ 6m  Ðstandards.€€What€was€essential,€however,€was€that€SriLanka€should€dischargeÐ ù0  Ðits€obligations€under€article2,€paragraph3,€of€the€Covenant.€€If€no€judicialÐ ¼ó  Ðbody€had€the€power€to€review€the€practical€application€of€such€legislation€inÐ ¶  Ðrelation€to€those€international€obligations,€a€serious€loophole€existed.€Ð By ÐThought€should€perhaps€be€given€to€amending€the€Constitution€in€order€toÐ < Ðempower€the€Supreme€Court€accordingly.Ð Èÿ ÐÌ35.à b àVarious€commissions€had€been€set€up€to€address€the€problem€ofÐ N… Ðdisappearances;€one€such€was€the€Commission€of€Inquiry€into€Election€Violence.€Ð H ÐHe€was€aware€of€a€number€of€notable€SriLankan€politicians€who€had€lost€theirÐ Ô  Ðlives,€among€them€Mr.AthulatMudali€and€Mr.Premadasa.€€Were€inquiries€beingÐ —Î Ðconducted€by€that€Commission€to€establish€the€causes€of€those€violent€deaths?Ð Z‘ ÐÌ36.à b àReference€had€been€made€to€a€body€called€the€Muslim€Home€Guards.€€WereÐ à Ðthey€insurgents€whose€power€had€been€legitimized?€€What€was€their€status?€Ð £Ú ÐTowhat€extent€were€they€under€the€control€of€the€Government?€€FurtherÐ f Ðinformation€on€these€points€would€be€useful.Ð )`  ÐÌ37.à b àIt€seemed€that€there€were€circumstances€under€which€the€National€HumanÐ ¯æ" ÐRights€Commission€referred€matters€to€the€Supreme€Court,€and€viceversa.€€WhatÐ r©# Ðwas€the€basis€for€that€arrangement?€€Did€the€National€Human€Rights€CommissionÐ 5 l$ Ðdeal€with€the€factual€aspects€of€a€particular€situation€and€the€Supreme€CourtÐ ø /% Ðwith€the€legal€effects?€€The€Sri€Lankan€delegation€should€provideÐ »!ò& Ðclarification.Ð ~"µ' ÐÌ38.à b àFurthermore,€it€seemed€that€consideration€was€being€given€to€reformingÐ $;) Ðthe€Constitution€with€reference€to€articles9,€10€and14€of€the€Covenant.€Ð Ç$þ* ÐThat€was€a€surprising€development.€€Had€SriLanka€not€always€lived€under€theÐ Š%Á + Ðrule€of€law,€at€least€before€the€onset€of€the€civil€conflict?€€He€hoped€thatÐ M&„!, Ðsuch€constitutional€reform€simply€meant€that€certain€basic€rights€currentlyÐ 'G"- Ðguaranteed€by€domestic€legislation€would€be€enshrined€in€the€Constitution.€Ð Ó' #. ÐFinally,€the€provisions€of€article4€of€the€Covenant,€which€restrictedÐ –(Í#/ Ðderogations€from€certain€articles€of€that€instrument,€should€also€be€writtenÐ Y)$0 Ðinto€constitutional€law.Ð *S%1 ÐÌÌ39.à b àòòMr.€KLEINóó€shared€Mr.Lallah's€assessment€of€the€report€and€the€additionalÐ e,œ'4 Ðinformation.€€Paragraphs1€and2€of€the€report€addressed€article1€of€theÐ (-_(5 ÐCovenant€with€excessive€brevity.€€It€was€furthermore€frankly€incorrect€toÐ É Ðstate€that€the€right€to€self-determination€did€not€apply€to€sovereignÐ ŒÃ Ðindependent€States.€€Since€in€fact€only€sovereign€independent€States€wereÐ O† ÐStates€parties,€such€a€remark€essentially€rendered€that€eminent€conceptÐ I Ðmeaningless.€€In€its€general€comment12,€the€Committee€had€formulated€usefulÐ Õ  Ðrecommendations€concerning€that€right;€under€article40,€the€Committee€alsoÐ ˜Ï Ðrequested€States€parties€to€provide€detailed€explanations€with€regard€to€eachÐ [ ’ Ðof€the€articles€of€the€Covenant.€€The€report€failed€utterly€to€fulfil€thatÐ  U Ðrequirement.Ð á  ÐÌ40.à b àParagraph2€of€the€report€went€on€to€state€that€international€lawÐ g ž  Ðrecognized€that€the€principle€of€self-determination€could€not€be€"construed€asÐ * a  Ðauthorizing€any€action€which€would€dismember€or€impair€totally€or€in€part€theÐ í $  Ðterritorial€integrity€or€political€unity€of€sovereign€and€independent€States".€Ð °ç  ÐHowever,€the€right€to€self-determination€imposed€a€permanent€obligation€uponÐ sª  ÐStates€to€have€a€Government€which€represented€the€whole€people€belonging€to€aÐ 6m  Ðgiven€territory.Ð ù0  ÐÌ41.à b àThe€supplement€to€the€report€named€a€number€of€bodies€that€had€beenÐ ¶  Ðcreated€to€address€human€rights€problems€in€SriLanka,€among€them€variousÐ By Ðcommissions€of€inquiry,€the€Human€Rights€Task€Force,€the€National€Human€RightsÐ < ÐCommission€and€the€Human€Rights€Advisory€Group.€€The€question€arose€whetherÐ Èÿ Ðthe€plethora€of€human€rights€bodies€might€not€be€detrimental€to€conducting€aÐ ‹Â Ðsuccessful€inquiry€into€violations.€€Was€there€a€coordinating€body€toÐ N… Ðharmonize€their€activities€and€to€follow€up€their€conclusions?Ð H ÐÌ42.à b àòòMrs.€CHANETóó€said€that,€while€the€report€was€short,€the€additionalÐ —Î Ðinformation€had€proved€helpful.€€Like€Mr.Klein,€she€had€been€struck€by€theÐ Z‘ Ðnumber€of€bodies€designed€to€address€human€rights€issues;€she€had€countedÐ T Ðnine.€€All€of€them€seemed€endowed€with€aposteriori€administrative€powers;Ð à Ðnone€were€designed€to€be€preventive,€nor€did€they€play€a€judicial€role.€€WhatÐ £Ú Ðwas€the€link€between€those€administrative€bodies€and€the€national€judiciary?€Ð f ÐWere€not€those€bodies€by€their€very€nature€precarious,€in€that€they€could€beÐ )`  Ðdissolved€from€oneday€to€the€next?€€It€was,€furthermore,€surprising€thatÐ ì#! Ðcertain€provisions€of€the€Covenant,€notably€the€right€to€security€of€person,Ð ¯æ" Ðwere€relegated€to€the€ambit€of€those€bodies€rather€than€being€enshrined€inÐ r©# Ðlegislation.€€Like€Mr.Klein,€she€wished€to€know€if€there€was€a€body€toÐ 5 l$ Ðcoordinate€the€work€of€the€bodies€concerned.Ð ø /% ÐÌ43.à b àAnother€new€body€described€in€the€additional€information€was€the€SelectÐ ~"µ' ÐCommittee€of€Parliament€on€the€Constitution;€among€the€various€new€rights€toÐ A#x( Ðbe€incorporated€into€the€Constitution,€however,€she€saw€no€reference€to€thoseÐ $;) Ðcovered€by€articles10,€11,€15,€or27€of€the€Covenant.€€It€seemed€clear€thatÐ Ç$þ* ÐSriLanka's€approach€to€human€rights,€whether€constitutional,€legislative€orÐ Š%Á + Ðinstitutional,€was€fragmentary,€with€basic€rights€being€left€to€bodies€whichÐ M&„!, Ðwere€not€properly€governmental.Ð 'G"- ÐÌ44.à b àVarious€sources€had€also€pointed€out€the€existence€of€specialÐ –(Í#/ Ðparamilitary€forces,€created€and€paid€for€by€the€State,€which€had€been€chargedÐ Y)$0 Ðwith€summary,€arbitrary€and€extrajudicial€executions.€€There€again,€there€was€Ð  *S%1 Ða€tendency€to€entrust€what€should€properly€be€State€matters€to€bodies€thatÐ É Ðwere€essentially€non-governmental€and€that€could€easily€evade€the€control€ofÐ ŒÃ Ðthe€State.Ð O† ÐÌ45.à b àòòMs.€MEDINA€QUIROGAóó€said€that,€since€the€Covenant€had€not€beenÐ Õ  Ðincorporated€into€the€domestic€legislation€of€SriLanka,€and€since€so€few€ofÐ ˜Ï Ðthe€rights€guaranteed€by€the€Covenant€were€reflected€in€the€Sri€LankanÐ [ ’ ÐConstitution,€that€country€should€give€serious€consideration€to€ratifying€theÐ  U ÐOptional€Protocol.€€Article16€of€the€SriLankan€Constitution€stated€thatÐ á  Ð"allexisting€written€law€and€unwritten€law€shall€be€valid€and€operativeÐ ¤ Û  Ðnotwithstanding€any€inconsistency€in€...€preceding€provisions".€€That€clauseÐ g ž  Ðappeared€to€establish€that€laws€which€contravened€the€Constitution€could€notÐ * a  Ðbe€challenged€„€an€astonishing€situation.€€Similarly,€article80€of€theÐ í $  ÐConstitution€stated€that€no€court€or€tribunal€should€"inquire€into,€pronounceÐ °ç  Ðupon€or€in€any€manner€call€in€question,€the€validity€of€such€Act€on€any€groundÐ sª  Ðwhatsoever".€€Those€provisions€seemingly€represented€a€conscious€decision€toÐ 6m  Ðthe€effect€that€laws€could€violate€the€Constitution€in€matters€of€humanÐ ù0  Ðrights.Ð ¼ó  ÐÌ46.à b àThe€multitude€of€human€rights€bodies€was€indeed€troubling.€€Had€a€staffÐ By Ðbeen€envisaged€for€the€National€Human€Rights€Commission,€which€had€beenÐ < Ðallotted€many€and€various€powers?€€It€would€be€useful€to€know,€with€regard€toÐ Èÿ Ðthe€three€commissions€established€to€inquire€into€disappearances,€why€1988€hadÐ ‹Â Ðbeen€selected€as€a€cut-off€point;€many€disappearances€were€known€to€haveÐ N… Ðoccurred€as€from1983.€€Furthermore,€it€would€be€useful€to€know€what€course€ofÐ H Ðaction€was€envisaged€if€the€security€forces€were€found€to€be€the€responsibleÐ Ô  Ðparties.€€What€was€the€mandated€term€of€those€commissions,€which€had€anÐ —Î Ðimmense€investigative€task€before€them?€€Furthermore,€it€seemed€that€theÐ Z‘ Ðmembers€of€the€Human€Rights€Task€Force€had€no€tenure€and€that€there€wereÐ T Ðnocriteria€for€membership.€€By€what€mechanism€would€the€independence,Ð à Ðimpartiality€and€efficacy€of€that€body€be€assured?Ð £Ú ÐÌ47.à b àWas€it€in€fact€the€case€that€Parliament€had€no€power€over€the€state€ofÐ )`  Ðemergency€because€the€ruling€party€could€effectively€make€decisions€governingÐ ì#! Ðactions€taken€by€MPs?€€It€did€seem€that€the€Supreme€Court€had€determined€thatÐ ¯æ" Ðit€itself€could€not€inquire€into€the€legality€of€the€state€of€emergency.€€TheÐ r©# Ðmany€minor€crimes€which€merited€the€death€penalty€under€the€emergency€regimeÐ 5 l$ Ðwere€particularly€distressing.€€The€state€of€emergency€also€included€peculiarÐ ø /% Ðdetention€regulations;€the€courts,€for€example,€had€been€divested€of€the€rightÐ »!ò& Ðto€grant€bail€without€the€agreement€of€the€Attorney-General.Ð ~"µ' Ѐ€Ð A#x( Ð48.à b àFinally,€she€subscribed€to€the€various€questions€concerning€women€thatÐ $;) Ðhad€been€raised€by€other€members€of€the€Committee.€€It€would€furthermore€beÐ Ç$þ* Ðhelpful€to€know€why€women€working€in€the€free-trade€zones€had€no€labourÐ Š%Á + Ðrights;€or,€if€such€rights€did€exist,€why€they€were€not€enforced.€€TheÐ M&„!, ÐGovernment€of€SriLanka€should€describe€what€measures,€if€any,€it€was€takingÐ 'G"- Ðto€alleviate€the€terrible€conditions€of€migrant€workers,€most€of€whom€wereÐ Ó' #. Ðwomen.€€Other€than€the€property-related€discrimination€discussed€earlier,€toÐ –(Í#/ Ðwhat€forms€of€discrimination€were€Muslim€women€subject?€€Lastly,€had€the€womanÐ Y)$0 Ðrecently€executed€in€AbuDhabi€benefited€from€any€form€of€diplomaticÐ *S%1 Ðprotection?€€The€SriLankan€delegation€should€describe€any€measures€taken€byÐ ß*&2 Ðits€Government€on€her€behalf.Ð ¢+Ù&3 Ðâ âÐ e,œ'4 Ð49.à b àòòMr.€EL€SHAFEIóó€said€that€the€third€periodic€report€of€SriLanka,€due€inÐ É Ðâ âSeptember1991,€had€not€been€received€until€July1994.€€Could€that€long€delayÐ ŒÃ Ðbe€justified€by€the€crisis€situation€prevailing€in€that€country?€€It€shouldÐ O† Ðbenoted€that€the€Committee€was€empowered€to€request€special€reports€onÐ I Ðsituations€of€that€nature.€€It€was€his€hope€that€the€dialogue€would€illuminateÐ Õ  Ðthe€state€of€emergency€in€SriLanka.€€The€report€gave€regrettably€littleÐ ˜Ï Ðinformation,€although€the€additional€information€had€partly€compensated€forÐ [ ’ Ðthat€lack.Ð  U ÐÌ50.à b àHe€shared€Mr.Klein's€concerns€with€regard€to€the€report's€treatment€ofÐ ¤ Û  Ðarticle1€of€the€Covenant.€€Similar€concerns€could€be€raised€with€regard€toÐ g ž  Ðarticle25,€which€guaranteed€to€all€the€right€to€vote€and€to€hold€publicÐ * a  Ðoffice.€€Did€the€people€living€in€northern€SriLanka€in€fact€enjoy€that€right?Ð í $  ÐÌ51.à b àAs€the€delegation€was€aware,€the€Committee€had€received€severalÐ sª  Ðcommunications€from€NGOs.€€One€such,€from€a€group€called€Lawyers€for€HumanÐ 6m  ÐRights€and€Development,€stated€that,€under€the€Emergency€Regulations,€severalÐ ù0  Ðthousand€people€had€been€detained€in€preventive€custody,€and€that€all€thoseÐ ¼ó  Ðdetained€under€Emergency€Regulations18€and€21€and€Section€9€of€the€PreventionÐ ¶  Ðof€Terrorism€Act€for€investigation€purposes€were€indiscriminately€broughtÐ By Ðunder€Emergency€Regulation17(1)€and€detained€without€trial€for€very€longÐ < Ðperiods,€the€vast€majority€being€people€who€could€not€have€posed€a€threat€toÐ Èÿ Ðpublic€security.€€The€SriLankan€delegation€should€provide€precise€informationÐ ‹Â Ðon€the€number€of€persons€currently€in€detention€who€had€not€been€brought€toÐ N… Ðtrial.€€Furthermore,€the€delegation€had€asserted€that€committees€and€boardsÐ H Ðhad€been€established€to€hear€the€complaints€of€detainees.€€However,€theÐ Ô  Ðcommunication€from€Lawyers€for€Human€Rights€and€Development€went€on€to€assertÐ —Î Ðthat€detainees€were€seldom€afforded€an€opportunity€of€making€representationsÐ Z‘ Ðbefore€advisory€committees€and€that€hundreds€had€not€been€informed€of€thatÐ T Ðright€even€after€several€months€in€detention.Ð à ÐÌ52.à b àVarious€members€of€the€Committee€had€spoken€of€the€imposition€by€theÐ f ÐSupreme€Court€of€restrictions€on€its€own€powers.€€In€that€regard,€theÐ )`  Ðcommunication€further€maintained€that€there€existed€no€means€of€preventing€theÐ ì#! Ðexecutive€from€abusing€emergency€powers€for€political€motives,€and€that€theÐ ¯æ" Ðexecutive€in€fact€decreed€laws€bypassing€Parliament€on€subjects€having€nothingÐ r©# Ðto€do€with€the€state€of€emergency.€€It€went€on€to€indicate€that€the€SupremeÐ 5 l$ ÐCourt€had€imposed€restrictions€on€its€jurisdiction€when€it€held€"in€a€case"Ð ø /% Ðthat€the€existence€of€a€state€of€emergency€was€not€a€justiciable€matter€whichÐ »!ò& Ðit€could€be€called€upon€to€determine€by€an€objective€test.€€To€what€case€didÐ ~"µ' Ðthat€communication€refer?€€Why€did€the€Supreme€Court€feel€constrained€toÐ A#x( Ðrestrict€its€own€jurisdiction€with€regard€to€the€state€of€emergency?Ð $;) ÐÌ53.à b àòòMr.€PRADO€VALLEJOóó€said€that,€while€the€National€Human€Rights€CommissionÐ Š%Á + Ðseemed€to€have€been€proposed€with€good€intentions,€it€lacked€powers€andÐ M&„!, Ðprocedures€with€which€to€execute€its€decisions.€€Furthermore,€complaints€hadÐ 'G"- Ðto€be€submitted€to€that€body€within€180days€after€the€violations€occurred;Ð Ó' #. Ðthat€provision€seemed€restrictive€both€for€individuals€seeking€remedies€andÐ –(Í#/ Ðfor€the€Commission€itself€in€the€fulfilment€of€its€mandated€task.Ð Y)$0 ÐÌ54.à b àThe€Women's€Charter€likewise€lacked€the€means€to€be€properly€implemented;Ð ß*&2 Ðits€effectiveness€was€therefore€crippled€from€the€outset.Ð ¢+Ù&3 Ðâ âÐ e,œ'4 Ð55.à b àHe€noted€that€serious€abuses€had€been€perpetrated€under€the€states€ofÐ É Ðâ âemergency.€€Emergency€powers€had€been€used€to€detain€people€without€a€courtÐ ŒÃ Ðorder€for€security€reasons€and€to€keep€them€in€detention€without€trial€for€upÐ O† Ðto€five€years.€€The€Minister€of€Defence€was€empowered€to€order€the€detentionÐ I Ðof€individuals€and€could€also€supervise€and€restrict€people's€activities.€Ð Õ  ÐEmergency€powers€had€been€used€for€political€ends,€even€for€the€postponementÐ ˜Ï Ðof€general€elections.€€MPs€could€not€act€independently€because€of€a€provisionÐ [ ’ Ðenabling€the€ruling€party€to€order€the€suspension€of€legislators.€Ð  U ÐParamilitary€forces€existed€and€had€committed€excesses€of€various€kinds.Ð á  ÐÌ56.à b àParagraph€23€of€the€report€stated€that€restrictions€could€be€placed€on€aÐ g ž  Ðnumber€of€rights€guaranteed€by€the€Covenant,€for€example€the€right€to€chooseÐ * a  Ðone's€residence€in€Sri€Lanka,€the€right€to€equality,€freedom€to€practise€aÐ í $  Ðreligion€and€freedom€to€engage€in€a€lawful€occupation.€€The€reasons€givenÐ °ç  Ðincluded€the€interest€of€the€national€economy,€protection€of€public€order€orÐ sª  Ðmorality€and€meeting€the€just€requirements€of€a€democratic€State.€€He€askedÐ 6m  Ðthe€delegation€to€clarify€the€circumstances€under€which€such€restrictionsÐ ù0  Ðcould€be€introduced.Ð ¼ó  ÐÌ57.à b àòòMr.€BððNóó€said€that€he€saw€a€very€deep€contradiction€between€the€thirdÐ By Ðperiodic€report€and€the€supplementary€information€submitted€by€the€Government.€Ð < ÐAs€the€additional€document€and€the€oral€presentation€had€not€covered€allÐ Èÿ Ðarticles€of€the€Covenant,€he€asked€whether€the€Government€of€Sri€Lanka€wasÐ ‹Â Ðinagreement€with€the€part€of€the€original€report€concerning€the€remainingÐ N… Ðarticles.Ð H ÐÌ58.à b àWhile€the€reports€he€had€received€from€NGOs€acknowledged€that€substantialÐ —Î Ðprogress€had€been€made€in€the€human€rights€situation€in€Sri€Lanka,€they€alsoÐ Z‘ Ðcontained€a€certain€amount€of€criticism.€€Amnesty€International€and€otherÐ T Ðorganizations€had€sent€their€reports€to€the€Government€and€he€was€interestedÐ à Ðin€hearing€the€Government's€assessment€of€their€input.€Ð £Ú ÐÌ59.à b àHe€was€in€favour€of€setting€up€bodies€to€investigate€past€human€rightsÐ )`  Ðviolations€and€seek€compensation€for€the€victims€but€he€wondered€whetherÐ ì#! Ðtheaccumulation€of€bodies€apparently€acting€in€parallel€was€a€desirableÐ ¯æ" Ðdevelopment.€€He€understood€that€the€very€broad€human€rights€jurisdiction€ofÐ r©# Ðthe€Supreme€Court€under€article€126€of€the€Constitution€was€to€be€reinforcedÐ 5 l$ Ðunder€the€amended€Constitution€so€that€not€only€victims€but€also€theirÐ ø /% Ðrelatives€would€be€allowed€access€to€court.€€Why€was€it€necessary€to€disperseÐ »!ò& Ðhuman€rights€responsibilities€among€so€many€administrative€and€governmentalÐ ~"µ' Ðauthorities€when€the€existing€court€system€could€provide€remedies€for€humanÐ A#x( Ðrights€violations?€€What€arrangements€were€there€to€ensure€that€the€interestsÐ $;) Ðand€views€of€the€population€of€the€North€and€the€East€were€taken€into€accountÐ Ç$þ* Ðby€the€various€human€rights€bodies?Ð Š%Á + ÐÌ60.à b àThe€delegation€had€listed€a€number€of€rights€which€could€be€derogatedÐ 'G"- Ðfrom€under€the€emergency€legislation.€€Was€that€list€exhaustive?€What€was€theÐ Ó' #. Ðsituation,€for€example,€with€respect€to€the€right€of€peaceful€assembly€and€theÐ –(Í#/ Ðright€to€freedom€of€association?Ð Y)$0 ÐÌ61.à b àLastly,€he€inquired€about€the€significance€of€the€word€"socialist"€in€theÐ ß*&2 Ðtitle€of€the€Democratic€Socialist€Republic€of€Sri€Lanka.Ð ¢+Ù&3 Ðâ âÐ e,œ'4 Ð62.à b àòòMr.€BUERGENTHALóó€said€that€he€appreciated€the€Government's€recentÐ É Ðâ âinitiatives€in€the€area€of€human€rights.€€They€were€particularly€noteworthy€inÐ ŒÃ Ðthe€context€of€an€armed€conflict.€€He€also€congratulated€the€Government€on€itsÐ O† Ðpeace€initiatives.Ð I ÐÌ63.à b àOn€the€subject€of€self„determination,€he€asked€for€clarification€of€theÐ ˜Ï Ðsecond€sentence€of€paragraph€2€of€the€report,€which€seemed€to€be€incompatibleÐ [ ’ Ðwith€the€third€sentence.€€If€it€meant€that€the€right€to€self„determination€didÐ  U Ðnot€necessarily€include€the€right€to€secession,€he€might€find€it€an€acceptableÐ á  Ðproposition,€but€if€it€implied€that€the€right€to€self„determination€did€notÐ ¤ Û  Ðapply€to€sovereign€and€independent€States,€he€would€strongly€disagree.Ð g ž  ÐÌ64.à b àHe€asked€whether€the€supplementary€report€had€been€publicized€inÐ í $  ÐSriLanka€and€made€available€to€human€rights€NGOs€for€study€and€comment.Ð °ç  ÐÌ65.à b àHe€inquired€how€many€meetings€of€the€Human€Rights€Advisory€Group€set€upÐ 6m  Ðby€the€Ministry€of€Foreign€Affairs€had€been€held;€whether€any€importantÐ ù0  Ðrecommendations€had€been€made€and,€if€so,€whether€any€had€been€implemented€orÐ ¼ó  Ðtaken€into€account€by€the€Government;€whether€the€Advisory€Group€had€beenÐ ¶  Ðasked€to€comment€on€the€supplementary€report;€and€whether€the€Group€was€drawnÐ By Ðinto€discussions€on€how€the€Government€might€respond€to€recommendationsÐ < ÐbyNGOs.Ð Èÿ ÐÌ66.à b àòòMr.€KRETZMERóó€said€he€was€gratified€that€the€delegation€represented€aÐ N… ÐGovernment€that€was€committed€to€the€promotion€of€human€rights.Ð H ÐÌ67.à b àHe€was€impressed€by€the€number€of€NGOs€working€in€the€field€of€humanÐ —Î Ðrights€in€Sri€Lanka.€€If€they€had€not€received€the€supplementary€report,€theÐ Z‘ ÐCommittee€might€lack€some€very€useful€information.Ð T ÐÌ68.à b àHe€asked€why€distinctions€were€made€in€articles€12,€paragraph2,Ð £Ú Ðand14of€the€Constitution€between€the€rights€of€citizens€and€those€of€otherÐ f Ðpersons.Ð )`  ÐÌ69.à b àHe€also€requested€detailed€information€on€differences€in€the€rights€ofÐ ¯æ" Ðpersons,€especially€of€women,€working€within€and€outside€the€free-trade€zones.Ð r©# ÐÌ70.à b àIn€its€annual€report€for€1993,€the€Sri€Lankan€Commission€for€theÐ ø /% ÐElimination€of€Discrimination€and€Monitoring€of€Fundamental€Rights€RegulationsÐ »!ò& Ðhad€drawn€attention€to€discrimination€against€Sri€Lankan€women€married€toÐ ~"µ' Ðnon-nationals.€€What€kind€of€discrimination€was€involved€and€what€had€theÐ A#x( ÐGovernment€done€to€eliminate€it?Ð $;) ÐÌ71.à b àOne€NGO€had€reported€on€discrimination€in€the€enforcement€of€criminalÐ Š%Á + Ðlaw,€especially€for€political€motives.€€What€mechanisms€existed€to€ensure€thatÐ M&„!, Ðthe€criminal€process€was€untainted€by€discrimination?Ð 'G"- ÐÌ72.à b àHe€asked€for€information€on€the€Sixth€Amendment€to€the€Constitution,Ð –(Í#/ Ðwhich€prohibited€advocacy€of€a€separate€State.€€He€understood€that€it€appliedÐ Y)$0 Ðeven€to€a€body€using€totally€peaceful€and€democratic€means.€€How€could€such€aÐ *S%1 Ðprovision€be€reconciled€with€article€25€of€the€Covenant?Ð ß*&2 ÐÌ73.à b àòòMr.€BHAGWATIóó€said€that€he€appreciated€the€bold€initiatives€of€theÐ e,œ'4 ÐPresident€of€Sri€Lanka€designed€to€end€the€ethnic€conflict.€€He€hoped€that€herÐ (-_(5 Ðefforts€would€meet€with€success€despite€the€intransigent€attitude€of€the€LTTE.€Ð É ÐHe€also€welcomed€the€planned€package€of€constitutional€reforms€designed€toÐ ŒÃ Ðpromote€and€protect€human€rights.Ð O† ÐÌ74.à b àHe€was€disturbed€by€reports€that€thousands€of€Tamil€youths€continued€toÐ Õ  Ðbe€arrested€and€that€some€of€them€were€ill„treated€in€detention.€€In€1993€moreÐ ˜Ï Ðthan€15,000€young€Tamils€had€been€arrested€in€Colombo€alone,€solely€on€theÐ [ ’ Ðgrounds€of€ethnic€origin.€€Although€the€new€Emergency€Regulations€issued€inÐ  U ÐJune€1993€had€made€secret€detention€illegal,€there€were€reliable€reports€thatÐ á  Ðpeople€continued€to€be€held€in€undisclosed€places,€that€torture€persisted€inÐ ¤ Û  Ðplaces€of€detention€throughout€the€country€and€that€no€action€was€takenÐ g ž  Ðagainst€the€perpetrators.Ð * a  ÐÌ75.à b àAccording€to€Amnesty€International,€159€refugees€had€disappeared€fourÐ °ç  Ðyears€previously€from€the€Eastern€University€refugee€camp.€€The€Human€RightsÐ sª  ÐTask€Force€had€investigated€four€security€officers€but€no€action€had€beenÐ 6m  Ðtaken€by€the€Government.€€Amnesty€International€had€also€reported€deliberateÐ ù0  Ðkillings€of€Muslim€and€Tamil€villagers€in€Polonnaruwa.€€The€findings€of€anÐ ¼ó  Ðinquiry€instituted€by€the€Government€had€been€handed€over€to€the€Minister€ofÐ ¶  ÐDefence€on€29May1992€but€the€report€had€not€been€made€public€and€there€wasÐ By Ðno€evidence€that€action€had€been€taken€to€punish€those€responsible.Ð < ÐÌ76.à b àThere€had€been€extrajudicial€executions€in€May€1995,€presumably€inÐ ‹Â Ðreprisal€for€the€attacks€on€the€security€forces€by€the€LTTE.€€Had€anyÐ N… Ðinvestigation€been€ordered?Ð H ÐÌ77.à b àThe€arming€of€civilian€populations€to€deal€with€insurgency€was€aÐ —Î Ðdisturbing€development.€€He€feared€that€it€might€have€the€undesired€effect€ofÐ Z‘ Ðpromoting€more€violence.Ð T ÐÌ78.à b àThe€Supreme€Court€had€reportedly€taken€the€view€that€the€declaration€of€aÐ £Ú Ðstate€of€emergency€could€not€be€challenged.€€He€drew€attention€to€a€decisionÐ f Ðby€the€Indian€Supreme€Court€to€the€effect€that€the€declaration€of€a€state€ofÐ )`  Ðemergency€could€be€challenged€in€the€courts.Ð ì#! ÐÌ79.à b àHe€agreed€with€Mr.€Klein€that€effective€action€was€undermined€where€thereÐ r©# Ðwere€too€many€overlapping€human€rights€bodies.€€He€would€prefer€to€see€oneÐ 5 l$ Ðstrong,€independent€authority€with€adequate€powers€to€deal€with€human€rightsÐ ø /% Ðviolations.€€When€the€Constitution€was€amended€to€set€up€a€National€HumanÐ »!ò& ÐRights€Commission,€the€Human€Rights€Task€Force€might€perhaps€be€dismantled.Ð ~"µ' ÐÌ80.à b àHe€inquired€what€steps€were€being€taken€by€the€Government€to€promoteÐ $;) Ðhuman€rights€education.Ð Ç$þ* ÐÌ81.à b àHe€also€asked€what€kind€of€relations€existed€between€the€Government€andÐ M&„!, ÐNGOs.€€At€least€one€NGO€had€informed€him€that€the€supplementary€report€had€notÐ 'G"- Ðbeen€circulated€to€it.€€According€to€the€presidential€regulations€promulgatedÐ Ó' #. Ðon€22December1993,€NGOs€were€required€to€register€with€the€Government€andÐ –(Í#/ Ðtheir€income€and€expenditure€were€monitored.€€Such€monitoring€would€surelyÐ Y)$0 Ðimpede€the€free€and€independent€exercise€of€their€functions.€€Were€thoseÐ *S%1 Ðregulations€still€in€force?Ð ß*&2 ÐÌ82.à b àThe€Commission€for€the€Elimination€of€Discrimination€and€MonitoringÐ e,œ'4 ÐofFundamental€Rights€Regulations€had€drawn€attention€to€gender„basedÐ (-_(5 Ðdiscrimination€in€the€area€of€marriage€between€citizens€and€non„citizens.Ð É ÐWhereas€a€fairly€liberal€policy€existed€with€regard€to€the€issue€of€visas€toÐ ŒÃ Ðnon„national€spouses€of€Sri€Lankan€men,€stringent€conditions€governed€theÐ O† Ðissue€of€visas€to€non„national€spouses€of€Sri€Lankan€women.€€That€policyÐ I Ðconstituted€a€violation€not€only€of€articles€2,€paragraph€1,€and€26€of€theÐ Õ  ÐCovenant€but€also€of€article€23,€since€it€would€prevent€a€couple€fromÐ ˜Ï Ðestablishing€its€marital€home€in€Sri€Lanka.Ð [ ’ ÐÌ83.à b àThe€Special€Presidential€Commission€of€Inquiry€Act€had€been€rushedÐ á  Ðthrough€Parliament€in€1975€to€deprive€the€then€opposition€leader€and€formerÐ ¤ Û  ÐPrime€Minister,€Mrs.€Bandaranaike,€of€her€civic€rights€and€to€expel€her€fromÐ g ž  ÐParliament.€€He€understood€that€that€Act€was€still€being€used€by€the€currentÐ * a  ÐGovernment€for€dealing€with€matters€ranging€from€the€assassination€ofÐ í $  Ðimportant€personages€to€allegations€of€large„scale€corruption.€€The€body€thatÐ °ç  Ðcould€be€set€up€under€the€Act€was€not€simply€a€fact„finding€commission.€Ð sª  ÐCriminal€penalties€could€follow€from€its€findings,€from€which€there€was€noÐ 6m  Ðappeal.€€Where€the€commission€found€a€person€guilty€of€certain€acts,€it€madeÐ ù0  Ðarecommendation€as€to€whether€civic€disability€should€be€imposed.€€TheÐ ¼ó  Ðrecommendation€then€went€to€Parliament€for€a€final€decision.€€What€was€theÐ ¶  Ðposition€of€the€Government€with€regard€to€the€Act?Ð By ÐÌ84.à b àòòMr.€POCARóó€said€that€the€Sri€Lankan€delegation€had€referred€to€theÐ Èÿ Ðintroduction€of€ethnic€recruitment€quotas€for€public€service.€€He€understoodÐ ‹Â Ðthat€the€legislation€had€been€challenged€before€the€Supreme€Court€and€that€theÐ N… ÐGovernment€had€in€consequence€decided€to€amend€article€12€of€the€ConstitutionÐ H Ðconcerning€equality.€€He€wished€to€know€whether€the€Supreme€Court's€judgementÐ Ô  Ðhad€been€founded€on€the€principle€of€the€introduction€of€quotas€or€on€the€wayÐ —Î Ðin€which€the€system€was€organized€in€law.€€He€had€some€doubts€about€theÐ Z‘ Ðrevision€of€the€principle€of€equality€in€the€Constitution€to€deal€withÐ T Ðwhatwas€admittedly€a€sensitive€issue.€€The€introduction€of€quotas€could€beÐ à Ðviewed€as€a€kind€of€affirmative€action€to€eliminate€conditions€that€couldÐ £Ú Ðdiscriminate€against€some€sectors€of€the€population.€€The€Committee€had€takenÐ f Ðthe€view€that€such€action€did€not€necessarily€violate€the€principle€ofÐ )`  Ðequality€on€condition€that€it€was€temporary€and€introduced€in€order€to€createÐ ì#! Ðconditions€less€conducive€to€discrimination€in€the€future.€€He€also€referredÐ ¯æ" Ðto€article€25€(c)€of€the€Covenant,€which€provided€for€access,€"on€generalÐ r©# Ðterms€of€equality",€to€public€service.Ð 5 l$ ÐÌ85.à b àòòMr.€FRANCISóó,€referring€to€paragraph€10€of€the€report,€said€that,€as€aÐ »!ò& Ðdeveloping„country€national,€he€was€very€sensitive€to€procedures€forÐ ~"µ' Ðinvestigating€human€rights€violations.€€It€was€surely€a€somewhat€invertedÐ A#x( Ðprocedure€to€refer€violations€first€to€the€Supreme€Court€and€subsequently€toÐ $;) Ðthe€Commission€for€the€Elimination€of€Discrimination€and€Monitoring€ofÐ Ç$þ* ÐFundamental€Rights€Regulations.€€Where€a€criminal€element€was€involved,€heÐ Š%Á + Ðconceded€that€the€criminal€procedure€should€have€priority,€but€where€it€wasÐ M&„!, Ðpurely€a€compensatory€matter,€why€not€have€the€case€first€referred€to€theÐ 'G"- ÐCommission€and€later€on,€if€necessary,€to€the€Supreme€Court?Ð Ó' #. ÐÌÌà@(“àòòThe€meeting€rose€at€1€p.m.óóˆÐ *S%1 Ð