Why in news?
Recently the UN released a report on the progress of reconciliation efforts by the Sri Lankan government.
What did the report say?
- The UN warned that a range of serious abuses, including torture, still appear to remain widespread in Sri Lanka.
- The report said the prevailing culture of impunity for perpetrating torture has undoubtedly contributed to this situation.
- It acknowledged that the govt had made positive advances on constitutional and legal reforms, land restitution and symbolic gestures towards reconciliation.
- But it cautioned that the measures taken so far had been inadequate, lacked coordination and a sense of urgency.
- It urged the govt and people of Sri Lanka to prioritise justice alongside reconciliation to ensure that the horrors of the past are firmly dealt with and never to recur again.
- Report also made recommendations including urging the govt to prioritise the return of private land that has been occupied by the military, adopt laws allowing the creation of a hybrid court and invite the UN rights office to establish a presence in the country.
Where did the present regime failed to act?
- In 2015, when Sri Lanka agreed to a host of measures at the UNHRC, including a judicial process to look into the war crimes, hopes were high.
- The present govt also came to power on a promise that he would restore the rule of law, end the country's international isolation and take steps towards reconciliation with the Tamil ethnic minority.
- But, key issues such as establishing a hybrid judicial mechanism and returning the military-occupied lands to Tamil civilians in the north and east still has made no tangible progress.
- Issues such as continuing use of excessive force and arbitrary arrests suggest that the government is either not serious in changing its way or is simply incapable of doing so.
- The delay in providing relief is alienating the govt’s allies, eroding the faith of the public and also giving more time to the opposition to regroup itself.
- Thus, its time, the present govt seize the moment and swiftly start addressing the core issues.
Source: The Hindu
