In advance of 2day's UK parliament debate on #srilanka #humanrights .@SLHinLondon sent MPs a confidential spin document. It claims the new version of the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act will IMPROVE things - not what 11 UN experts said: .@ambikasat ohchr.org/en/press-relea…
It claims the Office on Missing Persons supports families of disappeared in getting legal documents - but it was a struggle even to get the OMP's annual report which is not online!

US senators issue stmt to say the international community must continue to push for justice, transparency, and accountability for human rights violations committed during the civil war to help the people of #SriLanka move forward. 🙏 leahy.senate.gov/press/as-un-ge… The full senate resolution calls for full funding for the #SriLankan accountability project

#srilanka told UN in Geneva the Office on Missing Persons .@ompsrilanka is "inquiring" -
why hasn't it summoned the 58 Div commander from May 2009 @SilvaShavendra to ask why HUNDREDS of people inclu 29 babies & kids disappeared in his custody - named here disappearance.itjpsl.com/#lang=english @ompsrilanka @SilvaShavendra Meanwhile read .@JDSLanka story disappearance.itjpsl.com/#lang=english from year ago on how @ompsrilanka has been asking families for TWENTY documents as part of this "inquiry" process & pushing DEATH certificates.

very very disappointing UN Geneva session on #srilanka in terms of accountability for war crimes &crimes against humanity - esp. systems crimes against inter alia #tamils .@UNHumanRights @UN_HRC

Experts sent private messages saying many of the speeches were like a bad joke. @UNHumanRights @UN_HRC Worth .@UNHumanRights recalling what @raad_zeid said in 2016 as OHCHR chief re the inability of the #srilanka judicial system to deal with international crimes & how the State’s security sector &justice system have been distorted &corrupted by decades of impunity.

6 UN rapporteurs & the working Group write to #srilanka president saying prevention of terrorism act (#PTA) is not compliant with #lka's international law obligations: spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/… - Government response at spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/… They complain about vague legal definitions - esp. regarding INTENT to cause communal disharmony & say language needs amending. Also say PTA might allow 4 unlawful detention, confessions thru #torture + concerned about who can arrest and if law can be retrospectively applied.

As we come up to UN #victimsoftorture day (26 June) let's recall the #srilanka security forces' 'White Vans' (synonymous with abduction & #torture - & sometimes disappearance) date back to the JVP era. They don't really stop & start, depending on the government in power - alas. In 1989 an .@amnesty report said "in a typical case, plainclothes armed men arrived at the victims' home at night, travelling in Pajero keeps or Hiace vans...usually they gave no explanation for taking away the victim..."

amnesty.org/download/Docum…

New UK immigration report says #srilanka continues to operate an extensive intelligence gathering operation in the UK, monitoring protests, surveilling and unencrypted social media. #lka Also for all those who said branding wasn't a thing & alleged the poor old victims actually paid someone to burn them - the UK Home Office now says "injuries which are self-inflicted by proxy are likely to be extremely rare".

Landmark UK immigration case slams lead agency in Reparation process in #srilanka @IOMSriLanka 4 lack of impartiality. IOM reportedly said allegations of discrimination against #tamils were just 'put forward to serve their own ends' Even Home Office called this "quite stark"! @IOMSriLanka This is what the excellent ICJ 2010 Beyond Constraints report on 'rehabilitation' had to say regarding the risks of .@IOMSriLanka being involved in profiling inmates - noting thousands were arbitrarily detained in these military run camps.