End Emergency Laws, Amnesty Tells Sri Lanka’s New Parliament

Amnesty International (AI) has urged Sri Lanka’s new parliament to end the emergency laws currently in place. The human rights group issued a statement, days before the first sitting of Sri Lanka’s new parliament on Thursday.

"Sri Lanka must repeal these laws and end impunity for human rights violations if it wants to move forward," said Madhu Malhotra, deputy director of AI’s Asia-Pacific program.

The war between the military and the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), that waged on for nearly three decades, ended last May. However, month after month, lawmakers have continuously voted to extend the state of emergency in the country.

"The war is over,” Malhotra said in the statement. “Perpetuation of the emergency is now just being used as a weapon against political opposition.”

AI said it is concerned that “security forces have used the general threat of their wide-ranging powers under the emergency laws to intimidate people,” but the organization failed to cite any specific examples in the statement.

During the final stages of the war, the government faced criticism for human rights violations. Though the international community continues to pressure the government to address issues such as violence against journalists, disappearances and unsolved murders, many of the countries have adopted a somewhat softer tone after the government’s sweeping victory in both the presidential and parliamentary elections.

During the daily press briefing at the U.S. State Department Wednesday, Philip CrowleyPhilip Crowley, the assistant secretary for the Bureau of Public Affairs, said the United States will continue to encourage Sri Lanka to move forward, putting the conflict in the past.

“There appears to be a significant mandate coming out of this recent election, and the government should use that mandate to help continue the healing process within Sri Lankan society,” Crowley said.