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Human Rights Groups Urge Investigation of Sri Lanka War Crimes May 21st, 2010

Human Rights groups, from Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International to the International Crisis Group, are calling for an independent investigation into war crimes by both sides during the traumatic end of the war between the LTTE and government forces one year ago.

In a report released on May 17th, a year after the war’s end, the International Crisis Group cited “reasonable grounds to believe the Sri Lankan security forces committed war crimes” by intentionally shelling civilians, hospitals and humanitarian operations in a final push to destroy the separatist Tigers. In turn, the Tigers reportedly shot civilians who tried to flee rebel areas and held others captive in a bid to raise international pressure for a ceasefire.

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Spring 2010 Issue of JPIC Report Available March 18th, 2010

The Spring 2010 issue of JPIC Report, the newsletter of the US Justice, Peace/Integrity of Creation Office of the Missionary Oblates is now available on line.

This issue features updates on Sri Lanka, Haiti, logging in Bangladesh, immigration, financial regulatory reform, an Eco-Tips page and more.

Read the Spring 2010 Issue (Download PDF)

Loyola Students in Sri Lanka visit War Victims March 12th, 2010

Real reconciliation in war-torn Sri Lanka will take place in large part through people-to-people connection and collaboration. The Churches are working to foster such exchanges. Loyola College students recently visited northern Sri Lanka and learned first hand of suffering from the recent war.

Read their moving account…

2009 State Department Human Rights Country Report on Sri Lanka Now Available March 12th, 2010

The 2009 US State Department Country Reports on Human Rights Practices were released on March 11, 2010.

For the report on Sri Lanka, please go to:

http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2009/sca/136093.htm

The Annual Human Rights reports are put out by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor of the US Department of State.

Sri Lanka cited in Address of UN Human Rights High Commissioner March 5th, 2010

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay highlighted on-going human rights problems in Sri Lanka in a recent address to the UN Himan Rights Council as she presented the UNHCHR 2009 Annual Report.

“In Sri Lanka, I welcome the progress made in returning displaced persons, and hope the review and release of security detainees can similarly be expedited. But the opportunity for peace and reconciliation continues to be marred by the treatment of journalists, human rights defenders and other critics of the Government. I am convinced that Sri Lanka should undertake a full reckoning of the grave violations committed by all sides during the war, and that the international community can be helpful in this regard,” Commissioner Pillay said in her Address to the Human Rights Council.

Commissioner Pillay’s Address to the UN HR Council (Download PDF)

World Bank Projects for Sri Lanka Approved January 8th, 2010

The following World Bank projects for Sri Lanka have been approved:

Sri Lanka: Emergency Northern Recovery Project

$65 million to rapidly return internally displaced people (IDPs), largely ethnic Tamils, to their places of origin in the Northern Province and restore their social and economic lives. The project is expected to reach a total of about 100,000 IDPs.  Read more.

Sri Lanka: Provincial Roads Project

$105 million to improve access to socio-economic centers in Eastern, Northern, and Uva Provinces through the sustainable management of improved road infrastructure. The project will rehabilitate provincial roads, develop and implement an effective maintenance strategy, and strengthen the capacity of the Provincial Council Road Development Departments to plan and manage budgets within a framework of fiscal constraint.  Read more.

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