‘The government is a failure’

Leader of Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, Rauff Hakeem, MP, expressed serious concerns over continuing human rights violations when he received a six-member European Union (EU) delegation here to review the Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+), at Darusalaam, on Tuesday (28).

The former Minister alleged that minority Muslims were being targeted and that the government brazenly used the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) to hunt down opposition parties and those who fight for democracy and human rights. SLMC Chief Hakeem and his Party Secretary, Nizam Kariapper, PC highlighted what they called were the worst kinds of human rights violations were occurring in the country in recent times.

The EU delegation, comprising Nikolaos Zaimis, Senior Adviser on Trade and Sustainable Development, Ionnis Giogkarakis-Argyropoulos, Head of Division South Asia, European External Action Service (EEAS), Guido Dolara, Coordinator GSP Trade Preferences, Lluis Prats – Head of Unit, Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, European Commission, and Monika Bylaite, Desk Officer for Sri Lanka and the Maldives, EEAS, met MP Hakeem and Kariapper.

The EU delegation inquired about the SLMC’s views on the current situation in the country. The EU’s query prompted the SLMC representatives to declare that the PTA was being used as a tool for harassment of certain people and communities.

They recalled the detention of lawyer and public litigation activist Hejaaz Hizbullah. “He is detained for nearly a year and a half. He is the only lawyer who has been detained under the PTA”. The MP reiterated to the EU delegation that the lawyer’s unwarranted detention has been mentioned in the EU Parliament’s resolution that was adopted in June 2021.

MP Hakeem said that the lawyer could be released on bail and the case could continue in court, but the government had determined to keep him under the PTA and use his detention for its political goals.

Similarly, several young people, the elderly and women have been detained without any charges, the MP said.

The police have detained Hizbullah over his alleged links with those involved with 2019 Easter Sunday attacks.

The former Minister also highlighted the controversy over Muslim religious matters, especially the amendments to be made to the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act (MMDA), and said it was fully resolved by the community. Nevertheless, beyond that, the government has been overstepping and intervening in these affairs. “We made it very clear that this government needs to make some changes in its efforts to intervene without the need for a separate legal process for Muslims”, he added.

“We also should discuss the matter with the Minister of Justice. We have also made it very clear to the EU that these should not be allowed to become an issue in which the government unnecessarily deprives minorities of their rights. At the same time, we have also told the EU delegation that we are keen on and agree with all the provisions for the full granting of Muslim women’s rights”.

In addition, to the Muslim-related issues, the MP has stressed that the current government’s emergency legislation should be lifted. He noted that the emergency law had been used to curtail freedom of expression, demonstrations, and anti-government activities in the country.

The SLMC Leader said the government had not taken measures to curb the actions of the Buddhist monks who were spreading hate speech when the people were facing a crisis situation in the country.

“Our intention is not to halt the GSP Plus benefits for Sri Lanka, but we know it depends on the way the government extends its support to contain the ongoing human rights abuses in the country. We have expressed that we are not satisfied with the government and that the government is a failure”, he added.

“It’s not satisfactory as the Opposition and those who are concerned about human rights and therefore we have urged the EU to take the necessary steps to get the Government on the right track by taking alternative measures.

He also said the government should explicitly show that it is refraining from backing the Buddhist monks. “Besides, there should be punishment for inciting and acting on hate speech, but we don’t want to see that happen. It is the pro-government media that gives the opportunity for them to use the platform and the government should take measures to stop them”.

At the same time, these monks who were speaking out on behalf of state intelligence and the upper echelons of government, leave a strong suspicion that the government was behind the move. The government needed to act with transparency, he said.

The MP also condemned the series of gazette notifications that had been released by the government. They had no meaning as they did not control the prices of commodities. “The government is a failure”, he said.