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Can the UN high commissioner for human rights see through the GoSL smokescreen?

Will the UN high commissioner for human rights, be exposed to the real Jaffna situation during her short visit today? Do the victim’s families have the opportunity to meet the Commissioner?

Even if they do, do they have the protection to say what is really in their mind? Without ensuring such protection, what will be achieved by her visit? Tamil people fear that her visit might be used to legitimize the status quo. What is this status quo?

The gross statistics on death and disappearance in Jaffna is known to everyone. It must also now be obvious to Ms Louise Arbour that even during her stay in the island there is no let down of the state assisted death and disappearance. What are not yet fully exposed are: the reason behind these violations, that the Sri Lankan military machine is conducting this death theatre, and the fear among people which is paralyzing any efforts to expose the reality.

Given this context, it is not surprising that the stories of the families of the victims do not reach the outside world. What little that reaches out paints a picture of a military rule in which anyone who dares to challenge its authority, however peacefully, are eliminated. People are eliminated: if they dared to ask questions, if they refused to hand over large sums of money, if they refused to sleep with them or if they refused to work for them.

We have sent the details of one such case to Ms Louise Arbour, where the family has now managed to get out of Jaffna and are able to speak without much fear.

We hope it will assist her to see through the smokescreen put up the GoSL during her visit and see the reality.

12 October 2007

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