Current Govt unwilling to pursue accountability: UN Human Rights Chief

COLOMBO (News 1st); UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet has said the current Government is unwilling to recognize human rights violations and pursue accountability.

She had mentioned these observations in her report on Sri Lanka for the upcoming 49th UN Human Rights Council sessions that will begin next Monday (28).

In her report, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said militarization and ethno-religious nationalism undermines democratic institutions.

She has pointed out that the marginalization of minority communities undermine the prospects for reconciliation.

The human rights chief has stressed that a comprehensive vision is urgently needed for a genuine reconciliation and accountability process.

She added that deeper institutional and security sector refroms will end impunity and prevent the recurrence of violations in the past.

The reports also refers to the Prevention of Terrorism Act that was presented to Parliament on the 10th of February.

While recognizing the importance of initial steps taken to amend the PTA, Michelle Bachelet added that some parts of the proposed amendments don't comply with Sri Lanka's human rights obligations.

She urged the Parliament and the government to fully consider the recommendations made over the years by UN human rights mechanisms on the PTA.

The report pointed out that the government has not presented a credible new roadmap on transitional justice, two years after withdrawing from the co-sponsorship of the UN Resolution 40/1.

The high commissioner recommended that the finding of the presidential commission that probed the 2019 April 21st attacks must be made public.