APRIL 1995 SUMMARY AI INDEX: ASA 37/04/95

This External Document Summary is by the International
Secretariat of Amnesty International, 1 Easton Street, London WC1X
8DJ (Tel +44-71-413-5500, Fax +44-71-956-1157)
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DISTR: SC/CO/GR

Shortly after it took office in August 1994, the new Government of Sri Lanka announced that it would set up three commissions of inquiry into human rights violations which had occurred since January 1988. The commissions started work in January 1995 and within two months had reportedly received information on some 30,000 cases of "disappearance".

While welcoming this initiative Amnesty International is urging the government to strengthen the commissions. It is concerned that their vague mandate and the restrictions on their functions could prevent them from fully investigating and exposing the massive and systematic human rights violations in Sri Lanka's past.

Amnesty International believes that the work of these commissions could be a key factor in preventing future violations in the country. It is therefore calling on the government to ensure that any shortcomings in the commissions are rectified.

Amnesty International believes that establishing the truth about past human rights violations and abuses and providing compensation and rehabilitation for the victims and their families are important steps towards ensuring that human rights are respected in the future.

This report stresses that the government must bring to justice those responsible for violations. Amnesty International believes that only by tackling the impunity enjoyed by the perpetrators of human rights violations can the horrors of the recent past be prevented from ever happening again.

This report also contains a number of observations and recommendations to the members of the commissions and the government regarding the criteria which Amnesty International believes are essential for any investigative body entrusted with the task of bringing to light past human rights violations and abuses.

KEYWORD: INVESTIGATION OF ABUSES1 / DISAPPEARANCES1 / EXTRAJUDICIAL EXECUTION1 / IMPUNITY1 / EXHUMATION / WITNESSES / COMPENSATION / GOVERNMENT CHANGE / ARMED CONFLICT1 / GOVERNMENT CHANGE / NON-GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES / MILITARY / POLICE /

This report summarizes a 25-page document (9,527 words), Sri Lanka: Time for Truth and Justice (AI Index: ASA 37/04/95), issued by Amnesty International in April 1995. Anyone wanting further details or to take action on this issue should consult the full document.

INTERNATIONAL SECRETARIAT, 1 EASTON STREET, LONDON WC1X 8DJ,
UNITED KINGDOM
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