DOCSLIB.ORG

Challenges of Transitional Justice in Sri Lanka

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Challenges of Transitional Justice in Sri Lanka Women and Female Ex-Combatants: Challenges of Transitional Justice in Sri Lanka By Nirmala Indumathie Dias Paranavitana Date of Re-Submission – March 2016 A thesis submitted for the degree of Master of Philosophy at The Australian National University Canberra, Australia Acknowledgements I wish to acknowledge several important people who supported me to complete this research project. First and foremost Dr Tyrell Haberkorn my principal supervisor who has made much dedication towards giving me advice and insights to complete this project. I express my deepest gratitude to her for reading my drafts and important questions to build my analysis. This project would not have seen the light of the day without her commitment. I also would like to thank Professor Edward Aspinall who has been one of secondary supervisors who have given important insights to authenticate my discussions within the project. I have also received helpful advices from Dr Cecilia Jacobs who also one of my secondary supervisors during the past two years. I thank you sincerely for advising and encouraging me during my study programme. I also express my sincere thanks to Professor Greg Fealy, Head of the Department of Political and Social change for all the guidance he has provided and most importantly the comments he had made after each presentation I made in the past two years. I thank all the staff and students at the Department of Political and Social Change and in particular the departmental administrator, Julie Fitzgibbon. I also thank Thuy Do and Hamish Daley for their advice in framing my arguments, reading my chapters and giving important and useful comments. I sincerely express my deepest gratitude to Thuy Pham who dedicated her time to editing this thesis. I thank all the participants, academics, government officials and the experts who sincerely helped me with gathering field work data. Without the details and insights obtained it would not have been possible to bring in a unique perspective to this project. I also take this opportunity to thank the Ausaid for granting me a scholarship to carry out this study on behalf of the women victims in post conflict Sri Lanka. I would also like to mention i Gina Abarquez from the Ausaid Liaison Office at ANU for all the support and guidance she has rendered throughout my study at ANU. It is also important to mention the Ministry of External Affairs for all the support it has given to me in undertaking this study and I importantly mention the posting I have competed in Myanmar and my tenure at the United Nations Division which laid the basis for this study on human rights to evolve. I also mention at this point my husband who has continuously given steadfast encouragement tome to undertakehigher studies,especially a research project that is important for Sri Lanka. I thank my daughters Upadhya and Shona, together with my husband, for all the sacrifices they have made for this project to realise a successful project. ii Abstract Civilian Women and Female Ex-Combatants in Sri Lanka: Challenges of Transitional Justice With the end of the three decade long conflict between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the Government Security Forces in 2009, the population of civilian women and female ex-combatants in the North and East which comprised the majority of the total Sri Lankan population were faced with post conflict issues that created obstacles to restoring their lives. The Panel of Experts appointed by the Secretary General of the United Nations for Sri Lanka asserted that the Government of Sri Lanka should implement a transitional justice program as part of post conflict peace-building. However, during the process of implementation, the idea and practice of transitional justice was challenged by the socio-cultural system in the North and East of Sri Lanka. This thesis examines the nature of tensions that arise between the main stakeholders of transitional justice, i.e. civilian women and female ex-combatants, and the socio- cultural system that exists in North and East of Sri Lanka. In this thesis, I argue that transitional justice for Sri Lanka should look into the socio-cultural norms that pose an obstacle to the implementation process. As much as the two concepts of restorative and retributive justice are in tension with each other, during the implementation process, transitional justice was further challenged by different post conflict contexts, and socio- cultural systems within which civilian women and female ex-combatants live. Through employing selective comparison of transitional justice processes in others post conflict contexts, this thesis explores the feasibility of combining and sequencing transitional justice mechanisms in Sri Lanka to adopt a justice process which goes beyond retribution. It also assesses the possibility of combining Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration Programmes (DDR) for ex- combatants with transitional justice mechanisms to ascertain the feasibility of such an approach for Sri Lanka. In order to cement my findings, data collected during fieldwork interviews with iii civilian women and female ex-combatants in the North and East of Sri Lanka in early 2013 are utilised to make a clear distinction between the transitional justice policy proposed by the United Nations and the Government approach. This study contributes to the transitional justice scholarship as a critique of its application in the unique post conflict context of Sri Lanka, while also assessing the role of women within transitional justice mechanisms, while taking into account the civilian women and female ex-combatants. iv Contents Acknowledgements i Abstract iii Chapter 1 Introduction 01 1. Transitional justice in Sri Lanka 07 1.1 Background 07 1.2 Emergence of LTTE and the conflict 11 1.3 Emergence of Women’s Wing in the LTTE 15 1.4 Evolution of Transitional justice in Sri Lanka 18 2. Literature Review 21 2.1 Transitional Justice 21 2.3 Transitional Justice Mechanisms 23 (a) Truth telling (b) Amnesty 2.4 Justice 30 2.5 Reconciliation 34 2.6 Retributive Justice and Restorative Justice 35 2.7 Gender 37 2.8 Gender Justice and reconciliation 39 2.9 Gendered Sexual Violence 40 2.10 Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) 42 3. Methodology 46 4. Chapter Outline v 51 Chapter 2 Transitional Justice in Sri Lanka 53 1. Gender and Transitional Justice in Sri 53 Lanka 1.1 Setting the stage: Evolution of transitional justice in Sri Lanka 2. Transitional Justice Mechanisms 55 2.1 Implementation of mechanisms in Sri Lanka 58 2.2 Truth Telling process in Sri Lanka 58 2.3 The Amnesty process in the Sri Lankan context 63 2.4 Practice of Amnesty: Buddhism and Hinduism in Sri Lanka 69 2.5 Amnesty and women challenges 74 3. Weighing the Efficacy 79 3.1 Impact of Social Cultural Contexts 82 3.2 Impact of advancement of human rights 85 3.3 Gender in Transitional Justice 89 Chapter 3 Justice and reconciliation for Sri Lanka 94 1. Gender Justice and reconciliation for Sri Lanka 98 1.1 Justice and reconciliation 98 1.2 Gender Justice and Reconciliation 101 2. Gender Justice and Reconciliation for women in Sri Lanka 106 2.1 Retributive Justice and Reconciliation in Sri Lanka 109 2.2 Gender justice 111 vi 2.3 Sexual Violence 112 2.4 Retributive Justice for Gender-based Violence 117 2.5 Amnesties 121 3. Women insecurity due to social cultural reasons 123 3.1 Caste and Customs 124 3.2 Retributive Justice vs. Reconciliation 129 3.3 Conclusion 133 Chapter 4 Disarmament Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) 135 a way forward for Sri Lanka 1. DDR and Transitional Justice in Sri Lanka 137 1.1 Prosecutions 139 1.2 Truth telling 151 1.3 Amnesty 153 2. Gender, DDR & Reconciliation 157 3.Challenges for designing, policy making and evaluating DDR in Sri Lanka 174 3.1 Economic Integration 178 3.2 Social Integration 187 Chapter 5 Conclusion 195 vii Chapter 1 Introduction This thesis will discuss the applicability of transitional justice to the challenges ahead of women and female ex-combatants in post-conflict Sri Lanka. With the end of the three-decade long conflict between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the Government Security Forces in 2009, the population of women in the North and East which comprised the majority of the total Sri Lankan population, were faced with post-conflict issues that created obstacles to restoring their lives. Amidst these critical challenges, the United Nations Secretary General appointed a Panel of Experts to advise him and to investigate the ways in which the Government of Sri Lanka could address challenges that fall within international human rights and humanitarian law. The Panel of Experts appointed by the Secretary General of the United Nations for Sri Lanka asserted that the Government of Sri Lanka should implement a transitional justice program as part of post-conflict peace-building (Andrieu 2010). Transitional justice is a process of peace building that is undertaken in a post-conflict phase judicially or non-judicially. Judicially, retributive justice takes place through trials, prosecutions and vetting programmes. Non- judicially, restorative justice takes place through truth commissions that lead to reintegration programmes for victims of conflict, civilian women and female ex-combatants in particular. Retributive justice that aims to address human rights violations through legal remedies focuses on repairing the crimes committed and bringing legal justice to the victims. Restorative justice promotes healing rather than hurting, moral learning, community participation 1 and community caring, respectful dialogue, forgiveness, responsibility, apology and making amends and, finally, citizens’ empowerment. However, tensions occur when these two aspects of justice are combined as transitional justice is implemented in different cultural contexts. The situation becomes even more perplexing when transitional justice is implemented with respect to post-conflict women’s issues.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia List of Commanders of the LTTE
    4/29/2016 List of commanders of the LTTE ­ Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia List of commanders of the LTTE From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia The following is a list of commanders of theLiberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), also known as the Tamil Tigers, a separatist militant Tamil nationalist organisation, which operated in northern and eastern Sri Lanka from late 1970s to May 2009, until it was defeated by the Sri Lankan Military.[1][2] Date & Place Date & Place Nom de Guerre Real Name Position(s) Notes of Birth of Death Thambi (used only by Velupillai 26 November 1954 19 May Leader of the LTTE Prabhakaran was the supreme closest associates) and Prabhakaran † Velvettithurai 2009(aged 54)[3][4][5] leader of LTTE, which waged a Anna (elder brother) Vellamullivaikkal 25­year violent secessionist campaign in Sri Lanka. His death in Nanthikadal lagoon,Vellamullivaikkal,Mullaitivu, brought an immediate end to the Sri Lankan Civil War. Pottu Amman alias Shanmugalingam 1962 18 May 2009 Leader of Tiger Pottu Amman was the second­in­ Papa Oscar alias Sivashankar † Nayanmarkaddu[6] (aged 47) Organization Security command of LTTE. His death was Sobhigemoorthyalias Kailan Vellamullivaikkal Intelligence Service initially disputed because the dead (TOSIS) and Black body was not found. But in Tigers October 2010,TADA court judge K. Dakshinamurthy dropped charges against Amman, on the Assassination of Rajiv Gandhi, accepting the CBI's report on his demise.[7][8] Selvarasa Shanmugam 6 April 1955 Leader of LTTE since As the chief arms procurer since Pathmanathan (POW) Kumaran Kankesanthurai the death of the origin of the organisation, alias Kumaran Tharmalingam Prabhakaran.
    [Show full text]
  • Impact of Terrorist Attacks on Tourist Arrivals: Received: 01-04-2021 Accepted: 03-05-2021 Evidence from Sri Lanka
    International Journal of Tourism and Hotel Management 2021; 3(2): 01-08 E-ISSN: 2706-9591 P-ISSN: 2706-9583 IJTHM 2021; 3(2): 01-08 Impact of terrorist attacks on tourist arrivals: Received: 01-04-2021 Accepted: 03-05-2021 Evidence from Sri Lanka Priyanga Dunusinghe Department of Economics, Priyanga Dunusinghe and BMPK Beligahawaththa University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka Abstract BMPK Beligahawaththa Sri Lanka is a one of the leading tourist destinations in the world. The successive governments took Department of Economics, various policy measures to develop the tourism industry despite the facing a 30-year long civil war. University of Colombo, The end of the war in 2009 was seen as an opportunity to unleash the potential of the sector. Colombo, Sri Lanka Nevertheless, the Easter Sunday terrorist attack casts doubt on to what extent Sri Lanka will be able to make use of the sector for her socio-economic development. In the context of the above attack, this study expect to examine the impact of terrorist attacks on the tourism industry. The study make use of secondary data extracted from national statistical agencies. Our findings clearly indicate that tourism industry suffered a lot following terrorist attacks. It was found that tourist arrivals and tourism receipt were lower by around 20 per cent in a year which witnessed terrorist attacks compared to a normal year. Similarly, in the short-run, employment in the industry declined by around 11 per cent following a major terrorist attack on civilian target. The findings suggest that it is high time to enhance the capacities for the security establishments to minimize the risks pose by various terrorist organizations.
    [Show full text]
  • Socio-Religious Desegregation in an Immediate Postwar Town Jaffna, Sri Lanka
    Carnets de géographes 2 | 2011 Espaces virtuels Socio-religious desegregation in an immediate postwar town Jaffna, Sri Lanka Delon Madavan Electronic version URL: http://journals.openedition.org/cdg/2711 DOI: 10.4000/cdg.2711 ISSN: 2107-7266 Publisher UMR 245 - CESSMA Electronic reference Delon Madavan, « Socio-religious desegregation in an immediate postwar town », Carnets de géographes [Online], 2 | 2011, Online since 02 March 2011, connection on 07 May 2019. URL : http:// journals.openedition.org/cdg/2711 ; DOI : 10.4000/cdg.2711 La revue Carnets de géographes est mise à disposition selon les termes de la Licence Creative Commons Attribution - Pas d'Utilisation Commerciale - Pas de Modification 4.0 International. Socio-religious desegregation in an immediate postwar town Jaffna, Sri Lanka Delon MADAVAN PhD candidate and Junior Lecturer in Geography Université Paris-IV Sorbonne Laboratoire Espaces, Nature et Culture (UMR 8185) [email protected] Abstract The cease-fire agreement of 2002 between the Sri Lankan state and the separatist movement of Liberalisation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), was an opportunity to analyze the role of war and then of the cessation of fighting as a potential process of transformation of the segregation at Jaffna in the context of immediate post-war period. Indeed, the armed conflict (1987-2001), with the abolition of the caste system by the LTTE and repeated displacements of people, has been a breakdown for Jaffnese society. The weight of the hierarchical castes system and the one of religious communities, which partially determine the town's prewar population distribution, the choice of spouse, social networks of individuals, values and taboos of society, have been questioned as a result of the conflict.
    [Show full text]
  • Signatory ID Name CIN Company Name 02700003 RAM TIKA
    Signatory ID Name CIN Company Name 02700003 RAM TIKA U55101DL1998PTC094457 RVS HOTELS AND RESORTS 02700032 BANSAL SHYAM SUNDER U70102AP2005PTC047718 SHREEMUKH PROPERTIES PRIVATE 02700065 CHHIBA SAVITA U01100MH2004PTC150274 DEJA VU FARMS PRIVATE LIMITED 02700070 PARATE VIJAYKUMAR U45200MH1993PTC072352 PARATE DEVELOPERS P LTD 02700076 BHARATI GHOSH U85110WB2007PTC118976 ACCURATE MEDICARE & 02700087 JAIN MANISH RAJMAL U45202MH1950PTC008342 LEO ESTATES PRIVATE LIMITED 02700109 NATESAN RAMACHANDRAN U51505TN2002PTC049271 RESHMA ELECTRIC PRIVATE 02700110 JEGADEESAN MAHENDRAN U51505TN2002PTC049271 RESHMA ELECTRIC PRIVATE 02700126 GUPTA JAGDISH PRASAD U74210MP2003PTC015880 GOPAL SEVA PRIVATE LIMITED 02700155 KRISHNAKUMARAN NAIR U45201GJ1994PTC021976 SHARVIL HOUSING PVT LTD 02700157 DHIREN OZA VASANTLAL U45201GJ1994PTC021976 SHARVIL HOUSING PVT LTD 02700183 GUPTA KEDAR NATH U72200AP2004PTC044434 TRAVASH SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS 02700187 KUMARASWAMY KUNIGAL U93090KA2006PLC039899 EMERALD AIRLINES LIMITED 02700216 JAIN MANOJ U15400MP2007PTC020151 CHAMBAL VALLEY AGRO 02700222 BHAIYA SHARAD U45402TN1996PTC036292 NORTHERN TANCHEM PRIVATE 02700226 HENDIN URI ZIPORI U55101HP2008PTC030910 INNER WELLSPRING HOSPITALITY 02700266 KUMARI POLURU VIJAYA U60221PY2001PLC001594 REGENCY TRANSPORT CARRIERS 02700285 DEVADASON NALLATHAMPI U72200TN2006PTC059044 ZENTERE SOLUTIONS PRIVATE 02700322 GOPAL KAKA RAM U01400UP2007PTC033194 KESHRI AGRI GENETICS PRIVATE 02700342 ASHISH OBERAI U74120DL2008PTC184837 ASTHA LAND SCAPE PRIVATE 02700354 MADHUSUDHANA REDDY U70200KA2005PTC036400
    [Show full text]
  • Environmental Assessment Report Sri Lanka
    Environmental Assessment Report Initial Environmental Examination – Provincial Roads Component: Mannar–Vavuniya District Project Number: 42254 May 2010 Sri Lanka: Northern Road Connectivity Project Prepared by [Author(s)] [Firm] [City, Country] Prepared by the Ministry of Local Govern ment and Provincial Councils for th e Asian Development Bank (ADB). Prepared for [Executing Agency] [Implementi ng Agency] The initial environmental examination is a document of the borrower. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of AD B’s Board of Di rectors, Management, or staff, and may be preliminary The views expressed herein are those of the consultant and do not necessarily represent those of ADB’s in nature. members, Board of Directors, Management, or staff, and may be preliminary in nature. LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ADB - Asian Development Bank BIQ - Basic Information Questionnaire CCD - Coast Conservation Department CEA - Central Environmental Authority CEB - Ceylon Electricity Board CSC - Consultant Supervision Consultant DBST - Double Bituminous Surface Treatment DCS - Department of Census and Statistics DoF - Department of Forestry DoI - Department of Irrigation DoS - Department of Survey DSD - Divisional Secretariat Division DWLC - Department of Wild Life Conservation EA - Executive Agency EMP - Environmental Management Plan EMo - Environmental Monitoring Plan EPL - Environment Protection Liaison ESCM - Environmental Safeguards Compliance Manual GND - Grama Niladhari Division GoSL - Government of Sri Lanka GSMB - Geological
    [Show full text]
  • India's Sri Lanka Policy
    APRIL 2008 IPCS Research Papers IInnddiiaa ’’ss SSrrii LLaannkkaa PPoolliiccyy Towards Economic Engagement BBrriiaann Orllaanndd IInnssttiittuuttee ooff PPeeaaccee aanndd CCoonnflliicctt SSttuuddiieess NNeww DDeellhh1 ii,, IINNDDIIAA @ 2008, Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies (IPCS) The Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies is not responsible for the facts, views or opinion expressed by the author. The Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies (IPCS), established in August 1996, is an independent think tank devoted to research on peace and security from a South Asian perspective. Its aim is to develop a comprehensive and alternative framework for peace and security in the region catering to the changing demands of national, regional and global security. Address: B 7/3 Lower Ground Floor Safdarjung Enclave New Delhi 110029 INDIA Tel: 91-11-4100 1900, 4165 2556, 4165 2557, 4165 2558, 4165 2559 Fax: (91-11) 4165 2560 Email: [email protected] Web: www.ipcs.org CONTENTS Executive Summary............................................................................................................. 4 Introduction......................................................................................................................... 3 India’s Strategic Interests in Sri Lanka............................................................................... 6 India’s Sri Lanka Policy: An Assessment............................................................................ 9 The Road Ahead.................................................................................................................22
    [Show full text]
  • SRI LANKA COUNTRY of ORIGIN INFORMATION (COI) REPORT COI Service
    SRI LANKA COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION (COI) REPORT COI Service 7 March 2012 SRI LANKA 7 MARCH 2012 Contents Preface Latest News EVENTS IN SRI LANKA FROM 4 FEBRUARY TO 2 MARCH 2012 Useful news sources for further information REPORTS ON SRI LANKA PUBLISHED OR ACCESSED BETWEEN 4 FEBRUARY TO 2 MARCH 2012 Paragraphs Background Information 1. GEOGRAPHY ............................................................................................................ 1.01 Map ........................................................................................................................ 1.08 Public holidays ..................................................................................................... 1.09 2. ECONOMY ................................................................................................................ 2.01 3. HISTORY (1948 – JUNE 2011) ................................................................................... 3.01 Key political events (1948 - June 2011) .......................................................... 3.01 The internal conflict (1984 - May 2009) ........................................................... 3.21 Government treatment of (suspected) members of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) ................................................................................................. 3.32 The conflict's legacy ........................................................................................ 3.48 The UN Report of April 2011 .........................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • India's Sri Lanka Policy
    APRIL 2008 IPCS Research Papers IInnddiiaa ’’ss SSrrii LLaannkkaa PPoolliiccyy Towards Economic Engagement Brian OOrrlaandd IInnsstiittute oof Peeaaccee aanndd CCoonflicctt SStudieess NNeew DDellh1 ii,, IINDDIIA @ 2008, Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies (IPCS) The Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies is not responsible for the facts, views or opinion expressed by the author. The Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies (IPCS), established in August 1996, is an independent think tank devoted to research on peace and security from a South Asian perspective. Its aim is to develop a comprehensive and alternative framework for peace and security in the region catering to the changing demands of national, regional and global security. Address: B 7/3 Lower Ground Floor Safdarjung Enclave New Delhi 110029 INDIA Tel : 91-11-4100 1900, 4165 2556, 4165 2557, 4165 2558, 4165 2559 Fax : (91-11) 4165 2560 Email : [email protected] Web: www.ipcs.org CONTENTS Executive Summary ...................................................................................................................... 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 3 India and Sri Lanka: A Short Note............................................................................................. 4 India’s Strategic Interests in Sri Lanka....................................................................................... 7 India’s Sri Lanka Policy: An Assessment................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Rethinking Peace and Conflict Studies Titles Include
    Rethinking Peace and Conflict Studies Series Editor: Oliver P. Richmond, Professor, School of International Relations, University of St. Andrews, UK Editorial Board: Roland Bleiker, University of Queensland, Australia; Henry F. Carey, Georgia State University, USA; Costas Constantinou, University of Keele, UK; A.J.R. Groom, University of Kent, UK; Vivienne Jabri, King’s College London, UK; Edward Newman, University of Birmingham, UK; Sorpong Peou, Sophia University, Japan; Caroline Kennedy-Pipe, University of Sheffield, UK; Professor Michael Pugh, University of Bradford, UK; Chandra Sriram, University of East London, UK; Ian Taylor, University of St. Andrews, UK; Alison Watson, University of St. Andrews, UK; R.B.J. Walker, University of Victoria, Canada; Andrew Williams, University of St. Andrews, UK. Titles include: Roland Bleiker AESTHETICS AND WORLD POLITICS Morgan Brigg THE NEW POLITICS OF CONFLICT RESOLUTION Responding to Difference Susanne Buckley-Zistel CONFLICT TRANSFORMATION AND SOCIAL CHANGE IN UGANDA Remembering after Violence Jason Franks RETHINKING THE ROOTS OF TERRORISM Vivienne Jabri WAR AND THE TRANSFORMATION OF GLOBAL POLITICS James Ker-Lindsay EU ACCESSION AND UN PEACEMAKING IN CYPRUS Roger MacGinty NO WAR, NO PEACE The Rejuvenation of Stalled Peace Processes and Peace Accords Carol McQueen HUMANITARIAN INTERVENTION AND SAFETY ZONES Iraq, Bosnia and Rwanda Sorpong Peou INTERNATIONAL DEMOCRACY ASSISTANCE FOR PEACEBUILDING Cambodia and Beyond Sergei Prozorov UNDERSTANDING CONFLICT BETWEEN RUSSIA AND THE EU The Limits of Integration
    [Show full text]
  • Hindus in South Asia & the Diaspora: a Survey of Human Rights 2007
    Hindus in South Asia and the Diaspora: A Survey of Human Rights 2007 www.HAFsite.org May 19, 2008 “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights” (Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948, Article 1) “Religious persecution may shield itself under the guise of a mistaken and over-zealous piety” (Edmund Burke, February 17, 1788) Endorsements of the Hindu American Foundation's 3rd Annual Report “Hindus in South Asia and the Diaspora: A Survey of Human Rights 2006” I would like to commend the Hindu American Foundation for publishing this critical report, which demonstrates how much work must be done in combating human rights violations against Hindus worldwide. By bringing these abuses into the light of day, the Hindu American Foundation is leading the fight for international policies that promote tolerance and understanding of Hindu beliefs and bring an end to religious persecution. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) Freedom of religion and expression are two of the most fundamental human rights. As the founder and former co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on India, I commend the important work that the Hindu American Foundation does to help end the campaign of violence against Hindus in South Asia. The 2006 human rights report of the Hindu American Foundation is a valuable resource that helps to raise global awareness of these abuses while also identifying the key areas that need our attention. Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) Several years ago in testimony to Congress regarding Religious Freedom in Saudi Arabia, I called for adding Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists to oppressed religious groups who are banned from practicing their religious and cultural rights in Saudi Arabia.
    [Show full text]
  • Annual Performance and Accounts
    වා৒ක කායසාධන හා 燒귔 වාතාව nraw;jpwd; mwpf;ifAk;වාතාව tUlhe;j燒귔 fzf;FfSk; ANNUAL PERFORMANCE REPORT & ACCOUNTS 뷒ස්ත්‍රික් ල කමක කායා ය- ම엊නාරම khtl;lr; nrayfk; - kd;dhh; DISTRICT SECRETARIAT-MANNAR ANNUAL PERFORMANCE REPORT & ACCOUNTS -2018 MANNAR DISTRICT Contents 1. Message 1.1 District Secretary / Government Agent ................................................ III 2. Introduction to the District Secretariat 2.1. Vision Mission, Objective ....................................................................... 01 2.2. Activities of the District Secretariat & Divisional Secretariats ................... 02 3. Introduction of the District 3.1. Situation of the District ........................................................................... 04 3.2. Historical important of the District ....................................................... 05 3.3. Natural Resources of the District ........................................................... 09 3.4. Lively Hood and Economic Patterns of this District ............................ 09 3.5. Irrigation Activities of District ............................................................... 10 3.6. The distribution of the population of the District ................................ 11 3.7. Weather Report ....................................................................................... 12 3.8. Basic Statistical Information of the District ......................................... 12 4. Organization structure and cadre 4.1. Organizational Chart .............................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Practice of Animal Sacrifice and Religious Discrimination in The
    religions Article The “Abhorrent” Practice of Animal Sacrifice and Religious Discrimination in the Global South Danielle N. Boaz Africana Studies Department, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Garinger 133, 9201 University City Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28223, USA; [email protected] Received: 31 January 2019; Accepted: 26 February 2019; Published: 6 March 2019 Abstract: In September 2018, the majority Buddhist government of Sri Lanka approved draft legislation banning animal sacrifice at Hindu Temples. The Cabinet referred to these sacrifices as a “primitive” practice that can cause physical and mental harm to society. Similarly, the Federal Supreme Court of Brazil is presently evaluating the constitutionality of a proposed bill banning animal sacrifice in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. Proponents of this bill argue that animal rights supersede the religious freedom of the adherents of Afro-Brazilian faiths who perform these sacrifices. They further contend that the practice of animal sacrifice poses a threat to public health. Through the evaluation of these cases, this article will consider the relationship between animal sacrifice and religious freedom in the Global South. Using Brazil and Sri Lanka as examples, it will explore how laws and litigation protecting animal welfare can often be a guise for racial discrimination and religious intolerance. Keywords: Brazil; Sri Lanka; religious freedom; animal sacrifice; religious intolerance Introduction In September of 2014, the High Court of Himachal Pradesh in India wrote a 110-page decision banning the practice of animal sacrifice in the jurisdiction. The Justices described these ritual slaughters as “abhorrent and dastardly,” and argued that new rites “which are based on reasoning and scientific temper” should supplant “superstitions” that have no place “in the modern era of reasoning.” (Sharma et al.
    [Show full text]