The Crisis of Impunity in Sri Lanka
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Authority without accountability: The crisis of impunity in Sri Lanka November 2012 Authority without Accountability: THE CRISIS OF IMPUNITY IN SRI LANKA| 2 The Sri Lanka team comprised senior human rights advocate and ICJ consultant for the Study, Kishali Pinto-Jayawardena and research associates Gehan Gunetilleke and Prameetha Abeywickreme, Attorneys-at-Law. Dr J. de Almeida Guneratne, President’s Counsel reviewed the report in Sri Lanka. Basil Fernando, Director of the Asian Human Rights Commission and Sri Lankan Attorney-at-Law contributed perspectives during the drafting. Revisions on the international law were made by Ian Seiderman, Sam Zarifi, Sheila Varadan and Reema Omer. The researchers wish to thank retired and sitting judges of the superior and subordinate courts in Sri Lanka as well as Sri Lankan legal practitioners whose generously shared views were of considerable value during the writing of this document. Their names are kept confidential on their request. The law and facts are stated as at 26 October 2012. Composed of 60 eminent judges and lawyers from all regions of the world, the International Commission of Jurists promotes and protects human rights through the Rule of Law, by using its unique legal expertise to develop and strengthen national and international justice systems. Established in 1952 and active on the five continents, the ICJ aims to ensure the progressive development and effective implementation of international human rights and international humanitarian law; secure the realization of civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights; safeguard the separation of powers; and guarantee the independence of the judiciary and legal profession. © Copyright International Commission of Jurists The ICJ permits free reproduction of extracts from any of its publications provided that due acknowledgment is given and a copy of the publication carrying the extract is sent to its headquarters at the following address: International Commission of Jurists P.O. Box 91, 33, Rue des Bains, Geneva, Switzerland E-mail: [email protected] www.icj.org Authority without Accountability: THE CRISIS OF IMPUNITY IN SRI LANKA| i Table of Contents ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS .......................................... IV EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .............................................................. 1 INTERNATIONAL LEGAL FRAMEWORK .................................... 10 1. International Law Applicable to Sri Lanka.............................................10 2. The Judiciary.........................................................................................17 2.1 Judicial Independence.......................................................................... 17 2.2 Impartiality of the Judiciary .................................................................. 18 2.3 Institutional and financial autonomy ...................................................... 18 2.4 Appointment ...................................................................................... 19 3. The Role of Lawyers and Prosecutors in the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights .........................................................................................19 4. International Law on States of Emergency............................................21 4.1 Judicial Oversight................................................................................ 23 4.2 The Right to a Remedy in a State of Emergency ...................................... 23 5. Impunity ...............................................................................................24 CHAPTER 1: FORTY YEARS OF EMERGENCY: THE NEXUS BETWEEN EMERGENCY LAWS AND STATE ACCOUNTABILITY .. 25 1. Historical Context .................................................................................25 1.1 Post independence period..................................................................... 25 2. Emergency laws under the 1978 Constitution .......................................28 3. The Public Security Ordinance No. 25 of 1947 (PSO) ............................29 4. The Prevention of Terrorism Act (Temporary Provisions) Act No. 48 of 1979 (PTA) .................................................................................................31 4.1 Admission of Information obtained by torture or cruel, inhumane or other degrading treatment or punishment ............................................................. 36 5. Emergency Regulations.........................................................................37 6. Prevention of Terrorism Regulations 2011 ............................................40 7. The Case Law ........................................................................................43 7.1 Will Courts intervene in the legality of orders issued under the PTA and the ER? 43 8. Conclusion: The Emergency Regime and Impunity ................................47 CHAPTER 2: IMMUNITY UNDER THE CONSTITUTION AND LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK .................................................... 48 Authority without Accountability: THE CRISIS OF IMPUNITY IN SRI LANKA| ii 1. Presidential Immunity ............................................................................49 1.1. The basis for presidential immunity....................................................... 49 1.2. Restrictions on presidential immunity .................................................... 49 2. Statutory Immunities............................................................................56 2.1. The Indemnity Act .............................................................................. 56 2.2. The Penal Code and the Criminal Procedure Code.................................... 57 2.3. Constitutional Restrictions and Implied Immunities in re the Armed Forces. 59 2.4. Applicability of the Army Act ................................................................ 60 2.5. Military Tribunals are competent to try serious human rights violations in Sri Lanka .................................................................................................. 62 3. Conclusion ............................................................................................67 CHAPTER 3: THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE ATTORNEY- GENERAL ................................................................................ 70 1. Historical Evolution of the Role of the Attorney-General .......................70 1.1. The politicization of the office............................................................... 70 2. Functions of the Attorney-General’s Department ..................................79 2.1 The Practice of nolle prosequi ............................................................... 79 3. Other Statutory powers of the Attorney-General...................................85 3.1 The Attorney-General Practices – Release Magistrate Inquiry Reports......... 86 3.2 Attorney-General Discretionary Power Misused – Transfers of Cases .......... 87 3.3 Sanction for Offences against Public Officials........................................... 89 3.4 Prosecutorial Decision – Notice to the Original Complainant ...................... 90 3.5 Attorney-General Practices – Double Indictments .................................... 91 4. The Role of the Attorney-General in prolonging detention under the PTA and Emergency Regulations.................................................................92 4.1 Arbitrary arrest and detention – The role of the Attorney-General .............. 93 5. Review or Revision of Prosecutorial Decisions ......................................98 6. Criticism of the Attorney-General – UN Treaty Bodies ...........................99 6.1 Committee Against Torture................................................................... 99 6.2 The UN Human Rights Committee ....................................................... 101 7. The Representational Policy of the Attorney-General ..........................103 7.1 Habeas corpus applications................................................................. 103 7.2 Fundamental Rights Applications ......................................................... 105 8. Commissions of Inquiry and the Role of the Attorney-General ............106 8.1 A critique of the role of the Attorney-General in COIs............................. 106 9. CONCLUSION ......................................................................................115 CHAPTER 4: SRI LANKA’S CRISIS OF IMPUNITY................... 117 1. Emblematic Cases of Impunity ............................................................117 1.1 Five Students in Trincomalee Case (2006) ............................................ 117 1.2 The Action Contre la Faim Case (2006) ................................................ 119 1.3 The Bindunuwewa case (2000) ........................................................... 122 1.4 The Mylanthanai Massacre Case (1992)................................................ 124 Authority without Accountability: THE CRISIS OF IMPUNITY IN SRI LANKA| iii 1.5 Richard de Zoysa (1990).................................................................... 125 2. Acquittals under the Convention against Torture Act ..........................127 2.1 Nandini Herath (2001) ....................................................................... 128 2.2 Lalith Rajapakse Case (2002) ............................................................. 129 2.3 The Gerard Perera Case (2002)........................................................... 130 3. Cases involving the use of information obtained by Torture................132