Campaign for Victims' Rights and Justice on International Human Rights Day 2024
Date : 11.12.2024
International Human Rights Day was observed today, 11th December 2024, in Trincomalee, organized by the Eastern Province District Civil Network with the support of the Aham Humanitarian Resource Center (AHRC). The event aimed to spotlight critical human rights issues affecting the people living in the Northern and Eastern provinces of Sri Lanka.
The event brought together a diverse group of attendees, including Tamils, Muslims, and Sinhalese from the Trincomalee, Batticaloa, and Ampara districts. Among the participants were women-headed families, sectoral civil organizations, relatives of the disappeared, families of victims of extrajudicial killings, farmers, landless individuals, those denied their rights to religious worship, fishermen, women, civil activists, and journalists.
Key Demands Raised by Participants
The participants of the Human Rights Day event highlighted several urgent demands, including:
-
Stopping land grabbing in the North-East.
-
Ensuring justice, truth, and accountability for the disappeared.
-
Guaranteeing non-recurrence of past human rights violations.
-
Justice for mass killings.
-
Repealing the Prevention of Terrorism Act.
-
Releasing political prisoners.
-
Providing compensation for affected farmers.
-
Offering relief to fishermen.
-
Addressing the multifaceted issues faced by women.
A central demand was the establishment of a permanent political solution to the 76-year-old national ethnic conflict.
The Campaign March and Public Event
The campaign began with a march from the Trincomalee Sivan Temple and concluded at the Kullakottan Hall. Upon reaching Kullakottan Hall, a public event was held where affected individuals from the Eastern Province presented their grievances. The event was chaired by Mr. Rajinod Sutharthan, President of the Eastern Province Civil Network.
Notable Attendees
Prominent figures who attended the event included:
-
Mr. K. Mathivannan, Divisional Secretary of Town and Gravets.
-
Mr. Rajasrgar, Private Secretary to the Eastern Provincial Governor.
-
Mr. Abdul Latheef Issadeen, Regional Coordinator of the Trincomalee Regional Office of the Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission.
-
Mr. Kandumani Lavakusarasa, AHRC Coordinator.
-
Mr. Alagurasan Mathan, Assistant Coordinator.
Presentation of Issues and Submission of Petition
During the event, affected individuals voiced their concerns and presented their expectations for sustainable solutions to relevant authorities. A petition summarizing these demands was read by Ms. Mireka Nageswaran, a Women Human Rights Defender, and forwarded to the President through the appropriate channels.
Press Conference
The day concluded with a press conference led by affected individuals, amplifying their call for justice and long-term resolutions to the challenges they face.
