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DATE=9/9/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-238335
TITLE=SRI LANKA / RIGHTS (L ONLY)
BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN
DATELINE=GENEVA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  AN INTERNATIONAL LAWYERS' GROUP IS CHARGING THAT SRI 
LANKAN SECURITY FORCES HAVE MURDERED THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN THE 
PAST 15 YEARS.  LISA SCHLEIN REPORTS THE GENEVA-BASED 
INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION OF JURISTS IS URGING WHAT IT CALLS SWIFT
AND VIGOROUS PROSECUTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATORS IN SRI LANKA.
TEXT:  THE LAWYERS' GROUP ISSUED A 186-PAGE REPORT THAT SAYS SRI 
LANKAN SECURITY FORCES HAVE BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR THOUSANDS OF 
KILLINGS SINCE 1983.  
BUT, THE REPORT SAYS LITTLE ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN TO PUNISH THOSE
RESPONSIBLE.  A BRITISH LAWYER WHO HEADED THE THREE-MEMBER 
INVESTIGATING TEAM TO SRI LANKA, WILLIAM GOODHART, SAYS THERE HAS
BEEN ONLY A HANDFUL OF PROSECUTIONS.
                     ///  GOODHART ACT  ///
         AND THOSE THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE, CERTAINLY UP TO THE 
         DATE WE VISITED SRI LANKA IN SEPTEMBER OF LAST YEAR, 
         HAVE EITHER ENDED IN ACQUITTALS, OR IN A FEW CASES IN 
         CONVICTIONS OF MINOR OFFENSES. 
                        ///  END ACT  ///
THE REPORT DESCRIBES WHAT IT SAYS ARE CASES OF SRI LANKAN TROOPS 
GOING ON THE RAMPAGE TO AVENGE THE KILLINGS OF COLLEAGUES.  IN 
MANY INSTANCES, IT SAYS, INNOCENT PEOPLE BECAME THE VICTIMS.  
THE REPORT SAYS THERE IS  NO  EVIDENCE SRI LANKA'S GOVERNMENT 
AUTHORIZED THESE KILLINGS.  IT SAYS THEY WERE COMMITTED BY 
MEMBERS OF THE SECURITY FORCES ACTING ON THEIR OWN.  
NEVERTHELESS, THE REPORT CRITICIZES THE SRI LANKAN GOVERNMENT FOR
FAILING TO BRING THE PERPETRATORS TO JUSTICE.  
MR. GOODHART SAYS THE CHIEF REBEL GROUP IN SRI LANKA, THE TAMIL 
TIGERS, ALSO IS GUILTY OF MANY ATROCITIES. 
                   ///  2ND GOODHART ACT  ///
         BUT, THE FACT IS THAT AN ORGANIZED STATE SHOULD  NOT  
         REDUCE ITSELF TO THE LEVEL OF THE TERRORISTS AGAINST 
         WHOM IT IS FIGHTING.  THIS IS A PROBLEM WHICH HAS ARISEN
         IN MANY COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD,  NOT JUST IN THE 
         CASE OF SRI LANKA.  AND, THESE UNLAWFUL KILLINGS ARE 
         SOMETHING THAT FRANKLY CAN NEVER BE JUSTIFIED. 
                        ///  END ACT  ///
THE REPORT SAYS SRI LANKA'S EMERGENCY REGULATIONS AND 
ANTI-TERRORISM LAWS ARE TOO BROAD AND CAN BE USED TO ABUSE THE 
HUMAN AND LEGAL RIGHTS OF INDIVIDUALS.  THE INVESTIGATORS SAY 
THEY ARE PARTICULARLY ALARMED BY WHAT THEY CALL THE EXCESSIVE 
POWERS OF DETENTION WITHOUT TRIAL.  
THE LAWYERS' GROUP SAYS THAT ALTHOUGH THE SRI LANKAN GOVERNMENT 
HAS HAD THE REPORT SINCE APRIL, IT HAS  NOT  YET RESPONDED.  
(SIGNED) 
NEB/LS/JWH
09-Sep-98 9:21 AM EDT (1321 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.