War-affected women appeal to future president

Representatives of women directly impacted by the war in Sri Lanka have appealed to the next president, whoever it might be, to publicly acknowledge the challenges this segment of society faces. They have also put forward a list of demands. This includes that those being held under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) without charge should be released immediately or charged based on sound and credible evidence. They have also asked that trials, including ongoing ones, of those charged under the PTA be expedited. The statement, which is titled ‘An Appeal to the Next President of Sri Lanka’, is signed by 152 persons and organizations. It calls on candidates “to publicly acknowledge the situation faced by a significant number of women across Sri Lanka”. “A public recognition of the situation of the thousands unaccounted for is vital if we as a country are to move forward. We also list several demands that must be addressed if peace and reconciliation are to be viable in Sri Lanka,” it says. “Since the announcement of elections and campaigning in late 2014, we have observed the promises and pledges by all candidates and hoped there would be recognition of the issues faced by women affected by the war and post war conditions in Sri Lanka,” it continues. It says that, more than five years after the end of the war, women across Sri Lanka face numerous challenges rebuilding their lives. “Throughout the war, women all over Sri Lanka called for answers to the whereabouts of their missing loved ones and justice for the wrongs that occurred,” the statement notes. “This continues in the post war context.” The most recent presidential commission appointed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa has moved at a snail’s pace on around 20,000 complaints that were received. Meanwhile, many women who search for their loved ones “face threats, abuse and assault”, the signatories say. “Jeyakumari Balendran, whose son surrendered to the security forces, has been detained since 13 March 2014 without being produced in court or formally charged,” they assert. “Vibooshika, her 13 year old daughter, is separated from her and placed in the care of the State with limited visitation rights. The injustice Ms. Balendran has faced is not an isolated incident but indicative of the situation faced by many such families.” “Regardless of all these odds, thousands of women have gone before national commissions, committees and courts and appealed to international actors, including the United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances (UNWGEID) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, to call for answers,” they assert. Around 89,000 women headed households in the former war areas struggle to address livelihood needs, look after their remaining family and in many cases also look for their missing loved ones. Among their demands is a call to “immediately publish a list of those who are detained, the reasons for their detention and the places where they are detained”. This list should be shared with their family and legal counsel. It also urges that there be unhindered access of family and legal counsel to all who are detained; that persons are only held at gazetted detention centres and that all unofficial detention centres be closed; that constitutional safeguards and due process rights are protected in the conduct of arrests and detentions; that an effective witness and victim protection mechanism be introduced; and that action is taken against anyone who threatens, coerces and harasses individuals who continue to search for their missing loved ones. Among other demands is a repeal of the PTA and reform in investigative processes, including amending the Commissions of Inquiry Act to ensure future restorative and retributive processes are transparent. The signatories also want the future president to “address the issue of intimidation and surveillance of war affected communities including former combatants and families of the disappeared”. They call for respect for the freedom of association and expression and for space for civil society, women’s groups and community groups to be able to function freely without undue control and pressure from the State. “This should include space for families and affected communities to mourn their dead,” the statement says.