Switzerland demands investigation into violations in Sri Lanka
Published: Monday, Sep 9th 2024, 14:10
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Switzerland has called for an investigation into evidence of arbitrary arrests, abuse and torture during anti-drug operations by the army in Sri Lanka. At the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Monday, it called for those responsible to be prosecuted.
Switzerland is "alarmed" by the adoption or proposal of "new repressive laws" in this country, said the Swiss ambassador to the United Nations (UN) in Geneva, Jürg Lauber. Like the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, before him, he denounced in particular the laws on online security and against non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
Switzerland was also concerned about the retention of the Terrorism Prevention Act. This was being used to suppress fundamental freedoms, complained Lauber.
On Monday, Türk repeated his call for the authorities to guarantee civil rights. Presidential elections will be held in Sri Lanka in less than two weeks and parliamentary elections will follow in a few months.
©Keystone/SDA
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