The National Peace Council (NPC)

In recent weeks the National Peace Council has become increasingly concerned by arrests, as well as the indirect intimidation, of those who seek to offer an objective view based on their own observations which is independent of the view of government authorities. This is particularly in respect of the humanitarian situation in the North.  Although the Government has severely restricted independent access to these areas, such censorship has not proved to be effective in changing the opinions of the International Community. Although NPC recognises the need to prevent the dissemination of false information about the Vanni, it feels that direct or indirect censorship is unlikely to be productive. Transparent and independent verification is essential in maintaining Sri Lanka's legitimacy in the eyes of the international community.

NPC notes that the Government has expressed its determination to improve the conditions in these areas.  We think such improvements should be brought to the notice of the outside world. NPC also believes that the ethnic conflict is best resolved in a democratic environment and that the pre-requisite of a healthy democracy is the opportunity to form and express opinions, through freedom of information and independent critical thinking.  Such freedoms will help the government to obtain objective views that provide a range of options in finding a solution to the challenges the country faces. These assessments are also essential to enlighten the ordinary citizens on the possible consequences of available options, so that the pros and cons of each option may be freely discussed and their merits compared. Without a free space for dialogue opportunities to transform the root causes of Sri Lanka’s conflict may be missed.

In this context, the National Peace Council is very concerned about the recent arrest of Shantha Fernando, a senior official of the National Christian Council and a human rights activist.  He was reportedly detained at the international airport whilst en route to a seminar in India on the prevailing humanitarian crisis in Sri Lanka.  It is understood that his detention is sought to be justified by his possession of material that the government considers to be adverse to the country's security interests.  Some senior leaders of the present government have, when in the opposition, faced similar problems when taking information out of the country and, as such, are in a position to be more understanding of the commitment that drives human rights activists.  NPC holds deep reservations about the arrest and continued detention of Mr Fernando and calls for his release.

NPC also refers to the editor of the Sudar Oli newspaper, N Vithyatharan who was arrested on the grounds that he had information concerning the most recent suicide attack on Colombo by the air wing of the Black Tigers.  As the editor of a leading Tamil newspaper, there is no reason to doubt that Mr. Vithyatharan and his staff were actively involved in investigating this incident at the time it was occurring, as indeed would any other responsible journalist working for a media organisation with daily output.  Although NPC outright rejects any suicide attack due their morally irreprehensible nature, it believes that the media has a right to seek information regarding such incidents in order to disseminate them to the public.

NPC also expresses its dismay at the arrest of the owner of Poobalasingam bookstore, a well known books shop that sells publications in the Tamil and English languages.  This was on the grounds of selling one of the issues of Ananda Vikadan, a Tamil magazine published in Chennai. The issue in question included a story on the LTTE air attack on Colombo with photographs of LTTE members.  Ananda Vikadan magazine is a respected family magazine that has been imported into Sri Lanka from India for over thirty years. Whilst NPC welcomes the decision to release Mr Sritharasing, it believes that if the government disapproved of a story it could simply have confiscated this particular edition of the magazine.

The three arrests and detentions outlined above are all indicative of the shrinking democratic space for dissent and alternative perspectives. NPC is concerned that this could be a precursor to the erosion of further democratic rights as part of the government’s fight against terrorism, which is being fought to protect these very same freedoms.   Such actions would undermine the credibility of such claims of moral legitimacy by the Government.  In addition, we also raise the worsening problem of abductions and extortion by unidentified groups and individuals.  Whether opportunistic or deliberate, these criminal acts are intimidating the civilian population. While emphasizing the need for a political solution, NPC believes the democratic rule of law remains essential for the peaceful coexistence of Sri Lankan society.

NPC acknowledges the complex nature of the present crisis, in which a bitter war is being fought in a conflict zone inundated by civilians and resulting in heavy casualties for all sides. However, we also call for respect for democratic rights and freedoms by all those involved.  As the surest means of conflict transformation, NPC believes it is an imperative to work more speedily towards a political solution to the ethnic conflict on the lines proposed by the All Party Conference summoned by the President.  NPC believes such a solution must be broadened by inclusion of the democratic opposition, including the UNP, TNA and JVP, and accompanied by an environment in which free and unfettered discussion by all sections of the country’s polity is possible.

Governing Council

The National Peace Council is an independent and non partisan organisation that works towards a negotiated political solution to the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka. It has a vision of a peaceful and prosperous Sri Lanka in which the freedom, human rights and democratic rights of all the communities are respected. The policy of the National Peace Council is determined by its Governing Council of 20 members who are drawn from diverse walks of life and belong to all the main ethnic and religious communities in the country.