SL: AUTHORITIES LET DOWN CITIZENS FOR SELFISH BENEFITS!!!

Today is the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

By Cheranka Mendis


Is it true that all human beings have hearts? Is it true that all people feel hurt and delight? Every person born and living in this world seeks happiness and contentment. So is there any reason why they cannot live in peace together? Do you know what it is to feel hopeless? To be wrapped up in sadness and suffering? Do you know what it feels like to see your hopes and dreams diminished before your eyes? Do you know the feeling of discrimination just because you are born to a family that does not have riches and wealth like another or because you worship a different maker? These are but a few emotions millions of human beings feel every minute of every day throughout the world; emotions of those that have a birthright to the rights of all mankind; the legitimate rules that are supposed to govern our lives to give every human the right to stand up and be accepted whatever the difference maybe. Rights are being violated at a steady pace throughout the world just because we are not prepared to regard everyone in the same way.

Trafficking

Consider the case of Rizana Nafeek, the Sri Lankan working as a house maid in Saudi Arabia. She was sentenced to death (by beheading) by a Saudi court after she was found guilty of strangling the child who was under her care when she, (Rizana) was only 17 years old. She denied the accusation claiming that the death was the result of accidental choking. Rizana had no access to a translator during the initial questioning after she was arrested in 2005. Since confessions are typically written in Arabic and signed by fingerprint, her initial statements were misinterpreted and misrepresented. Also she was not given any legal representation as well. Subsequently the father of the child, Naif Jiziyan Khklafal Otaibi, used his prerogative to pardon Rizana. Putting to death a person who committed a crime under the age of 18 would violate Article 37 of the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child that Saudi Arabia voluntarily signed in February 1996. However, if international organizations did not intervene, Rizana would have followed the tragic plight of four other Sri Lankans beheaded by the Saudi courts. It later came to light that Rizana was recruited illegally as a minor and trafficked to Saudi Arabia on a forged passport indicating that she was not a minor, when in reality she was. It is illegal to bring in foreign workers to Saudi Arabia under the age of 18. An unscrupulous recruitment agent in Colombo may have committed the forgery, thus violating Sri Lankan law and engaging in the trafficking of minors and racketeering. “Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security,” says Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Thereby trafficking is marked as an illegal trade in the international community. Trafficking in person is declared as equal to modern day slavery. Slavery is illegal throughout the world and is a violation of human rights. Thus, Rizana Nafeek was subjected to more than one form of HR violations.

That is just one case. The recent story of the 13 year old girl from the Katuwana, Karavilla area who gave birth to a baby girl is another case which highlights the fact that teenage pregnancy exists even with school going children merely 13 years old even in such a conservative country as Sri Lanka which holds tight to traditions and practices.

Child soldiers

Military use of children in Sri Lanka is another problem that has been internationally recognized since the inception of the Sri Lankan civil war in 1983. The primary recruiters of under age children is the LTTE movement. Before 2007, the LTTE was accused of recruiting thousands of children into their ranks. It has been accused of knowingly recruiting and using child soldiers as front-line troops. However, amidst international pressures the number of child soldiers has declined noticeably. According to the UNICEF, between November 1, 2006 and August 31, 2007, 262 children were recruited by the LTTE. This figure includes 32 children who were re-recruited after being released. This number shows a significant decrease in recruitment as compared to the previous 12 month period which saw the LTTE recruiting 756 children, of whom 97 were re-recruits. Also, LTTE’s Child Protection Authority report released in 2008 claims that there are less than 40 child soldiers, under the age of 18 in the forces. As of January 2008, the LTTE claims that they have stopped child recruitment. However, there is no guarantee that these figures quoted by the LTTE are correct.

Media freedom

Restricting media freedom is another widely discussed problem woven around Sri Lanka and Human Rights. Whatever anyone may say, it is clear that the situation of media freedom has not got any better. It continues even today. Certain media institutes have been ‘attacked’ by certain political leaders within this year for merely serving the citizens with proper news. Tamil journalists in particular along with other journalists are pressured by the government and the LTTE for presenting critical news and views. ‘Freedom of expression,’ one of the basic and the most vital rights that is a necessity for survival itself is broken. The ‘White van’ abductions too, took centre stage in the not too distant past. Out of the hundreds of issues that can be related to ‘Sri Lanka and violation of Human Rights’, these are but a few issues highlighting the main aspects of the misconception of the practice of Human Rights. The reality is graver than it seems.

Independence: key

factor

Human Rights encompasses principles that hold up the vision of an independent, fair and a peaceful world and which set minimum standards for the manner in which individuals and institutions everywhere should treat people. When you debate and criticize the government, when you join an organization, when you practise your own religion and travel overseas; we are using our rights. Although we take it for granted, millions of people worldwide are restricted in enjoying these liberties equally. Human Right violations take place everyday in this country. When a parent or guardian abuses a child, when a family is homeless, when civilians are forced out of their homes due to war, when the minority is looked down upon, when women are paid less than men and when a school does not provide adequate education…someone is being denied his or her right to life. Violation of any form is to treat the person as though he or she were not a human being. To advocate Human Rights is to demand that the human dignity of all people be respected.

Let us make a silent pledge to rebel against the violence against the rights of man. Harm caused today will result in a permanent scar tomorrow. The destruction will be monumental. But the question is, can we move ahead to defend the rights of man when the authorities and persons in high office let down the citizens for their selfish benefits?
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