Sri-Lanka / France - human rights

Emergency laws must end, says French envoy

Article published on the 2009-11-07 Latest update 2009-11-08 16:55 TU

Refugees in northern Sri-Lanka.
(Photo: Reuters)

France is calling for Sri Lanka to end the state of emergency it declared to deal with Tamil separatists. Speaking on a three-day visit to the country, Ambassador for Human Rights François Zimeray called on Colombo to withdraw the status, which allows suspects to be detained for long periods without trial.

“Ending the emergency should have been the first consequence of ending the war,” said Zimeray, “the fact that the conflict is over should be an opportunity to put an end to emergency laws.”

Zimeray is in Sri-Lanka as a special envoy of French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner. During the visit he has met with key Sri Lankan leaders and has said he expected to improve dialogue with the country after 37 years of ethnic fighting.

While praising the authorities for winning the decades-long conflict over the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in May, he called for greater press freedom in the country and more room for dissent.

“Defeating terrorism is an achievement in terms of human rights,” he said, “but it does not allow any regime to behave in violation of human rights.”

Zimeray also said that the government had to ensure the freedom of settlement for tens of thousands of Tamil civilians displaced by the fighting in the north of the island country.