[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 104 (Thursday, June 21, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E887-E888]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HUMAN RIGHTS CONCERNS IN SRI LANKA

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 21, 2018

  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, yesterday we held a hearing on 
human rights concerns in Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan civil war ended 
almost 10 years ago this May. The 25-year war cost an estimated 100,000 
lives and displaced hundreds of thousands more. The civil war was a 
brutal ethnic conflict between the majority Sinhalese and minority 
Tamils; both sides--the Sri Lankan Armed Forces and the rebel ``Tamil 
Tigers''--have been credibly accused of unimaginable war crimes.
   To this day, justice for many of the victims remains elusive. 
Although many observers hoped that the reformist government of 
President Sirisena would increase access to justice, focus on human 
rights, emphasize transparency and accountability, and improve the rule 
of law, his administration has been criticized for having an inadequate 
response. Despite having run on a platform of ethnic reconciliation, 
President Sirisena has done little to mend the ties between the groups, 
and the political polarization has increased among both ethnic groups.
   As one of our experts, J.S. Tissainayagam, attested, there has been 
no progress on holding those responsible for war crimes to account. And 
he will describe forced disappearances of Tamils and torture were 
endemic during the war. Much of this was facilitated by the draconian 
Prevention of Terrorism Act, or the PTA. The PTA has yet to be 
repealed, and is still in use by the government and security forces. 
Whereas most Tamils nowadays simply desire some semblance of self-
governance and federalism, their areas in the north and eastern part of 
the island are increasingly militarized.
   A concerning development in Sri Lanka is the resurgence of Sinhalese 
Buddhist nationalism. As one of our expert witnesses, Dr. Michael 
Jerryson, described, this particularly virulent strand of nationalism 
preaches exclusion of other ethnic and religious minorities, with 
Buddhist fundamentalists in groups such as the BBS saying ``This is not 
a multi-religious country. This is a Sinhalese country.''
   What of the minority groups, such as the predominantly Hindu Tamils, 
then? Or the Muslims, who constitute a distinct minority, or the 
Christians, who can be either be Sinhalese or Tamil? If the character 
of Sri Lanka is solely Buddhist and Sinhala, there is little room for 
these ethnic and religious minorities to thrive, and reconciliation 
will remain a far off goal.
   Unfortunately, the trend is heading in the opposite direction--in 
local elections in February of this year, a newly formed Buddhist 
nationalist party gained 45 percent of the vote, beating the government 
coalition combined. Furthermore, in March of this year, Sinhalese mobs 
engaged in an anti-Muslim pogrom after a local dispute, forcing the 
President to declare a state of emergency.
   Sri Lanka's stability is of critical importance to the United States 
national interests. Strategically located in the sea-lanes linking the 
Persian Gulf to East Asia, this island-nation has seen a spike in 
recent activity by the Chinese. China's strategy globally is one of 
indebting countries and binding them in servitude so it can extract 
resources, so it is safe to say that Beijing's initiatives will not 
emphasize ethnic reconciliation and/or human rights. This presents the 
United States with an opportunity to stand up for justice and the rule 
of law and to oppose China's malign influence.
   After a brutal war that cost an unconscionable loss of life, we must 
do better to help Sri Lanka get on the right page again. The country 
has promise and the people deserve better. Once all sides recognize 
this, this island-nation will finally have some semblance of peace.

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