*Another post to follow giving more background.

MACASKILL CALLS FOR POLICE SCOTLAND TO CEASE TRAINING IN SRI LANKA OVER HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES

SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT MUST UPHOLD SCOTLAND’S SUPPORT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

 

Former Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill MP has called on Police Scotland to cease engagement with its counterparts in Sri Lanka until such times as its government adheres to international human rights. Mr MacAskill has written to Keith Brown MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Veterans calling for Sri Lanka to be designated a “Red list” country and urging the Scottish Government to direct Police Scotland to cease any involvement with their counterparts in Sri Lanka if they have not already done so.

 

In addition Mr MacAskill has published a short paper, “Police Scotland and Sri Lanka” (attached) setting out: the background to Police Scotland’s activities in relation to Sri Lanka; the confirmed examples of human rights abuses; and the action which is now required by the Scottish Government and Police Scotland in order to uphold Scotland’s strong reputation for advocating human rights both at home and internationally.

 

In a statement Kenny MacAskill MP said.

 

“There has been a lack of clarity with mixed messages from Police Scotland about their current involvement in Sri Lanka. I am calling for the Scottish Government to confirm that all involvement in the training of police Scotland has ceased. If that is not the case then the Scottish Government must intervene and direct Police Scotland to cease all involvement in the training of police forces in Sri Lanka until such times as its government adheres to and upholds internationally accepted human rights.

“It is now clear that the political situation in Sri Lanka has changed and deteriorated significantly since Police Scotland first got involved in training Sri Lankan forces following the end of the civil war. Under the current government there has been considerable change to policing and clear violations of human rights, including police brutality. A number of Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) have confirmed these human rights violations and abuses.

 

“The work of Police Scotland’s International development unit has been rightly praised and this work should continue. Sri Lankan authorities are using Police Scotland as cover to deny repression and breaches of human rights. Therefore it is incumbent on the Scottish Government, Police Scotland and any other governmental agency that none of their activities can in any way be seen as legitimising Sri Lanka’s human rights abuses.

 

“Scotland has a long tradition of supporting human rights both at home and abroad. Scotland’s reputation for advocating strongly for human rights requires the Scottish Government and Police Scotland to provide the assurances being sought”.

LETTER TO KEITH BROWN MSP

 

29 August 2021

 

 

Mr Keith Brown MSP

Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Veterans

Scottish Government

St Andrew’s House

Regent Road

EDINBURGH

EH3DG.

Dear Cabinet Secretary

 

Police Scotland and Sri Lanka

 

I write following confirmed reports of human rights violations and abuses in Sri Lanka to ask you to confirm that Police Scotland have ceased all involvement in the training of police in Sri Lanka. If that is not already the case I urge the Scottish Government to direct Police Scotland to cease such involvement until such times as its government adheres to and upholds internationally accepted human rights.  There has been a lack of clarity with mixed messages from Police Scotland about their current involvement in Sri Lanka.  For the avoidance of doubt the Scottish Government must intervene to confirm involvement has ceased or will cease.

                                                                                                                                   

It is now clear that the political situation in Sri Lanka has changed and deteriorated significantly since Police Scotland were first involved in training Sri Lankan forces following the end of the civil war.  Under the current government there has been considerable change to policing and clear violations of human rights, including police brutality.

2021 saw Sri Lankan police being implicated in several unlawful deaths. Covid 19 quarantine and restrictions have been brutally enforced by the police with people receiving beatings for alleged breaches.

You will be aware that The International Truth and Justice Project (ITPJ) has been calling for the UK to assess its training program with Sri Lankan police since 2016. In addition the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) have confirmed these human rights violations and abuses.

The work of Police Scotland’s International development unit has been rightly praised and this work should continue.

While there is absolutely no suggestion that what Police Scotland provide to Sri Lanka is in itself unacceptable. The work is specific and those being trained are being given skills which will be beneficial to the country. However, the Sri Lankan authorities are using Police Scotland as cover to deny repression and breaches of human rights. Deputy Inspector General of the Sri Lankan Police replied to the UN Committee Against Torture stating that Sri Lankan police worked in “collaboration with the Scottish Police college since 2011”.

Therefore it is incumbent on the Scottish Government, Police Scotland and any other governmental agency that none of their activities can in any way be seen as legitimising Sri Lanka’s human rights abuses.

 

Scotland has a long tradition of supporting human rights both at home and abroad.  Our deserved reputation for advocating strongly for human rights, including through the work of Police Scotland’s  International development unit cannot be undermined by an active association with the police force of a country whose government are complicit in human rights abuses and police brutality.

 

I urge you to take the action necessary and to provide the assurances sought.

 

Yours sincerely

 

Kenny MacAskill MP