TORTURE: ASIAN AND GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES | FEB - APR 2014
VOLUME 03 NUMBER 01 & 02
VOICE FROM THE GRASSROOTS
Photo: Mr. Prasanga Fernando, human rights defender based in Colombo, Sri Lanka
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH LET US FIGHT FOR JUSTICE THIS is a new feature we have introduced with this issue. Voice of the Grassroots is aimed at interviewing activists based in each country to create a space for to shed light on their activities. We spoke to Prasanga Fernando, a human rights defender for NGO, Right 2 Life in Sri Lanka. Following are experts of the interview: Torture Magazine (TM): Many mass graves have been found in Sri Lanka within a short space of time. Many human rights organizations assisted in finding them and making the discoveries known both inside and outside the country. You are a human rights defender working on this relevant and crucial issue. How do you become involved? Prasanga Fernando (PF): No one can deny the bitter history we passed through in the last few decades. The governments we “elected� engaged in mass disappearances and extrajudicial killings since early 70s. Therefore, a large number of mass graves
have been found around the country. Those who were killed by the government deserve justice. At least the cause of their deaths should be discovered. These dead souls are asking for justice. We, as the people have a prime responsibility to stand up on their behalf before we too become victims of these atrocities. We saw a slightly difference [sic] policy implemented during the government of former President Chandrika Bandaranaike. The government was urged to conduct proper investigations on the mass grave found in Suriyakanda, Ratnapura district, where number [sic] of School children were killed and buried. However, very much like other
135