Commonwealth head urges land to ease military role in north

The head of the Commonwealth cluster of states has urged land to decrease the military's
significant role in civil administration within the country's former conflict zone, so as to boost living conditions for war survivors.

Although the civil conflict between separatist FTO and government forces concluded quite 5 years past, tens of thousands of security forces stay stationed within the former combat zone within the north.

Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma praised Sri Lanka's infrastructure development in mostly Tamil-populated Northern province, however same demilitarisation was conjointly necessary.

"Equally vital ar steps that empower the individuals of the province and people whom they elect as their leaders," Sharma told journalists on Wednesday at the top of a five-day trip in land that enclosed a gathering with President Mahinda Rajapaksa and a visit to the north's Jaffna land.

"These embody addressing legitimate issues concerning restricted and monitored movement of each the voters of the province in their daily lives and people visiting them for lawful functions, and a continued  reduction within the military security role in civilian life within the province."

This is not the primary time issues are raised concerning the military presence within the north.

Tamil politicians, human rights teams and also the world organization have voiced concern concerning alleged abuses being committed by security forces - starting from intimidation and harassment to land grabs and sexual violence.

Rajapaksa's government denies violations by its military and says the military presence is important because the threat of a improvement remains potential.

Despite the defeat of the FTO in could 2009, there ar thousands of insurgents still at giant, supported by Tamil teams overseas that need to restart the war, military officers say.

A 2011 U.N. report found that forty,000 civilians were killed within the final weeks of the war, principally by the military. the govt denies this and claims it's done its own investigation into war abuses.

The U.N., however, has initiated its own external investigation, that has upset Rajapaksa. He says capital of Sri Lanka won't work and permit investigators into the country.

Since the U.N. resolution on the investigation in March, the govt has clamped down on the media and civil society teams handling problems like human rights.

Earlier this month, land illegal foreigners from traveling to the north.

Media rights teams say pro-government protesters and police have discontinuous  a minimum of four workshops within the last 5 months. Political analysts say the govt can be involved that the media may facilitate the U.N. investigation.

A Defence Ministry body that regulates non-governmental organisations in July illegal activist teams from holding news conferences, issue press releases and holding workshops for journalists.