Govt. is firm in its commitment to eradicate torture: Mangala

The Government was firm in its commitment to eradicate torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatments and uphold relevant international legal standards, Minister of Foreign Affairs Mangala Samaraweera recently said.

Addressing the Launch of Civil Society Network Joint Alternative Report to the Committee against Torture at Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute, Mr. Samaraweera said the Government had committed to eliminate torture and take action where required as a Government that stands for good governance and rule of law.

“During armed conflict, allegations often range from harm committed on suspects by armed forces and the police, to extra-judicial killings. The end of conflict and the ensuing time of peace are also characterised by concerns over practices by law enforcement authorities that have similar effects on the civilian population,” he added. He said torture had no place in civilized society and torture cannot be justified in any situation, or under any circumstances whether it was national security, fight against terrorism, threat of armed conflict, or in a public emergency.

“Torture is a terrible crime. It is prohibited under all circumstances without exception. This is true in customary law, under the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and other relevant Conventions,” he added.

He said the related authorities should be futuristic in our vision

Torture is a terrible crime. It is prohibited under all circumstances without exception. This is true in customary law, under the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and other relevant Conventions

of eliminating torture and denouncing torture from society, as an uncivilised practice. He also said it was necessary to get away from this arcane and primitive mindset that without torture that it is impossible to get a confession in fact.

“It is important that investigative techniques should shift from the possible use of torture as a means of obtaining confessions, to the deployment and use of modern tools of investigation,” he added.