EU Delegation’s Semmani Visit Must Lead to Action, Not Political Symbolism: Activist

Social justice activist and coordinator of the National Organization for the Release of Political Prisoners, Rev. M. Sakthivell, has said that the visit of the European Union delegation to the Chemmani Mass Grave site should not be limited to observation or become a political exercise.

Issuing a media statement on Sunday (26), Rev. M. Sakthivel described the Chemmani mass grave as a significant site linked to allegations of serious human rights abuses during Sri Lanka’s conflict and said that the voices of victims seeking justice continue to be reflected through ongoing investigations and excavations at the site.

He stressed that the EU delegation’s visit should go beyond a symbolic gesture and urged the delegation to consider the evidence gathered, information received, and the long-standing demands of affected communities.

Rev. M. Sakthivel called for the incidents that occurred during Sri Lanka’s conflict to be openly addressed at the international level, including allegations of war crimes and genocide.

In his statement, he said that decades of discrimination and suffering experienced by Tamils reached a peak during the Mullivaikkal events in 2009, and claimed that challenges faced by Tamil communities have continued even after the end of the armed conflict.

He further alleged that the situation involved not only human rights violations but also systematic oppression, which he said has been recognized as a matter of international concern.

Rev. M. Sakthivel noted that discussions on Sri Lanka have continued at international forums, including the United Nations, since the end of the war in 2009, but claimed that successive Sri Lankan governments have failed to fully implement recommendations made by the UN Human Rights Council.

He also stated that despite the visit of former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk to Chemmani, affected Tamil communities have yet to receive meaningful outcomes.

Highlighting the importance of the Chemmani site and the events of Mullivaikkal, Rev. M. Sakthivel urged the European Union to give special attention to Sri Lanka’s past conflict-related allegations and take appropriate measures at the international level.

He added that the pursuit of justice by Tamil communities should not be influenced by international political interests and called for a new approach from the European Union in addressing the issue.