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CAMPAIGNERS have written to the Scottish government calling for transparency in Police Scotland’s involvement in training of forces in Sri Lanka implicated in human rights abuses.
Scotland’s Justice Secretary Keith Brown has been urged to publish full details of a review of Police Scotland training for Sri Lankan police and the government is being urged to end the programme.
Human Rights Watch, Freedom from Torture, the Sri Lanka Campaign for Peace & Justice and Pax Christi Scotland said not doing so could risk appearing to endorse the actions of the country’s abusive police force.
Reports of torture and extrajudicial killings by Sri Lankan police, as well as patterns of abuse carried out by officers, have surfaced in recent months.
Scottish officers have given training since 2013, reportedly focused on gender-based and domestic violence. But earlier this month a spokesman for Sri Lankan police confirmed that the force does not intend to detain or legally pursue men who threaten or abuse their wives.
The camapigners say the current training does not live up to the Scottish government’s commitment to human rights, and they are concerned that no amount of “training” is going to bring significant improvements in human rights practices in Sri Lanka.
“Instead, continued training efforts merely appear to endorse the actions of an abusive police force,” a joint statement from the rights groups said. “We urge you, as the minister responsible, to ensure that Police Scotland is not engaged in a relationship that is in conflict with your government’s values and stated commitment to upholding human rights.
“The current training programme should be halted until the Sri Lankan government and police demonstrate a genuine willingness to reform.”
A government spokesman said that all training is underpinned by human rights, and the decision to continue lies with Police Scotland.
A spokeswoman for Police Scotland said that values of integrity, fairness, respect and a commitment to upholding human rights are at the heart of everything they do, and the continued support given there is constantly reviewed.
