Ground being prepared for int’l war crimes probe; Steven Ratner addresses Geneva-based diplomatic community
In the run-up to the Human Rights Council sessions in Geneva next month, those pushing for an international war crimes inquiry targeting Sri Lanka are stepping up pressure, with a key member of UNSG Ban Ki-moon’s Panel of Experts (PoE) on accountability in Sri Lanka, Prof. Steven Ratner reiterating the demand for an international investigation.
Last week, US national Ratner in his address to a gathering of diplomats and representatives of several NGOs, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch in Geneva, emphasized the need to go ahead with an international inquiry, regardless of Sri Lanka’s stiff resistance. The PoE comprised former Indonesian Attorney General Marzuki Darusman and South Africa’s, Yasmin Sooka.
The meeting took place while a section of the international community was pressuring the Human Rights Council and the High Commissioner for Human Rights to set up an international inquiry.
External Ministry sources told The Island that the so-called round table discussion, ‘Delivering on the commitment to accountability,’ was nothing but an attempt to step up pressure on Sri Lanka ahead of the HRC sessions.
Among those invited in the discussion were US Ambassador to the HRC, Eileen Chamberlain Donahoe, Canadian Permanent Representative, Elissa Golberg, British Permanent Representative, Peter Gooderham, Norwegian Permanent Representative, Steffen Kongstad, French Permanent Representative, Jean-Baptiste Mattei, German Permanent Representative
Hanns H. Schumacher, Australian Permanent Representative, Peter Woolcott,EU Permanent Representative, Mariangela Zappia,Rory Mungroven (Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights), Peter Splinter (Amnesty International), Pooja Patel (Forum Asia), Philippe Dam (Human Rights Watch), Alex Conte (International Commission of Jurists), Ms Beris Gwynne (World Vision International).
The relationship between accountability and reconciliation, too, had been discussed, which the organizers called an academic project on standard of proof in humanitarian and human rights fact-finding, with special focus on UN Inquiry Commissions.
Courtesy: The Island
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Nicholas Siyya,
Onna billa enawa. Thang obage maharajathuma MR hangenda idamak naha. Puluwangnang gedara kakkussie idamak thenda!
What a bunch of corrupt hypocrites! The world’s biggest war criminals are in USA, former Presidents, Defence Secretaries and Security Forces Commanders. UNSG when are you going to bring these individuals before War Crimes Tribunal in Hague? Are they untouchable? Is this because USA can ride rough-shod on smaller nations, to dominate the world, through its military superiority? All big empire builders came and went. USA too will one day meet its end! Most corrupt UNSG is the present incumbant. He dares not go against his paymaster, otherwise he will end up dead also, as one UNSG did for being honest and incorruptible.
Uduruwana,
You sound like a stupid jackass. Just because you hate MR you don’t mind if our country is degraded and humiliated. You jackass your kids( if you have any) are walking the streets of Sri Lanka in peace today becuase MR managed to free the country from those barabaric animals called LTTE.What did you expect Mr and the forces to do with the terrorists other than eradicate them. Are you so dumb not to realise that if they captured so many tigers you and I will be paying to feed those barbarians while they are in jail. Come on man put your political views aside and talk some sense in a moment like this you jackass.
Many of these so-called international human rights organisations have been either bought over by the powerful western alliance, or are afraid to raise any issue with them due to the distinct possibility of adverse consequences.
The intention of these organisations and the personalities who have a say in them is what counts. If indeed they want to see a more humane political environment, then they should be welcome. However, evidence over the years point to ulterior motives.
Hence we have a very unfortunate situation, where criminals big and small commit crimes under varying circumstances, abuse power either domestically or in aggression against much weaker states and still live with only their conscience to contend with…
Dear Sisira,
Well replied to Udurawana. I have stopped replying him, as he and the ‘fake’ Udu is one and the same. He is a Dr Jekyl and Mr Hyde case. I suspect he is JVP/JAM or even a diaspora Tamil in Sinhala disguise.