U.N. urges judiciary reforms in Sri Lanka to avoid delay in justice
United Nations human rights experts on Saturday urged Sri Lanka, which is under scrutiny for its human rights record during the 26-year Tamil insurgency, to implement judicial reforms to speed up prosecutions.
Sri Lanka agreed last year to establish a judicial process involving foreign judges and prosecutors to investigate alleged war crimes during the conflict in line with U.N. recommendations.
The government has promised an impartial investigation into human rights violations by both sides in the final phase of the war, which ended with the military defeat of the Tamil Tigers separatist guerrillas in 2009.
“The government has changed, the war is over. But much of the war machinery is still in place,” U.N. special rapporteur Monica Pinto told reporters.
The U.N. rapporteur on torture, Juan Mendez, said he had came across prisoners who had been detained without trial for more than eight years, some due to Sri Lanka’s Prevention of Terrorism Act.
“First scrap the PTA, eliminate prolonged detention without trial in various forms, establish mechanism for real judicial and prosecutorial control over police investigations and things along those lines,” he said.
(Reuters)
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I think we should engage Commonwealth judges to participate in the judiciary, not only for war crimes investigations but for all other cases filed in courts.
There is a serious allegation of impropriety against the Chief Justice, Sri Pavam, which requires an all bench hearing. But the CJ has failed to proceed with the appointment.
Corruptio in the judiciary should be eliminated to ensure social justice for all communities.
Yes, spot on Mr. Balasuntharam. Commonwealth judges should be invited especially from countries such as Uganda, Zimbabwe, Pakistan, India, Kenya, etc
Dear Amarakoon,
Thank you for your brilliant suggestion; yes, we need Commonwealth judges not only from “Uganda, Zimbabwe, Pakistan, India, Kenya, etc” but from Fiji as well where the judiciary is dominated by Sri Lankan Magistrates and Judges.
Amarakoon, you are a realist, did you hear about the Sena-Singhe Government’s white vans roaming in the North and East picking up presumably innocent civilians and rehabilitated cadres? Soon, GR will be the defence Secretary in the Sena-Singhe Government !!
Amarakoon, I have a simple question? Why are you guys (the so-called sons of the lions) so scared of us?
Dear Balasuntharam, I think you are referring to ‘Yaha Planaya’ when you say Sena-Singhe. If you accuse rehabilitated LTTEE cadres/innocent civilians are being picked up by so called White Vans, you have to substantiate that allegation. Why only White Vans? Why not Black, Blue, Red vans for that matter?
Who you are referring to when you say ‘You guys’ and ‘’Us’? I am an individual and there is no reason to be scared of anyone. Then, I am neither a son of a Lion nor a son of a Tiger.