MEP denounces UNHRC recommendation

Wednesday, 23 September 2015 01:17 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Stresses on danger of signing Rome Statute

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Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (MEP) Leader Dinesh Gunawardena addressing the media. MEP Vice Chairman Somaweera Chandrasiri and Political Bureau Assistant Secretary Yadamini Gunawardena (left) look on

- Pic by Upul Abayasekara

By Chamodi Gunawardana

The Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (MEP) yesterday condemned United Nations Human Rights Chief Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein’s proposal to setup a special hybrid court for Sri Lanka.

Criticising the move, MEP Leader and MP Dinesh Gunawardena charged that the proposed court would be handled by foreign judgesvia international legal procedure.

“The UNHR Chief proposed this in order to interfere with the local legal system. This court will conducttrials depending on unknown complainers and witnesses. Their names will be revealed only after the judgment,” he alleged. Gunawardena stressed that the local legal structure was efficient enough to conduct war crime investigations rather than opting for a hybrid court.

“For decades people have placed their fullest trust in the Sri Lankan judicial system. The Government should not break it by following UN instructions to form a new court. Doing so will be a violation of legal traditions,” he asserted.

Highlighting the risks of complying with the UN suggestions, Gunawardena said: “If the Government agrees with the UN, Sri Lanka will be urged to sign the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court(ICC), which hasbeen designed to bring war heroes before international courts.”

Attacking UN suggestions, Gunawardena claimed that the UN’s main objective was to prove that Sri Lanka had engaged in war crimes and crimes against humanity in the period between 2002 and 2011.

“The UN report was based on hearsay, not reality. We urge the Government to deny the allegations. The Government accepting this report will damage the country’s sovereignty” he stressed.

Commenting on the Pivithuru HelaUrumaya (PHU) stance with regard to passing an Act of Indemnity, Gunawardena said, “If it is a must, we will join hands with the PHU to do so.”