Pakistani HR lawyer appointed to advise disappearances commission
Wednesday, 20 August 2014 01:21
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Govt. seeks input from SAARC region
President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday announced the appointment of two more foreign experts to advise the Commission of Inquiry on missing persons, bringing the advisory council up to five members.
The President formally announced the appointment of Indian human rights activist Avdhash Kaushal and Pakistani Human Rights Lawyer Ahmer Bilal Soofi as advisors to the Paranagama Commission, in order to “seek input” from the SAARC region.
Sir Desmond De Silva QC, chairs the advisory council which also includes top war crimes prosecutors Sir Geoffrey Nice and Dr. David Crane. All three Western experts have served as prosecutors on UN war crimes tribunals and special courts.
The Commission’s mandate was broadened by presidential proclamation last month to include an investigation into allegations of war crimes in the final phase of the war.
President Rajapaksa told foreign correspondents at Temple Trees yesterday that he had decided to expand the mandate of the disappearances commission based on a request by the commissioners.
These experts had been appointed purely in an advisory capacity, the President noted.
“This is not an attempt to replicate or mimic the UN inquiry,” he added.
Asked about allegations against the three Western experts appointed as advisors by the Government, President Rajapaksa said: “They will criticise whatever we do.”
“There is a spate of allegations against the three experts appointed by Navi Pillay too,” Presidential Secretary Lalith Weeratunga interjected. (DB)
