US welcomes Pillay’s appointments to Lankan probe panel; calls on Govt. to cooperate

Friday, 27 June 2014 03:19 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Washington, DC: The United States Wednesday welcomed the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay’s announcement of the appointment of three distinguished experts to the international team to investigate Sri Lanka’s alleged human right violations and called on the Government to cooperate. Pillay on Wednesday announced the names of three distinguished experts who have agreed to advise and support the team set up to conduct a comprehensive investigation of alleged human rights violations in Sri Lanka, as mandated by the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in March 2014.

Former President of Finland and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Martti Ahtisaari, former Governor-General and High Court judge of New Zealand Dame Silvia Cartwright and former President of Pakistan’s Supreme Court Bar Association and of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan Asma Jahangir, are the three experts appointed to the team. The experts will play a supportive and advisory role, providing advice and guidance as well as independent verification throughout the investigation. Deputy Spokesperson of US State Department Marie Harf welcoming the UN rights chief’s announcement urged the Sri Lankan Government to fully cooperate with the Office of the High Commissioner (OHCHR) and its investigation. “We continue to urge the Government of Sri Lanka to fulfill its obligations to its own people and to take meaningful, concrete steps to address outstanding concerns related to democratic governance, human rights, reconciliation, justice, and accountability,” the spokesperson said. The United States said it stands ready to assist Sri Lanka in facilitating progress on these issues. Sri Lanka has refused to cooperate with the comprehensive investigation mandated to the OHCHR by the adoption of the UNHRC resolution 25/1 sponsored by the US. The Sri Lankan parliament on 18 June passed a motion against the UN investigation and accordingly the parliament has decided to deny permission for the UN investigation team to enter the country. Announcing the experts to the panel, the High Commissioner asked the Sri Lankan Government to cooperate with the investigation which will still continue even if the Government refuses to cooperate.

UK echoes call for Lankan Government to cooperate with UN investigation

London: Echoing the calls from the United States and the United Nations, the United Kingdom today asked the Sri Lankan Government to fully cooperate with the international investigation mandated by the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in March 2014. UK Foreign Secretary, William Hague welcomed the appointment of a team of experts by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay to investigate alleged abuses by both parties to the armed conflict in Sri Lanka. He said the investigation is an important step in establishing the truth and facilitating reconciliation within Sri Lanka and the UK has always supported calls for this investigation and played a key role in securing it. The UK Foreign Secretary in a statement said the inclusion of the three international experts completes a strong team with a clear mandate from the UN Human Rights Council and urged the Sri Lankan government to fully cooperate with the Office of the High Commissioner (OHCHR) in the investigation. “I strongly urge the Government of Sri Lanka to cooperate fully with the Office of the High Commissioner and this investigation and to ensure those engaging with the investigation can do so without fear of intimidation or reprisals,” Hague said. “I also continue to urge the Government of Sri Lanka to take meaningful, concrete steps to implement fully the actions called for in the March 2014 Human Rights Council resolution on Sri Lanka, the recommendations of its Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) and to address fully concerns related to political settlement, reconciliation, justice and accountability, both present day and from the period of the armed conflict.” “As ever, the British Government stands ready to assist Sri Lanka in facilitating progress on these issues,” he said.