Thursday, 24 July 2014 00:15
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The Leader of National Freedom Front (NFF), a coalition party of the Government, Minister Wimal Weerawansa has expressed his opposition to President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s recent decision to broaden the scope of the Missing Persons Commission and allow investigations into alleged human rights abuses by the security forces during the war.
Minister Wimal Weerawansa
Minister Wimal Weerawansa in a letter to the President has asked him to immediately amend the gazette notification under which an advisory committee was appointed to consult the Presidential Commission to Investigate into Complaints Regarding Missing Persons.
He pointed out that since the gazette notification has broadened the scope, it has opened up the possibility for the so called international experts to use their own will and intervene into an international investigation.
The President last week appointed three eminent persons of international repute to serve on an Advisory Council to the Commission of Inquiry. Sri Lankan born British law expert Sir Desmond de Silva has been appointed to chair the Advisory Council while Sir Jeffrey Nice and Prof. David Crane were other members.
The Advisory Council will advise the Commission, at their request, and may include other experts appointed by the President as and when necessary.
The Minister said however, by appointing three international experts in an advisory capacity to broaden the scope of the Missing Persons Commission, the Government has allowed an international intervention into the domestic mechanism and warned that in the future the international intervention can expand due to various international influences.
Minister Weerawansa said apparently the Government’s original stand not to hold an inquiry on any international pressure has been gradually waning and changing its form.
