The citizen and the UNO

Friday, 11 July 2014 01:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

These days the NGOs are agitated by a Circular issued by the Ministry of Defence which cautions them against activities not covered by their mandate. A press conference was held to discuss the issue and it was pointed by some persons that the Government wants to prevent the NGOs from transmitting information about conditions in the country to the UN. Does the Government have a right to ban the transmitting of information about the conditions in the country to the UN? The legal opinion expressed at the press conference was that Sri Lanka is a member of the UNO and the Government has an obligation to uphold the human rights of all its citizens and also abide by International Law, both the Rule of Law as well as the law relating to war crimes and humanitarian values. If there is any violation of these obligations by the State or its agents, the individual citizen has a right to make representations to the UNO. The Government however seems to think otherwise. Does the individual citizen or an organisation have the right to make representations to the UNO? The Government Spokesmen have stated that it will not issue visas to UN officials who wish to come here to hold investigations into alleged violations of human right during the war and afterwards. Some Government spokesmen have hinted that those who give evidence before the UN investigating team will be penalised by the Government. The TNA has raised the issue of witness protection for individuals who give evidence before the UN Inquiry team. What is the legal position? Would some lawyer explain the position to the ordinary citizen, who is quite confused? R.M.B. Senanayake

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