Ian Martin offers new proposals to safeguard human rights
 

BY MANJULA Fernando

VISITING international human rights expert Ian Martin, declining a direct comment on the LTTE's proposal to defer the human rights commitments until talks on the CFA takes place, said taking human rights issues outside the overall progress of the peace process will have a positive impact.

Speaking to a group of journalists last evening after meeting the Government and the LTTE representatives, the former Amnesty Head said "it would be positive if the parties can take the human rights issues outside the overall progress of the peace process".

He said the LTTE's Thamilselvam, when he met him in Kilinochchi on Thursday indicated the proposed joint declaration on Human rights can follow after the commencement of political discussions on the implementation of the CFA.

On the contrary, the Government through the peace Secretariat Head Jayantha Dhanapala has pressed that this joint declaration should be signed without delay.

In the light of this development and taking stock of the ground situation with regard to HR issues where increased political killings and human rights violations are being reported, Martin has offered to come up with some proposals to be adhered by the two parties.

"Who ever they are," referring to the slain victims be they EPDP or LTTE cadres or their sympathisers, the school principals and others "right to life is clearly fundamental to Human rights," Martin emphasised.

"I hope to come with these proposals soon," he responded to journalists. The options he has outlined involves enhanced international involvement to monitor HR aspects or to strengthen the SLMM role within its present mandate to cover such issues or designate UN agencies for a wider role in this aspect.

Recruitment of underage children and issues of Internally Displaced Persons' (IDPs) have been underscored in his discussions with Thamilselvam.

Martin has stressed that the LTTE should fulfil its commitment not to recruit underage children as combatants.

Twenty five under age cadres were released in his presence by the LTTE on Thursday. He also stressed the long standing issue of IDPs displaced by the internal strife should also receive priority as this would also bear a positive impact on the peace process.

Martin was invited by the Government and the LTTE early 2003, after the Berlin talks, to formulate a human rights road map to be adhered by the two parties.

A draft was made by the international expert, who has over 30 years experience in handling human rights issues including in Rwanda, East Timor and Bosnia.

The draft was to be further discussed but this was not done due to the collapse of talks in April 2003.