We will strive to ascertain the whole truth - Justice Udalagama

Manjula Fernando

COLOMBO: The Chairman of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry investigating serious violations of Human Rights said they hoped to ascertain the whole truth in respect of all incidents they were expected to investigate.

"It is our unwavering ambition to ensure that we ascertain the whole truth in respect of all incidents which the Commission is required to investigate," Chairman Justice Nissanka Udalagama inaugurating the Commission's hearings on Monday said.

He assured impartiality, comprehensiveness, and international HR norms in investigating the complaints into the human rights cases placed before them.

Investigation the killing of 17 local aid workers of French NGO Action Contre La Faim is on top of the agenda of the Commission which will function from Committee Room A of the BMICH. Calling for public cooperation Justice Udalagama assured the confidentiality of the information received adding that an in-built mechanism was in place to protect information and witnesses.

The Commission was appointed in November 2006. The International Independent Group of Eminent Persons which will oversee the investigations by the Commission to report if it will be in accordance with the international norms, was established in February 2007. So far the two groups have held two plenary sessions and identified the areas of cooperation within their mandates.

Justice Udalagama clarified the IIGEP was there to oversee the Commission's investigations and they would not be involved in their own investigations.

Describing the reasons for the delay in commencing sittings, the Chairman said: "We were of the view that without rushing into investigations and inquiries, the Commission should have its internal mechanisms and processes developed and functioning."

The Commission has established a 'Victim and Witness Assistance and Protection Unit'. Persons with particular vulnerabilities will be provided extra assistance or protection under the unit while all will be eligible for assistance.

"The nature of protection that you receive would be such that it would not be possible for any person or group to inflict any harm on you or other persons whose safety you would be concerned with," he assured adding that the protection will be given before, during and after the investigations and inquiries.

IIGEP members were also present at the inaugural session.