Military Law programme between US and Sri Lanka
COLOMBO: Military law professionals from the U.S. Pacific
Command, in partnership with the American Embassy in Colombo, hosted a
Military Law Exchange Programme with the Sri Lankan Ministry of Defense
to exchange ideas on ways to improve transparency, accountability and
human rights in military justice, the US Embassy said.
A five-member American team met with 35 Sri Lankan Army, Navy and Air
Force personnel last week at the Galadari Hotel to foster the mutual
exchange of ideas and discussion of law affecting military commanders.
The three-day programme, led by Colonel Anne E. Ehrsam-Holland,
Director of the U.S. Defense Institute of International Legal Studies,
and Captain Pete A. Pedrozo, Staff Advocate Judge with the U.S. Navy,
provided an important opportunity for military lawyers and staff from
the United States and Sri Lanka to exchange information on improving
military justice systems.
“Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and I agreed that it would be
very useful to bring together military justice experts from Sri Lanka
and the United States to exchange information, perspectives and best
practices,” Ambassador Blake said at the programme opening.
“It is valuable to discuss the challenges both our countries face in
pursuing effective counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism practices,
while ensuring respect for human rights and international law in such
operations.”
The Military Law Exchange Programme was established by the U.S.
Pacific Command, a department of the U.S. Navy, in 1995 as a means by
which to exchange views on legal issues at the military-to-military
level.
Since then, the Pacific Command’s Judge Advocate Staff has conducted
legal exchanges with Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, the
Philippines, Australia, Nepal, Mongolia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam
and Russia.““In the heat of battle, soldiers will occasionally act
outside the law.
What is important is that there are laws and institutions set up to
investigate and respond appropriately to such transgressions.
The successful empowerment of such institutions and the full
implementation of such laws are measures of a strong and well-regulated
military and a strong and healthy democracy.” |