IIGEP wanting in commitment, says Minister

Dharma Sri Abeyratne and Rafik Jalaldeen

COLOMBO: The members of the International Independent Group of Eminent Persons (IIGEP) had failed to reach the expected level of their contribution and commitment, Human Rights and Disaster Management Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe said yesterday.

He was addressing a press briefing in the aftermath of the decision taken by IIGEP appointed to monitor the activities of the Special Presidential Commission, to end their mission.

"The Sri Lankan Government reiterates its commitment to ensure the completion of the work of the Commission of Inquiry to investigate and inquire into alleged serious violations of human rights, which was appointed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa in 2006," the Minister asserted.

The commitment remains unwavering, despite the decision taken by the members of IIGEP prematurely to relinquish their mandate at the present juncture, he stressed.

The Minister said the Government remains confident in the ability of the Commission to discharge its responsibilities in accordance with its warrant and to impartially and comprehensively investigate and inquire into the incidents under its purview.

The resignation of the members of the IIGEP is accepted by the Government but such acceptance does not automatically render the conceptual mechanism of the IIGEP, void.

The departure of the IIGEP membership does not, in any way, adversely affect the ability of the Commission of Inquiry to carry forward its inquiries and investigations in keeping with international standards, the Minister explained.

Minister Samarasinghe said the Government adopted many of the panel's recommendations - including allowing witnesses to testify via videoconference from abroad - and partially adopted some, while rejecting others.

"It's not as if we have ignored the recommendations of the IIGEP," he said. "There are certain things the government can do and there are certain things the government cannot do." The Government was considering appointing a new panel of experts, he added.