IIGEP tried to create hostile opinion on Lanka - S.L. Gunasekera

Shirley Wijesinghe

Senior Counsel S.L. Gunasekera yesterday strongly condemned the International Independent Group of Eminent persons (IIGEP) and statements made by them against the Government.

Gunasekera said they severely damaged the Government and the Security Forces.

They were obviously timed to coincide with meetings of the UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva and clearly designed to create an international climate of opinion hostile to the Sri Lanka, he charged.

Senior Counsel Gunasekera said that the IIGEP has repeatedly asserted in their latest public statement and their Media conference that "The Government should respect the internationally agreed doctrine of Command and Responsibility".

The question of the Government implementing this doctrine could only arise if the Commission finds any members of the Security Forces guilty of any crime.

"The Commission has not arrived at any such finding and the inquiries are still incomplete," he stressed.

Gunasekera said the role of IIGEP Chairman P.N. Bhagawati as a Chief Justice was not acceptable. Bhagawati has not made any demand that officers of the IPKF should be punished for all or any of the unspeakable crimes against the humanity committed by them against the Tamil civilians.

Gunasekera stressed that it is so obvious the IIGEP has been trying to initiate a atmosphere locally and internationally to discredit national institutions especially the Attorney General, by projecting Sri Lanka as a State without law and order.

Gunasekera is the Senior Counsel who appeared for the STF before the special commission appointed to investigate the killings in Trincomalee and Muttur.