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UNHRC sessions :
Sri Lanka rejects allegations
Sri Lanka has rejected charges leveled against the work of its
Commission on Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation by the UN at the 15 th
session of the UN Human Rights Council.
Sri Lankan representative to the Council, Attorney General Mohan
Peiris, said during the general debate of the UN Human Rights Council on
the Update of the Report of the High Commissioner for Human Rights that
concluded on Monday, that it rejects any aspersions cast on the work of
the Commission on Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation stating that it
regrettably seeks to prejudge its(the Commission's) outcome when it has
just begun its work.
The "Commission on Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation"was established
in May this year.
It has now begun its hearings which are open to the public. Its work
is progressing, he said.
The Commission traveled to some of the areas in the north which were
conflict ridden, including IDP and detention centres to facilitate
people there to testify. Witnesses have come forward from these areas to
testify before the Commission. Such visits would be extended to other
areas in the north and east, he said.
In the month of September, the Commission intends to revisit these
places considering the newly resettled civilians in areas directly
affected by the conflict. The Commission has also invited international
groups such as the International Crisis Group, Human Rights Watch and
Amnesty International to testify before the Commission, he pointed out
.With emphasis on restorative justice, this Commission is focusing on,
among others, determining responsibility regarding past events in
question related to the conflict. Therefore, we reject any aspersions
already cast on the work of this Commission, he added.
Sovereign States resorting to domestic mechanisms having emerged from
protracted armed conflicts is not an unusual phenomenon. Adequate time
and space should be accorded to such domestic processes without
attempting to impose mechanisms with an international complexion, which
while being inappropriate would only impinge on the very sovereignty
that was under threat for nearly three decades due to terrorism, he
said.
He reiterated that the domestic mechanism has the full capacity and
capability of delivering on its mandate. Chw
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