UN Expert Panel to visit Sri Lanka to meet LLRC - Ban

The Panel of Experts appointed by the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to probe Sri Lanka’s accountability issues plans to visit the country and meet with Sri Lanka’s Lessons Learned and Reconciliation Commission, the UN chief has said.

Responding to a question on the progress of the UN Panel at a media conference at the UN headquarters in New York, Mr. Ban said the Panel will be able to visit Sri Lanka following a discussion between himself and Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

I appreciate the flexibility of the President Rajapaksa on this issue, Ban said.

Excerpt of the transcript of the press briefing;

Q:  Mr. Secretary-General, my question is on Sri Lanka and just about when your Panel of Experts plans to release its report on the LLRC [Lessons Learned and Reconciliation Commission] and will it be made public?  And do you have any comment on independent media reports that the conduct of the LLRC has been way below standard, and the testimony has only come from a fairly small fraction of the population, and is there anything that can be done about that at this late stage?

SG:  After long consultations between myself and President [Mahinda] Rajapaksa of Sri Lanka, I am pleased that the Panel of Experts is now able to visit Sri Lanka and meet with the Commission on Lessons Learned and Reconciliation, and I sincerely hope that the Panel of Experts will be able to have good cooperation, to have an accountability process and make progress as soon as possible.  This is a result of long consultations, and I appreciate the flexibility of the President Rajapaksa on this issue.

Q: Also, just a follow up on to the question on Sri Lanka:  are you make that report public or at least will the reports that you are given on the killing of the civilians be made public?

SG: The situation in Sudan will be, I am sure, one of the top concerns and top interests of the international community, starting with the 9 January referenda. The preparation for the referenda has been so far progressing well, without much incident. But there is still sticking issues, like the establishment of an electoral commission in Abyei. Again, the security situation in Darfur, that is of serious concern. The recent bombing by the Sudanese Government in the northern boundaries of Southern Sudan -- that is again very much alarming and very much a concern. We have been making strong démarches that the Sudan Government should fully cooperate with this matter. And I will spare no effort. This afternoon I am going to meet the Minister of Peace and CPA [Comprehensive Peace Agreement] for Southern Sudan and we will discuss this matter. The peace negotiation has not been progressing well, except that the Government of Sudan and the Liberation and Justice Movement, LJM, have agreed to negotiate a text – that can be done, but without the participation of all other rebel movements like JEM [Justice and Equality Movement], SLA {Sudanese Liberation Army], Abdul Wahid, without their participation, this negotiation for peace will not be sustainable. So we are really trying our best efforts. My Joint Special Envoy, [Djibril] Bassolé, has been exerting his best efforts. 

Q: What about Tabarat and Sri Lanka? Are the two reports going to be made public? It’s in your power to do so.

SG: That we will have to discuss with the Group of Experts when they finish their consultations. Thank you very much. I wish you all the best for a happy New York.