US raise serious concerns over impeachment, remains mum over Rizana beheading

The US on Thursday expressed serious concern over the impeachment proceedings against Sri Lanka’s first woman Chief Justice. However the US State Department spokesman did not comment on the beheading of Lankan maid Rizana Nafeek in Saudi Arabia adding that, “I will check with our folks and see if we have any views to share.”

On a question regarding the impeachment State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland told reporters, “s we said before, we had serious concerns about the actions that were taken to impeach the Chief Justice and the timing of the impeachment and that it raised serious questions about the process and government pressure on the judiciary,”

Excerpt from State Department Press Briefing;

QUESTION: (Inaudible) Sri Lanka.

MS. NULAND: Yeah.

QUESTION: A Sri Lankan maid was beheaded in Saudi Arabia this week for killing a baby in 2005. There are lots of human rights bodies which are opposing this. How do you see this beheading of a Sri Lankan maid in Saudi Arabia?

MS. NULAND: I don’t have anything on that one way or the other, Lalit. I will check with our folks and see if we have any views to share.

QUESTION: And on the continued impeachment of the Sri Lankan chief justice, now there’s a confrontation between the Sri Lankan parliament and the court, supreme court. One of the courts have said it’s – the decision taken by Sri Lankan parliament is not valid. How do you see this ongoing confrontation between the various wings of the government?

MS. NULAND: Well, I understand the parliament is just back from recess and we are, as we said before, we had serious concerns about the actions that were taken to impeach the chief justice and the timing of the impeachment, and that it raised serious questions about the process and government pressure on the judiciary. With regard to what’s been happening today with the parliament back in session, let me see if we have any further comment for you, Lalit