UN Special Rapporteur tight-lipped on meeting with judiciary

UN Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, Clément Nyaletsossi Voule says that he cannot reveal the content of the meeting held with the members of the judiciary in Sri Lanka.

In a letter addressed to the Secretary to the Ministry of Justice, the Acting Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had sought the facilitation of a meeting between the UN Special Rapporteur and the members of the judiciary, including the Chief Justice.

The Special Rapporteur, when asked if he met the members of the judiciary and of the meeting, said the details are confidential, hence refused to comment further in this regard.

Speaking to media, he said this meeting was not specifically requested for Sri Lanka and that he has held such meeting in other countries that he had visited.

He added that the countries are obliged to assist the Special Rapporteur during an official visit and to facilitate meetings with any institution in the country.

“My work is to assist the country strengthen its democracy and human rights,” he continued.

The letter, which raised much furore in the country as well as in the Parliament, also highlighted several ongoing court cases.

However, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya said in the Parliament that he took measures to stop a meeting between the vising UN Special Rapporteur and the judiciary citing that it should not take place.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Tilak Marapana had told the Parliament that it is customary for a special UN envoy to seek the facilitation of a meeting as such and that it is nothing out of the ordinary.