Ban sets up advisory panel on human rights in Sri Lanka

United Nations, Mar 6 (PTI): UN Chief Ban Ki-moon is setting up an expert panel that will advise him (Ban) ‘on the way forward on accountability issues’ stemming from alleged human rights violations in Sri Lanka during the fighting between the government forces and the LTTE last year.

The Secretary-General spoke by telephone with Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Thursday evening, according to his spokesperson Martin Nesirky. “The Secretary-General informed the President of his intention to go ahead with the establishment of a Panel of Experts,� Nesirky told journalists.

“He also explained that such a panel would advise him (Ban) on the way forward on accountability issues related to Sri Lanka,� he stressed. The conversation took place after High Commissioner for Human Rights, expressed concern at the continuing human rights violations in Sri Lanka and asked its government to investigate all human rights violations that occurred during the conflict.

“The opportunity for peace and reconciliation continues to be marred by the treatment of journalists, human rights defenders and other critics of the Government,� UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay told the Human Rights Council in Geneva. “I am convinced that Sri Lanka should undertake a full reckoning of the grave violations committed by all sides during the war, and that the international community can be helpful in this regard,� she said.

However, Colomboappears to have rejected the UN’s call for investigations. In an interview with the UK-based Daily Mirror, the Human Rights and Disaster Management Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe asked Pillay to respect the decision of the UN Human Rights Council.

The minister noted that Pillay should refrain from expressing the sentiments of ‘selected geographical regions’ and ‘certain economic blocs’ and comply with the decision made by the council in relation to the allegations, according to the Mirror.

In a special session on May 26-27, 2009 the 47-member body of the Human Rights Council passed a resolution introduced by Sri Lanka with 29 votes in favour, 12 against and 6 abstentions that commended the government for its handling of the conflict and did not call for an investigation into human rights violations. Since then, the international community and human rights organisations have been pressuring Ban to set up an independent investigative panel, which has not been done so far. – (Press trust of India)