Expert panel will not infringe on sovereignty of Sri Lanka – Ban
March 17, 2010 08:37 am
The panel of experts being set up by the United Nations as
part of an accountability process following the end of the civil war in
Mr. Ban told journalists that the establishment of the panel
is in line with a joint statement he issued with Sri Lankan President Mahinda
Rajapaksa during his visit to the country last May after Government forces
defeated the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
“This joint statement containned a commitment related to
ensuring an accountability process for addressing violations of international
humanitarian and human rights laws,” he said in response to questions from
reporters at his monthly press conference at UN Headquarters in
“The panel I am establishing will advise me on the
standards, benchmarks and parameters, based on international experience, that
must guide any accountability process such as the one mentioned in the joint
statement. Now this panel will report to me directly and not to another body.”
Mr. Ban said a recent letter on the subject he received from
the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) indicated “there is a misunderstanding on the
nature and purpose” of the experts’ panel.
“I am convinced that it is well within my power as
Secretary-General of the United Nations to ask such a body to furnish me with
their advice of this nature. This does not in any way infringe on the
sovereignty of
Last week the UN chief voiced concern about the lack of
progress on political reconciliation, the treatment of internally displaced
persons (IDPs) and the setting up of an accountability process since he reached
the joint statement with Mr. Rajapaksa.
Earlier this month Mr. Ban had what he described as “a frank and honest exchange of views” by telephone with Mr. Rajapaksa, who was re-elected President in an election in late January. Since the ballot was held the runner-up candidate, General Sarath Fonseka, has been arrested and faces trial.
B. Lynn Pascoe, the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, is slated to soon head to Sri Lanka for talks with senior officials in the Government.