Human Rights
Ban sends UN Panel of Experts Report on accountability in Sri Lanka to HRC
President Rajapakse with UN Secretary General Ban ki Moon
NEW YORK: After months of speculation and pressure by rights groups the UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon sent his Panel ofExperts Report on Sri Lanka’s last days of the war to the Human Rights Council today (Monday September 12).
The UN Panel Report states there is credible evidence of war crimes and crimes against humanity by both the government of Sri Lanka and the Tamil Tigers and calls for an independent international investigation.
In an email statement to Lanka Standard following a query by us, UNSG Spokesperson Martin Nesirky said “The Secretary-General is sending today the report of his Panel of Experts on accountability in Sri Lanka to the President of the Human Rights Council and the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
“The Sri Lankan Government has been informed of the Secretary-General’s decision to share the report with the Council and the High Commissioner. While the Secretary-General had given time to the Government of Sri Lanka to respond to the report, the Government has declined to do so, and instead has produced its own reports on the situation in the north of Sri Lanka, which are being forwarded along with the Panel of Experts report.
“On the recommendation of the Panel of Experts for the United Nations to review its own actions during the period in question in Sri Lanka, the Secretary-General has asked Ms. Thoraya Obaid, former Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), to conduct the review, which should begin soon,” Nesirky said.
Meanwhile the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay speaking at the opening of the Human Rights Council Sessions in Geneva also Monday condemned Sri Lanka for allegedly violating human rights while combating terrorism. While welcoming the removal of emergency laws, Pillay called on the government to remove all anti-terrorism laws.
Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe however slammed moves to discuss the Panel report on Sri Lanka at the sessions and said the move violates the procedures of the UN Human Rights Council.
President Rajapakse with UN Secretary General Ban ki Moon
NEW YORK: After months of speculation and pressure by rights groups the UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon sent his Panel ofExperts Report on Sri Lanka’s last days of the war to the Human Rights Council today (Monday September 12).
The UN Panel Report states there is credible evidence of war crimes and crimes against humanity by both the government of Sri Lanka and the Tamil Tigers and calls for an independent international investigation.
In an email statement to Lanka Standard following a query by us, UNSG Spokesperson Martin Nesirky said “The Secretary-General is sending today the report of his Panel of Experts on accountability in Sri Lanka to the President of the Human Rights Council and the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
“The Sri Lankan Government has been informed of the Secretary-General’s decision to share the report with the Council and the High Commissioner. While the Secretary-General had given time to the Government of Sri Lanka to respond to the report, the Government has declined to do so, and instead has produced its own reports on the situation in the north of Sri Lanka, which are being forwarded along with the Panel of Experts report.
“On the recommendation of the Panel of Experts for the United Nations to review its own actions during the period in question in Sri Lanka, the Secretary-General has asked Ms. Thoraya Obaid, former Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), to conduct the review, which should begin soon,” Nesirky said.
Meanwhile the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay speaking at the opening of the Human Rights Council Sessions in Geneva also Monday condemned Sri Lanka for allegedly violating human rights while combating terrorism. While welcoming the removal of emergency laws, Pillay called on the government to remove all anti-terrorism laws.
Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe however slammed moves to discuss the Panel report on Sri Lanka at the sessions and said the move violates the procedures of the UN Human Rights Council.