UNHRC spokesperson Rupert Colville says the media had 'slightly misconstrued' the high commissioner's comments on Tamil political prisoners.
Mr Colville, who accompanied High Commissioner Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein to Sri Lanka, said he did not want to 'interfere in the release of the detained alleged LTTE cadres and that he was 'non-committal'.
"What the High Commissioner said was that either charge the detained political prisoners if there was sufficient evidence that they committed crimes, and, if convicted, maybe expedite their release bearing in mind how much time they have already spent in detention. He added if that was not the case or, if there was not enough evidence to convict (and a confession alone is not sufficient evidence), then simply release them," he said.
Media had reported that Mr Zeid said a general amnesty should not be given to Tamil political prisoners.
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