The Office on Missing Persons (OMP) is launching launched a series of regional discussion with families of the disappeared starting in Mannar today, reports adaderena.lk.
The consultations are a vital step in the process to operationalise the functions of the OMP in its search for missing and disappeared persons said the Chairman of the OMP Saliya Peiris in a statement.
The OMP appointments have been widely criticised by Tamil civil society groups and NGOs for the inclusion of military personnel and the presence of only two Tamil commissioners. The OMP itself was also criticised for failing to ensure adequate consultations with victim communities.
It has also received criticism over its inability to contribute towards criminal prosecutions for its potential findings.
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