The International Council of Eelam Tamils (ICET) urged the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to ensure that the UN inquiry obtains additional evidence from the victims in the North-East, stating that only this could justify the 6 months delay in publishing its report on the OHCHR Investigation on Sri Lanka (OISL).
"The only way this delay can be justified is if the OISL personnel gather additional evidence from the victims on the ground. We sincerely hope that OHCHR will tenaciously use its powers to gain unhindered access for the OISL team to directly gather the necessary evidence. Only such action can justify the delay in the process to bring justice to the victims," ICET said in a statement on Monday.
The OISL report, which was scheduled to be released at the UN Human Rights Council's 28th session next month, was on Monday deferred till September, in order to give Sri Lanka 6 months to cooperate with the inquiry in view of gathering further information.
Describing the postponement as "extremely disappointing to the victims who have been awaiting justice far too long while continuing to suffer under military occupation" the ICET said "the only ray of hope is the High Commissioner's statement, "There should be no misunderstanding, I give my personal, absolute and unshakable commitment that the report will be published by September."
"The only way this delay can be justified is if the OISL personnel gather additional evidence from the victims on the ground. We sincerely hope that OHCHR will tenaciously use its powers to gain unhindered access for the OISL team to directly gather the necessary evidence. Only such action can justify the delay in the process to bring justice to the victims," ICET said in a statement on Monday.
The OISL report, which was scheduled to be released at the UN Human Rights Council's 28th session next month, was on Monday deferred till September, in order to give Sri Lanka 6 months to cooperate with the inquiry in view of gathering further information.
Describing the postponement as "extremely disappointing to the victims who have been awaiting justice far too long while continuing to suffer under military occupation" the ICET said "the only ray of hope is the High Commissioner's statement, "There should be no misunderstanding, I give my personal, absolute and unshakable commitment that the report will be published by September."
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