The Global Tamil Forum (GTF) on Monday said it was "deeply concerned and disappointed" by the Sri Lankan president's rejection of international involvement in an accountability mechanism in an interview to BBC Sinhala last week.
"The President’s assertions are a direct refutation of the Resolution 30/1 passed in the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on 1 October 2015 which Sri Lanka itself co-sponsored," the GTF said in a statement released on Monday.
"The resolution clearly committed Sri Lanka to involving Commonwealth and other foreign judges, defence lawyers and authorized prosecutors and investigators in its judicial processes. Sri Lanka will breach the provisions of a resolution that it co-sponsored if President Sirisena's assertions are implemented."
"The OISL report explicitly stated the reality that an exclusively Sri Lankan judicial process cannot provide the much needed justice and accountability given its lack of capacity and independence or the statutes needed to prosecute such crimes. The victims and Tamil community in particular will consider international participation essential in their search for justice," the group said, adding that his remarks will ensure the Tamil community lose trust in Mr Sirisena.
Highlighting the Sri Lankan foreign minister's address to the UN Human Rights Council shortly before Sri Lanka adopted a resolution on accountability which explicitly called for international involvement, the GTF said, "we fear that any abandonment of that commitment and consensus has the potential to seriously damage the long-term prospects of genuine reconciliation and harmonious ethnic relations in Sri Lanka."
See full statement here.
"The President’s assertions are a direct refutation of the Resolution 30/1 passed in the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on 1 October 2015 which Sri Lanka itself co-sponsored," the GTF said in a statement released on Monday.
"The resolution clearly committed Sri Lanka to involving Commonwealth and other foreign judges, defence lawyers and authorized prosecutors and investigators in its judicial processes. Sri Lanka will breach the provisions of a resolution that it co-sponsored if President Sirisena's assertions are implemented."
"The OISL report explicitly stated the reality that an exclusively Sri Lankan judicial process cannot provide the much needed justice and accountability given its lack of capacity and independence or the statutes needed to prosecute such crimes. The victims and Tamil community in particular will consider international participation essential in their search for justice," the group said, adding that his remarks will ensure the Tamil community lose trust in Mr Sirisena.
Highlighting the Sri Lankan foreign minister's address to the UN Human Rights Council shortly before Sri Lanka adopted a resolution on accountability which explicitly called for international involvement, the GTF said, "we fear that any abandonment of that commitment and consensus has the potential to seriously damage the long-term prospects of genuine reconciliation and harmonious ethnic relations in Sri Lanka."
See full statement here.