OHCHR follows a biased and flawed approach on SL: Prof. Peiris
November 6, 2014 10:49 am
External Affairs Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris expressed concern that the investigation on Sri Lanka by the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) follows a biased and flawed approach that is shrouded in “impenetrable secrecy” and infringes on basic norms of justice and fair play.
Prof. Peiris expressed strong displeasure at the selective and biased approach followed by the OHCHR Investigation on Sri Lanka (OISL) when he met the Heads of Mission and Representatives of the main proponents of the Investigation on Sri Lanka and the High Commissioner of Australia.
The Deputy Country Director of the UNDP also participated in the meeting representing the UN system.
Prof. Peiris stressed that this flawed procedure infringes on the basic norms of justice and fairplay. He said that though Sri Lanka has rejected the UNHRC Resolution establishing an international investigation, it was only reasonable for the international community to expect, as the minimum requirement, that the investigation would follow certain fundamental principles relating to objectivity and fairness.
Professor Peiris observed, in conclusion, that the Government of Sri Lanka will do everything in its power to protect the national interest in this situation.
Minister Peiris further explained that although the Programme Budget Implications of the Resolution 25/1 make provision for staff of the OISL to travel to Europe, the Asia-Pacific region and North America to access alleged victims and witnesses living outside the country, the OISL has not revealed details of dates and venues where such hearings are to take place.
The Minister disclosed that the OHCHR has indicated that such information is confidential and regretted that this process is shrouded in impenetrable secrecy. The failure to share such information makes it evident that the investigation is not freely accessible to the public, he said. The Minister added that the impression created by such action is that the OISL will make arrangements to only interact with persons of their choosing which will provide them access to information of the nature that they wish to receive.
Prof. Peiris expressed strong displeasure at the selective and biased approach followed by the OHCHR Investigation on Sri Lanka (OISL) when he met the Heads of Mission and Representatives of the main proponents of the Investigation on Sri Lanka and the High Commissioner of Australia.
The Deputy Country Director of the UNDP also participated in the meeting representing the UN system.
Prof. Peiris stressed that this flawed procedure infringes on the basic norms of justice and fairplay. He said that though Sri Lanka has rejected the UNHRC Resolution establishing an international investigation, it was only reasonable for the international community to expect, as the minimum requirement, that the investigation would follow certain fundamental principles relating to objectivity and fairness.
Professor Peiris observed, in conclusion, that the Government of Sri Lanka will do everything in its power to protect the national interest in this situation.
Minister Peiris further explained that although the Programme Budget Implications of the Resolution 25/1 make provision for staff of the OISL to travel to Europe, the Asia-Pacific region and North America to access alleged victims and witnesses living outside the country, the OISL has not revealed details of dates and venues where such hearings are to take place.
The Minister disclosed that the OHCHR has indicated that such information is confidential and regretted that this process is shrouded in impenetrable secrecy. The failure to share such information makes it evident that the investigation is not freely accessible to the public, he said. The Minister added that the impression created by such action is that the OISL will make arrangements to only interact with persons of their choosing which will provide them access to information of the nature that they wish to receive.
