Concrete initiative is needed to provide justice and redress - UN

In her opening address to the 14th session of Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland, Navanethem Pillay on Monday, called for accountability in the Commission on Lessons Learned and Reconciliation appointed by President Mahinda Rajapakse.

‘Concrete initiative must now follow to provide justice and redress to victims and generally to promote accountability and longer-term reconciliation’ she said.

The Commissioner is not convinced that a Commission on Lessons Learned and Reconciliation enjoy public confidence.

She pointed out that based on previous experiences and new information it is imperative to establish an international accountability mechanism.

International inquiry

“I remain convinced that such objectives would be better served by establishing an independent international accountability mechanism that would enjoy public confidence, both in Sri Lanka and elsewhere” she said.

The Commissioner accepted that some progress has been made in the return and resettlement of internally displaced persons and the partial relaxation of emergency measures in Sri Lanka.

While critics at home and abroad want an independent international inquiry, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, meeting her Sri Lankan counterpart, G.L. Peiris, in Washington, said she supports the Sri Lankan Government’s initiative.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa recently told Aljazeera television that action might be taken against people who’d committed crimes but no one could be punished for – as he put it – defeating terrorism.

In the latest criticism of the Commission on Lessons Learned and Reconciliation, an adviser and member of previous Sri Lankan commissions looking into atrocities, M.C.M. Iqbal, told BBC that successive governments had failed to deliver justice despite recommendations.