UN Event – Sri Lanka continues to intimidate victims – Experts Panel.

Mr. Peter Haynes QC, who is an internationally renowned legal expert and a member of the International Monitoring and Accountability Panel (MAP) further stated to a well attended audience, which included several senior UN officials and diplomats, that the absence of a proposed legislative framework of a Special Court was remarkable.

He said some “baby steps” were taken, notably the creation of the Task Force and Witness Protection Act,but these steps are not enough and not soon enough.

He further stated that the following four things gave rise to concerns about the political will for accountability by the Government:

1) Contradictory statements by senior Government leaders.
2) Promotion of an array of military officers accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
3) Continuing intimidation of victims.
4) Destruction of physical evidence.

“We hope to see some improvements before the June Session of the UN Human Rights Council, when UN High-commissioner for Human Rights will give an oral report on the implementation of the UN Human Rights Council Resolution on accountability” he concluded.

Suthan Raj
Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE)