Commission of Inquiry Must be Independent
http://www.amnestyusa.org/news/document.do?id=ENGASA370262006
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
Public Statement
AI Index: ASA 37/026/2006 (Public)
News Service No: 245
21 September 2006
Sri Lanka: Commission of Inquiry must be independent and international
Amnesty International welcomes the announcement by the Government of Sri
Lanka on 4 September 2006 to invite an international independent
Commission to inquire into abductions, enforced disappearances and
unlawful killings in all areas of the country. If implemented effectively
such a Commission could be an important step towards ending impunity for
serious past human rights abuses in Sri Lanka. The organisation takes the
opportunity of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva to emphasise the
importance of the establishment of an independent Commission with the
means and the credibility to conduct effective investigations, obtain
relevant testimony and information from witnesses, and gain the acceptance of its recommendations by all relevant parties.
Members of the body conducting the inquiry should be drawn from
international experts, chosen for their impartiality, integrity and
competence, and should be independent, and be seen to be independent, of
any institution, agency or individual that may be the subject of, or
otherwise involved in, the inquiry. In order to help ensure the
credibility and independence of the Commission of Inquiry its members
should be chosen in consultation with the Office of the High Commissioner
for Human Rights and Sri Lankan as well as international civil society.
The mandate of the Commission must be well-defined. The Commission should
be mandated to fully investigate the most serious violations of
international human rights and humanitarian law whether by government
forces, LTTE, Karuna Group or any other armed group or individuals
operating on their behalf.
Amnesty International believes that the establishment of an international
independent Commission of Inquiry is potentially an important step in
addressing impunity for past abuses, which could help to reduce the
current escalating violence in the country. However, the organisation
notes that it will not replace the urgent need for effective and on-going
measures to protect the civilian population, including an international
monitoring presence which it hopes the government will fully support.
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