International   

Bhagwati group ceases operations

COLOMBO: The International Independent Group of Eminent Persons (IIGEP)led by Justice P.N. Bhagwati, mandated to oversee the functioning of the Sri Lanka Commission of Inquiry on serious human rights violations on Thursday announced its decision to “terminate its operation” saying it no longer saw how it could contribute further to the protection and enhancement of human rights.

In a statement here, the IIGEP said it chose to terminate its operation after due consideration and for fundamental reasons.

Most of its suggestions in the course of its year-long existence had been ignored or rejected and aspersions cast on its conduct, it said.

Regretting the IIGEP’s decision, Sri Lanka’s Attorney-General said that from the timing of the release of the 5th Statement of the IIGEP, “it is clear that the IIGEP seeks to cater for an international agenda in the release of public statements, in that this time too the IIGEP has timed the release of the statement to coincide with the ongoing 7th Session of the United National Human Rights Council, in Geneva, Switzerland.”

The IIGEP and the government have been at loggerheads ever since it was constituted by the Mahinda Rajapaksa Government in February 2007 to oversee functioning of the Commission of Inquiry to investigate 14 specific cases of human rights violations in the country.

The government had questioned the IIGEP’s jurisdiction to raise the nature of issues it raised and also questioned the motives behind the release of the public statements.

Justice Bhagwati was in Colombo earlier this week and the IIGEP’s final statement followed a three-day meeting of its members here from February 17.

“The eminent persons conclude that they have accomplished all that is possible within the constraints of the prevailing situation.

“They no longer see how they can contribute further to the protection and enhancement of human rights in Sri Lanka and have regretfully decided to bring to an end their activities in this country.

“While the IIGEP has repeatedly been accused of going beyond its mandate and of interfering with national decision-making, this has never been its intention or the reality.

“The Eminent Persons have always respected the authority of their interlocutors, be they commissioners, judiciary, parliamentarians, civil servants or ministers, and the limits of their mandate,” the statement said.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Pakistan Army is fully behind democratic process: General Kayani
Gaza facing worst humanitarian crisis
Pro-LTTE MP killed in blast
Bhagwati group ceases operations
Anwar slams move on indelible ink
Lawyer challenges pardon

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu