International   

Only an apprehension: Sri Lankan A-G

COLOMBO: A purported letter by the chief of the International Independent Group of Eminent Persons (IIGEP), Justice (retd) P.N. Bhagwati, to President Mahinda Rajapaksa disassociating himself from some of the observations contained in the final report of the Group has triggered a controversy.

Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights Mahinda Samarasinghe claimed here that in response to “serious concerns” expressed by Mr. Rajapaksa, the IIGEP chief has clarified that the Group has not cast any doubts on political will of the government to pursue cases of human rights violations.

The IIGEP, constituted in February 2007 by Mr. Rajapaksa to oversee the functioning of the Commission of Inquiry into serious violations, in March notified that it is winding up its mission as it was not satisfied with the government’s attitude towards its recommendations and the style of the functioning of the Commission.

A few of the 11 members have contested the claim made by the government .

They said that Justice Bhagwati cannot go back on the observations made in the final statement. Attorney-General C. R. de Silva said Justice Bhagawati had clarified the “controversial” statements made by the IIGEP.

As per the A-G the clarification mentioned that the IIGEP had not criticised the government and what had been conveyed in the statement was the IIGEP’s apprehension regarding absence of political will.

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

Stories in this Section

Sharif-Zardari talks appear to make headway
Economic revolution next, say Maoists
Gillani: no compromise on Kashmiri cause
Only an apprehension: Sri Lankan A-G
Pakistan link to Karzai plot seen
On target for a perfect Olympics
7-month high U.S. troop toll in Iraq
Sydney BASE jumpers caught

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