* Head of the EU delegation in Sri Lanka calls for further efforts in accountability
Mon, Nov 5, 2012
Nov 05, Colombo: Ambassador and Head of Delegation of the European Union to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Bernard Savage says further efforts were needed on the issue of accountability.
Savage has noted that issues such as disappearances, particularly the enforced disappearance of journalists are a matter of concern.
Speaking to a local print media, the ambassador has observed that there are a number of outstanding cases. He has noted the case of the murder of The Sunday Leader Editor Lasantha Wickrematunga, the murder of the French ACF workers and the university students in Trincomalee are yet unresolved.
"These are issues that have not been properly resolved. There are other cases of disappearances that have not been satisfactorily addressed. It is an issue where more clarifications are needed and the culprits brought to book," he has pointed out.
Referring to the EU, Savage has noted that although the Union was not represented in the UNHRC, the EU member states are represented in the Council and that they have made interventions covering a number of subjects.
"The member states have also voiced concerns on certain issues, notably issues related to questions of missing persons and enforced disappearances, etc. These concerns are raised by our member states and also by a number of other members of the UNHRC. The experts of the mission who visited the country recently have also raised these issues," Savage has observed.
Mon, Nov 5, 2012
Nov 05, Colombo: Ambassador and Head of Delegation of the European Union to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Bernard Savage says further efforts were needed on the issue of accountability.Savage has noted that issues such as disappearances, particularly the enforced disappearance of journalists are a matter of concern.
Speaking to a local print media, the ambassador has observed that there are a number of outstanding cases. He has noted the case of the murder of The Sunday Leader Editor Lasantha Wickrematunga, the murder of the French ACF workers and the university students in Trincomalee are yet unresolved.
"These are issues that have not been properly resolved. There are other cases of disappearances that have not been satisfactorily addressed. It is an issue where more clarifications are needed and the culprits brought to book," he has pointed out.
Referring to the EU, Savage has noted that although the Union was not represented in the UNHRC, the EU member states are represented in the Council and that they have made interventions covering a number of subjects.
"The member states have also voiced concerns on certain issues, notably issues related to questions of missing persons and enforced disappearances, etc. These concerns are raised by our member states and also by a number of other members of the UNHRC. The experts of the mission who visited the country recently have also raised these issues," Savage has observed.
