QC Sir Desmond de Silva’s Credibility In Doubt
August 5, 2014
Despite the Rajapaksa regime repeatedly raising doubts over the credibility of the officials in the investigation team put together by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on Sri Lanka, it seems similar concerns can be raised over UK QC Sir Desmond de Silva who was recently named by PresidentRajapaksa as the Chairman of the Advisory Panel to the Commission on Disappearances .
Sir Desmond de Silva
De Silva was appointed the Chairman of the Advisory Panel when President Rajapaksa recently expanded the mandate of the Commission on Disappearances that is presently headed by retired judge Maxwell Paranagama.
A report published in UK’s leading newspaper – the Guardian in 2012 has revealed that a report compiled by de Silva following an investigation into one of the Northern Ireland’s most controversial killings, had been heavily criticized by the victim’s family as ‘sham’ and ‘white wash’.
The report had been compiled on the death of Patrick Finucane who had been murdered on February 12, 1989 by one of the loyalist gunmen. Patrick’s wife – Geraldine had been campaigning for over two decades for a public inquiry into the murder of her husband but when the inquiry was finally concluded, it had offered scant relief to her.
The Guardian states that ‘Report of the Patrick Finucane Review’ has been described by Finucane’s wife as one that was lacking any input and had accused it as an attempt of the government to suppress the truth behind her husband’s murder by giving the benefit of doubt to the state, its cabinet and the Minister to the army and to the intelligence services.
“At every turn, dead witnesses have been blamed and defunct agencies found wanting – serving personnel and active state departments appear to have been excused,” Geraldine has been quoted in Guardian in expressing her views on the report, adding the report has in fact only attempted to sweep the dirty under the carpet without any serious attempts made to lift the lid on what really happened.
UN Investigation On Sri Lanka Begins – Email Open To Make Submissions
August 5, 2014
The investigation team put together by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to probe into alleged abuses that occurred during the final phases of the war in Sri Lanka, has agreed on a final framework and an investigation methodology to proceed with its operations.
Navi Pillay – United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
In an update made in the OHCHR site last night on the methods of work of the OHCHR Investigation on Sri Lanka (OISL) it will be:
- conducting a desk review of existing documents and information that includes government and civil society reports
- collect and document victims’ testimonies and accounts of survivors, witnesses and alleged perpetrators
- seek information from other relevant sources including satellite images, authenticated video and photographic material and official documents.
As part of the information accumulation procedures, the OHCHR has welcomed any state, individual or organization to submit information in writing to the OISL through the email: oisl_submissions@ohchr.org.
Upon analyzing the information that will be collected through such means, the OISL will then proceed to verify facts and accounts to meet the agreed standard of proof.
The update further notes it will continue to seek engagement with the Government of Sri Lanka and that the High Commissioner will continue to request for the OISL to have access to the country to meet with Government officials and others, as well as to have access to all relevant documentation.
“In carrying out its work, the OISL will be guided at all times by the principles of independence, impartiality, objectivity, transparency, integrity and ‘do no harm’,” the statement notes.
While stressing upon the necessary steps that would be followed to ensure witness and victim protection concerns through the adoption of procedures and methods of work aimed at protecting such persons during all stages of its work,it has also called upon the GoSL to fulfill their obligation to protect victims and witnesses and others in Sri Lanka who make contact with the OISL.
“It will be requested to make an undertaking that no such person shall, as a result of such contact, suffer harassment, threats, acts of intimidation, ill-treatment or reprisals,” the update reads.
