Govt. to set up domestic mechanismsv For truth seeking, justice and reconciliation
BY GAGANI WEERAKOON AND SKANDHA GUNASEKARAGovt. to set up domestic mechanismsv For truth
2015-09-23
The government would set up domestic mechanisms for truth seeking, justice and reconciliation to avoid recurrence of unpleasant incidents that marred the nation in the past, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday said in Parliament.
"Reconciliation is a process and would take its own course of time. Such a process should comprise mechanisms of truth seeking, justice, compensation and reparation and prevention of any recurrence of conflict. To avoid reoccurrence of the unpleasant incidences this nation had experienced we need to address the grievances of minorities. It is mandatory we need to move for political solutions that pave for the way to addressing the problems of minorities," he said.
The government would set up domestic mechanisms for truth seeking, justice and reconciliation to avoid recurrence of unpleasant incidents that marred the nation in the past, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday said in Parliament.
"Reconciliation is a process and would take its own course of time. Such a process should comprise mechanisms of truth seeking, justice, compensation and reparation and prevention of any recurrence of conflict. To avoid reoccurrence of the unpleasant incidences this nation had experienced we need to address the grievances of minorities. It is mandatory we need to move for political solutions that pave for the way to addressing the problems of minorities," he said.
The government would set up a commission of truth seeking, justice, and reconciliation and to prevent conflict situation with the consultation of relevant authoritative of South African reconciliation process, the Prime Minister said.
That mechanism would consist of two structures. The first would be a compassionate council made of representatives from all religions. The government hopes to set up a secretariat with the assistance of International Committee of Red Cross to find details of the missing persons.
Making a ministerial statement on government's position on recent UNHRC report on Sri Lanka, Prime Minister Wickremesinghe said accountability is a sine qua non in building trust among communities and restoring the rule of law.
"Incumbent government is accountable and responsible to the people of this country and is driven by a policy of doing the best of people. It is not just for the sole purpose of fulfilling the promises been made to the international community. It is with the intention of forming a foundation for a long-lasting peace, to prevent arising of terrorism, to bring about the equal opportunity before justice to members of all communities that this government is dedicated itself. We have received mandate for that purpose twice this year.
President Maithripala Sirisena in his Manifesto promised to set up an independent, domestic and judicial mechanism to address the accountability issues.
It is compulsory that we work towards enlivening the culture of accountability we had in this country which faded away owing to the violence and terrorism that battered, bruised and bloodied this nation.
We have envisaged setting up a special judicial mechanism comprising special adjudicator by Parliament to compensate the victims of the conflict. The country has previous experiences of Criminal Justice Commissions in the past. Hence it would not be a new concept. The government would make use of the recommendations of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission.
If we are to avoid the recurrence of our past mistakes, we would have to bring about changes including amendments to the Constitution. We would have to amend the Penal Code to strengthen punishments against forcible abduction and hate speech. We hope to set up a Parliament Constitutional Preparatory Council for this purpose soon."
It is compulsory that we work towards enlivening the culture of accountability we had in this country which faded away owing to the violence and terrorism that battered, bruised and bloodied this nation.
We have envisaged setting up a special judicial mechanism comprising special adjudicator by Parliament to compensate the victims of the conflict. The country has previous experiences of Criminal Justice Commissions in the past. Hence it would not be a new concept. The government would make use of the recommendations of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission.
If we are to avoid the recurrence of our past mistakes, we would have to bring about changes including amendments to the Constitution. We would have to amend the Penal Code to strengthen punishments against forcible abduction and hate speech. We hope to set up a Parliament Constitutional Preparatory Council for this purpose soon."
When the Prime Minister ended his speech, National Freedom Front Leader Wimal Weerawansa raising a point of order demanded that the government should give time for a Parliament debate on the issue.
Prime Minister Wickremesinghe said that there was information that the US was planning to bring about a resolution at UNHRC in Geneva favourable to Sri Lanka. The government would wait for that and would table the reports of the Udalagama and Maxwell Paranagama commissions in Parliament and a date for the debate could be allocated thereafter.
CID Tells Court Thajudeen’s Body samples missing
BY ISHARA RATNAKARA-2015-09-23
The CID yesterday (22) informed Colombo Additional Magistrate Nishantha Peiris that the initial samples taken from the body of murdered ruggerite Wasim Thajudeen had gone missing.
The former Chief JMO, Ananda Samarasekara who had conducted the initial post-mortem had informed the CID that he had placed the body parts in the Court's refrigerator. When they investigated into it they could not find the body samples of Thajudeen. Furthermore, there was no documentation of the samples to be found. The CID also informed Courts that the Chief Judicial Medical Officer, Ajith Tennakoon had informed them that he too could not find any samples of Thjudeen's body.
On 17 May 2012, Mohamed Wasim Thajudeen allegedly met with an accident at the Narahenpita, Shalika Grounds and was burnt to death. Thereafter the IGP directed the CID to investigate into the case.
CID, Sub inspector Manathunga appearing on behalf of the plaintiff informed Courts that he was in possession of the x-rays taken by former chief JMO Samarasekara and noted in the latter's initial post mortem. Manathunga also said that the current chief JMO Tennakoon had on 17 September written to the CID as well as the Courts requesting that they hand over these pictures to the newly appointed judicial medical board on the Thajudeen case.
Tennekoon had also informed the CID that the final post mortem report of the newly appointed board could only be prepared once the X-rays and body parts mentioned in Samarasekara's report is found and examined. The CID thus sought the assistance of the Courts to investigate into the lost body parts. In addition to this, the CID revealed to Courts that Tennekoon in a letter to them informed that Judicial Medical Officer, Rajaguru, who was part of the first medical team with Samarasekara, had in his notes requested former chief JMO Samarasekara to keep the body parts under utmost security.
CID, Sub inspector Manathunga appearing on behalf of the plaintiff informed Courts that he was in possession of the x-rays taken by former chief JMO Samarasekara and noted in the latter's initial post mortem. Manathunga also said that the current chief JMO Tennakoon had on 17 September written to the CID as well as the Courts requesting that they hand over these pictures to the newly appointed judicial medical board on the Thajudeen case.
Tennekoon had also informed the CID that the final post mortem report of the newly appointed board could only be prepared once the X-rays and body parts mentioned in Samarasekara's report is found and examined. The CID thus sought the assistance of the Courts to investigate into the lost body parts. In addition to this, the CID revealed to Courts that Tennekoon in a letter to them informed that Judicial Medical Officer, Rajaguru, who was part of the first medical team with Samarasekara, had in his notes requested former chief JMO Samarasekara to keep the body parts under utmost security.
