In Search for a Domestic Truth and Justice Process in Sri Lanka
The International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ) is presently facilitating a stimulating online debate titled ‘Is the International Community Abandoning the Fight Against Impunity?’ The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, argues that the international community is not abandoning the fight against impunity, highlighting successes in national and international courts including the trial of former Chadian dictator Hissene Habré in Senegal and urges for a long term outlook. Professor Michael Ignatieff from Harvard University makes a rather sobering point that the international community has its own self-interests when pursuing justice and accountability and that politics ultimately trumps international justice. A victim centered view is injected by Betty Murungi, former Vice Chair of the Kenyan Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission, who suggests that victims should be involved in designing transitional justice programs that speak to their specific concerns. The debate captures the nuances and challenges faced in the search for justice and accountability globally and highlights the growing role played by domestic courts and commissions of inquiry, the last point relevant to Sri Lanka when exploring modalities for truth and justice for past violations. President Maithripala Sirisena’s government has in the past few weeks promised a ‘credible domestic process’ to investigate and inquire into the past and prosecute perpetrators. Two months into the new government, there is no clarity what this domestic process is to entail.In Search for a Domestic Truth and Justice Process in Sri Lanka by Thavam Ratna
