The HRW South Asia Director, Meenakshi Ganguly, speaking to Journalists for Democracy Sri Lanka (JDS), said,
“This government has repeatedly said that it is committed to justice. For that, there will be need for impartial, international participation. Sri Lanka has unfortunately a history of failed commissions through decades of conflict. Even families of those that disappeared during the days of the JVP violence are yet to know what happened to their loved ones.”
In a statement at the 29th session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) earlier this week, Human Rights Watch, called on Sri Lanka to ensure that there were “genuine consultations with those affected by the violations,” and ensure “a majority of international judges” in any domestic process.
Stressing the need to make any justice process independent through international involvement, the statement called for Sri Lanka to establish,
“Independence of the process through a mechanism with a majority of international judges and prosecutors, take immediate steps towards resolving key outstanding issues, and keep its promise to the UN to fully cooperate with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and allow it full access to any new or additional information it may require.”
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