Mothers of the disappeared explain their OMP boycott

by Sivakami
Jul 16, 2018

In a letter to the Office on Missing Persons, mothers of the disappeared who have been holding demonstrations against the OMP process, outlined their reasons for losing faith in the process. 

The letter, which lists 8 points, comes after two days of protests outside the OMP hearings in Jaffna and Kilinochchi. 

Read full statement here. 

Extract published below: 

"There is no transparency adopted in the selection of the Commissioners for the OMP. Selections were made by the Constitutional Council in which Sinhala Politicians are also members, who repeatedly said that they will not allow any members of the Security force to face justice. Can OMP guarantee that alleged perpetrators will be brought to justice? 

Out of the seven Commissioners is a former senior Security force officer. How can we go and seek justice from him? Can OMP take steps to remove him as its Commissioner? 

Repeated requests to have some OMP Commissioners from the UN and other international experts were rejected. How do you expect us to have confidence in OMP, given the long and failed history of Sri Lankan Government appointed Commissions to deal with abuses against Tamils? Can OMP include UN and other International experts as Commissioners?" 
 

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