Domestic process taking shape

To include Commissions for Trust, Missing Persons and Reparations:

Ranil to outline modalities to Parliament next week:

by our Political Correspondent

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe will outline to Parliament the process of setting up the proposed domestic mechanism to investigate rights abuses during the period specified in the OHCHR report, upon his return from the official visit to Japan next week.

The proposed domestic mechanism, the Sunday Observer learns, will be an entirely Sri Lankan one. Sources said any tribunal that may be set up is likely to include only Sri Lankan nationals, and added that the mechanism would keep a window open for “sound foreign expertise.”

As part of the Government’s commitment, there will be a Commission for Truth, Justice, Reconciliation, and Non Recurrence, in addition to an Office of Missing Persons, and an Office for Reparations.

Authoritative sources said the actual work on the consultation process covering all stakeholders, including the victims and religious leaders, to decide on the modalities of the process will begin by mid October.

“We will decide as to what foreign expertise we want to call for during these consultative sessions.”

He said a special committee comprising members representing various ministries including the Foreign, Justice, Defence and Public Security will be appointed to oversee the consultative process.

The mandate of the US backed Resolution, which was adopted without a vote at the 30th Session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on October 01, called for reforms to the domestic law as well as effective security and judicial sector reforms among others.

The source said the Government has the freedom to obtain assistance, financial, material and technical from international partners including the OHCHR, according to the domestic will.

Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera earlier in Colombo said the domestic mechanism was not proposed to please the international community, “We believe this is the only way out for Sri Lanka.”

The Government plans to conclude the consultation process and the work on the domestic mechanism, the modalities and the terms of reference, within a period of 18 months.The Office of the Human Rights High Commissioner is required to report Sri Lanka’s progress on its domestic probe in an oral statement within six months and a comprehensive report in one year.