Selection of expert panel on Sri Lanka underway: Ban

UN chief Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday said that process is underway of finding experts for an advisory panel that will probe allegations of human rights violations in Sri Lanka.

United Nations: UN chief Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday
said that process is underway of finding experts for an
advisory panel that will probe allegations of human rights
violations in Sri Lanka.

Responding to a journalist`s questions on a "delay" in
setting up this panel, Ban said, "I am in the process of
identifying persons who can work in the panel of experts."
"My Chef de Cabinet (Vijay Nambiar) has been meeting with
Sri Lankan ambassador and I`m in the process of making a move
on this."

Colombo had raised objections to the formation of the
advisory panel which would look into the alleged human right
violations by Lankan armed forces.

"The intention of the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to
appoint a panel of experts to advice him on Sri Lanka is
totally uncalled for and unwarranted," Sri Lankan President
Mahinda Rajapaksa said following the UN proposal earlier this
month.

It was followed by a letter of the Non Aligned Movement
(NAM) that characterised setting up a panel amounted to
"selective targeting" and interference in the internal affairs
of a state.
"Neither the Security Council, nor the General Assembly
or its subsidiary, Human Rights Council, has made
pronouncements on alleged human rights violations, nor
mandated any particular course of action," the letter said.

Responding to the letter, about a week ago, Ban said, "I
am convinced that it is well within my power as Secretary
General of the United Nations to ask such a body to furnish me
with their advice of this nature. This does not in any way
infringe on the sovereignty of Sri Lanka."

Ban bases the legitimacy of the panel on a Joint
Statement signed with the Sri Lankan government in May 2009.

The accountability matters concern alleged human rights
abuses committed by the Sri Lankan government and its military
during the final stages of combat operations against the LTTE.

The UN chief also noted that Lynn Pascoe, Under-Secretary
General for Political Affairs, will be visiting Sri Lanka "in
the near future to discuss all the matters."

PTI

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