The UN says that the panel appointed by the SG to advise him on accountability measures at the last stages of SL’s WAR HAS BEGUN ITS WORK.!!!

UN Sri Lanka panel begins work


The panel had commenced work after meeting the secretary-general
The United Nations says that the panel appointed by the secretary- general to advise him on accountability measures at the last stages of Sri Lanka’s war has begun its work.
Ban Ki-Moon's spokesman, Yves Sorokovy, confirmed to BBC Sinhala service that the panel commenced its work after a meeting with the secretary general.

“They had first meeting yesterday with the secretary-general. The meeting was intended for the secretary-general to advice them on the mandate,” he told BBC Sandeshaya.

“This meeting marks the formal beginning of the four month’s mandate of the panel.”

'Fast unto death'

Ban Ki-moon set up the three-member panel in June to advice on how to deal with alleged perpetrators of human rights violations during the last stages of the war.


'War crimes tribunal'
Well the mandate of the panel is very clear. It does not make any mention of anything beyond what the mandate says. I believe it is premature to draw conclusions on the work on the panel


Yves Sorokovy, UN spokesman

The government denounced the appointment and Foreign Minister GL Peiris said they would not be allowed into Sri Lanka.

There have been suggestions that the setting up of the panel was a precursor to a UN war crimes tribunal in Sri Lanka.

But spokesman Sorokovy says it is ‘inaccurate’ and ‘unfair’ to draw conclusion on the work of the panel.

“Well the mandate of the panel is very clear. It does not make any mention of anything beyond what the mandate says. I believe it is premature to draw conclusion on the work on the panel,” he added.

Housing Minister Wimal Weerawansa staged a “fast unto death” in front of the UN headquarters in Colombo demanding the secretary general to withdraw the panel.


Sri Lanka see the panel as an intervention of internal affairs

He was later persuaded to end his fast by President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

But the UN secretary-general recalled his envoy to Sri Lanka in response to the protest that initially prevented UN staff from entering the compound. Neil Buhne was later reinstated.

The UN says more than 7,000 civilians died in the last five months of the conflict between the Sri Lankan troops and Tamil Tiger rebels.

Rights groups accuse both sides of war crimes - a claim which has been denied.

The rights groups have produced what they say is photographic and video evidence of the army executing Tamil rebels, and testimony of indiscriminate bombing of civilians.

The insurgents are accused of using civilians as human shields and killing those who tried to leave the conflict zone.

The 37-year conflict ended last year with the defeat of the Tamil Tigers. The UN estimates 100,000 people were killed.


Sandeshaya

BBC News