Push Back by Judith Large

Author:Judith Large
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781783606573
Publisher: National Book Network International
Published: 2016-11-25T05:00:00+00:00

Challenges and constraints: the Government of Sri Lanka

Extract from the OISL report of 16 September 2015, p. 10

1. The greatest obstacle to OISL work was the absence of cooperation and undermining of the investigation by the former Government. From the outset, it stated its ‘categorical rejection’ of the Human Rights Council-mandated investigation. It continued to reject repeated invitations to cooperate from the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. In July 2014, the Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in Geneva refused to meet with OISL coordinator and later with one of its experts, Dame Silvia Cartwright. The High Commissioner nevertheless met with the Foreign Minister in New York in September 2014. The Government also failed to respond formally to a letter sent by OHCHR on 4 December (appended) requesting detailed information.

2. Instead, the Government at all times sought to undermine the investigation by calling into question its objectivity, professionalism and integrity. Between 4 November and 2 December 2014, the Government issued several press statements, called three meetings with Colombo-based diplomats, and issued two demarches through the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Colombo, accusing OHCHR of a series of ‘grave inconsistencies and contradictions which call into question the honesty, integrity and appalling levels of unprofessionalism of the OHCHR.’ These allegations centred on procedural issues, particularly the deadline OISL had given for submissions.

3. On 7 November 2014, the High Commissioner for Human Rights issued a press statement urging the Government to ‘focus on the substantive issues under investigation instead of obscuring them by the constant questioning of procedures’. The High Commissioner also rejected accusations of having been linked to the alleged fraudulent gathering of statements and payment of money for information. Following a meeting with the High Commissioner, the Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka in Geneva, in a letter dated 15 December 2014, reiterated the Government’s position of non-cooperation.

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