COLOMBO: In what is seen as a significant stance, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Prince Zeid, has recommended that the Sri Lankan Commission to Investigate Cases of Forced Disappearances be disbanded.

The justification given for the recommendation is that the credibility of the Commission has been questioned by the families of the victims and other observers.

In his report to the UNHRC in Geneva on Wednesday, Zeid said that tasks assigned to the missing persons’ commission should be assigned to a “credible and independent institution established in consultation with the families of the disappeared”.

The Commission was assisted by foreign experts, including Sir Desmond de Silva of the UK, appointed by former president Mahinda Rajapaksa. It submitted its final report to President Maithripala Sirisena on Aug 15 this year.

In his report to the UNHRC, Prince Zied reiterated his demand for an “ad hoc hybrid special court” to investigate and try war crimes with the involvement of foreign judges and other foreign legal personnel.

“In a highly polarised environment such a hybrid mechanism is essential to give all Sri Lankans, especially victims, confidence of its independence and impartiality,” he said.

A number of UNHRC members and NGOs made statements on Zeid’s report.

Pakistan said that Lanka should be appreciated for defeating terrorism and reminded the West that it had also committed atrocities. If the UNHRC goes for a country-specific resolution it should be acceptable to that country as in the current case, Pakistan further stated.

Published in Dawn October 1st, 2015

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