Saturday, 27 July 2013 00:00
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PRESIDENT Mahinda Rajapaksa’s stunning decision to appoint a commission to investigate thousands of abductions and disappearances during the war has given a much-needed boost to Sri Lanka’s international reputation.
Many will argue that the move was pressured by the impending visit by United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay’, which is tabled to happen next month and also, brush up the Government’s track record ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in November. But whatever the reasons, hope will spring to the hearts of thousands of family members that have been begging for investigations from the authorities.
Showing that in today’s globalised world no country can court absolute isolation, the President has finally acknowledged what the international community and human rights organisations have been trying to drive home for years. The Government, which withstood the tears and lamentations of families of the abducted since it came into power and even stopped their marches to Colombo during the time when the second resolution on Sri Lanka was before the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in March have changed their somewhat.
Given that even international censure did not provoke a commission earlier this year it is clear that the Rajapaksa-regime is willing to pull out a few stops on the road to pleasing its Commonwealth brethren. It also has the welcome side effect of boosting positive spin for the President as the Government news portal www.news.lk has already attempted by terming the commission as “a clear indication of his (the President’s) unwavering commitment to ensure that Human Rights are well protected in the country. The President is keen to appoint the new commission as he identifies with the plight of the kith and kin of the disappeared.”
The fact that the disappeared were citizens of this country who have the right to be protected and given justice by the Government was blithely ignored in the web post that rather sought to paint the commission as a sign of Rajapaksa “magnanimity.” Many will likely miss the subtlety of this posture and for the bereaved families it does not matter.
However, the full measure of the Presidential decree can only be evaluated once the commission is appointed and the full extent of their powers announced. One must also keep in mind that Presidential Commissions are often lacking in transparency with reports being handed over without being released for public scrutiny. Moreover the time frame for the investigations, how charges are framed and whether cases will be filed and fast tracked through Sri Lanka’s mired legal system is yet to be seen.
Many of the families also allege involvement of the armed forces, which was undoubtedly a key reason for the Government dragging its feet on a commission in the first place. How this thorny issue will be dealt with is anyone’s guess at this point for without involving them in the investigation the commission will lack credibility.
Therefore the Government will be hoping that the President has not opened Pandora ’s Box. As readers will remember the legend says hope, that essential of human emotions, was also released when the lid sprung and that will be what the nation is clinging to.
