Swiss authorities criticise lack of due process in case against embassy employee

Wednesday, 18 December 2019 03:25 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Say views made known to President when Swiss Ambassador called on him on Monday
Reveal Switzerland seeking common and constructive way forward to resolve security incident
Criticise 30-hour interrogation employee was subjected to over three days despite poor health
Emphasise Swiss Embassy will continue to support employee

Hours after an employee of the Swiss Embassy was remanded on the grounds that she fabricated the story of her detention, Swiss authorities criticised the lack of due process in the case against her and said these views were made known to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa by Swiss Ambassador Hanspeter Mock when the two met on Monday.

“The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) has reiterated to the Sri Lankan authorities that it is seeking a common and constructive way forward to resolve the security incident.

On 16 December 2019, the Swiss Ambassador in Colombo emphasised this again in a face-to-face meeting with Sri Lanka’s President Gotabaya Rajapaksa,” the Department said in a press release.

The FDFA also called on the Sri Lankan judicial authorities to ensure better protection of its employee’s personal rights in any further proceedings and compliance with national law and international standards.

It added that the FDFA and the Swiss Embassy in Colombo would continue to meet their responsibilities as an employer and do everything in their power to assist the staff member concerned.

The FDFA said that on 25 November 2019, the Swiss Embassy employee reported that she had been abducted in Colombo in an alleged effort to force her to disclose embassy-related information and that both the victim and the Swiss embassy cooperated fully with the Sri Lankan authorities during the proceedings.

“The FDFA has repeatedly called for due process to be followed. In particular, the FDFA has criticised the 30-hour interrogation to which the employee was subjected over three days despite being in poor health and the public statements by senior Sri Lankan officials questioning her account before the investigations had been completed,” it said.

The FDFA said it expected Sri Lankan law enforcement authorities to comply with national law and international judicial standards and to ensure that the employee’s rights were better protected.

“As an employer, the FDFA calls on the Sri Lankan authorities to meet their obligations under applicable law and give due consideration to the employee’s poor state of health. Switzerland wishes to emphasise that in this high-profile case, Sri Lanka’s reputation as a country that upholds the rule of law is at stake.”

The release said that the FDFA and the Swiss Embassy in Colombo would continue to support their employee as far as possible.