UN Chief encourages Sri Lanka to cooperate with international inquiry

Thursday, 21 August 2014 00:05 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has encouraged Sri Lanka to cooperate with the international inquiry launched by the office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights into human rights violations during Sri Lanka’s war. Spokesperson for the Secretary-General Stéphane Dujarric, when asked about the UN Chief’s response to Sri Lankan President’s statement that Sri Lanka will not allow the UN panel of inquiry into the alleged war crimes, said the Secretary-General fully supports the High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay.

He said Ban commends the leadership she has demonstrated to assist Sri Lanka in advancing accountability and reconciliation. “The Secretary-General encourages Sri Lanka to cooperate with the inquiry led by the office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, that was established by the Human Rights Council,” the Spokesperson said. “He reiterates the importance for the Government and the people of Sri Lanka to constructively engage with the entire UN system as it would help the country make constant progress development, lasting peace and protection of Human Rights,” Dujarric said. The UN has initiated the probe into Sri Lanka’s war with the appointment of the investigative team coordinated by the senior UN human rights official Sandra Beidas. However, the Sri Lankan Government has refused to cooperate with the UN investigation saying that the High Commissioner for Human Rights was biased against the island nation and the probe her office mandated is prejudicial and lacks objectivity.