The United States yesterday reiterated that it looks forward to a ‘speedy and transparent judicial process’ regarding ex LTTE combatants and all other detainees held in various prisons. The US Embassy in Colombo made this remark in the wake of a campaign by some political activists to secure the release of LTTE suspects
and the government planning to set up three separate courts in Anuradhapura, Vavuniya and Mannar to try them.
Speculation is also rife in political circles that the government, in its action plan, handed over to the US State Department, has agreed to accelerate cases against LTTE combatants. When asked about the matter, a spokesman for the US Embassy said that the US was only interested in the upholding of the rule of law and quick judicial process with regard to LTTE suspects, as recommended by the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC).
Already, the Justice Ministry, in collaboration with the Judicial Services Commission, is working out modalities for the establishment of three courts. Minister Rauff Hakeem said the Ministry would give priority to this task.
The government has indicted 359 excombatants and are carrying out investigations regarding 309 others. Also, some other suspects arrested under the provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism Act have been referred to various rehabilitation centres.
Commenting on the matter, JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva yesterday said his party would exert pressure on the government to publicize the action plan agreed upon with the US authorities this month in Washington.
“The country should know what the government did. As far as we know, the government has agreed to do certain things. The public has a right to know it,” he said.
BY KELUM BANDARA
Source: Daily Mirror – Sri Lanka