The Jathika Nidahas Peramuna led by Minister Wimal Weerawansa has raised objection over the appointments of international experts as consultants to the Sri Lankan Commission inquiring into the cases of missing persons. Writing a letter to the President today, Minister Wimal Weerawansa has said international experts are “puppets” who are serving the international judicial system that is only serving the interests of western imperialists.
In his letter, the Minister has also stated that the appointments of international experts have also paved the way for an international inquiry into the alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka during the final phase of war. “Therefore”, Weerawansa says, “the government should take immediate action to amend the gazette notification in this regard.”
“Those who have advised the government to appoint international experts have jeopardized the government, the security forces and the head of state. This also gives an opportunity to international elements with vested interests to intervene in internal affairs of the country. With this move, the government indirectly endorsed the so called international inquiry panel appointed by the UN Human Rights Commissioner.”
The President appointed three international experts to serve on an Advisory Council to the Commission of Inquiry. Sir Desmond de Silva, a prominent British lawyer, and former United Nations Chief War Crimes Prosecutor in Sierra Leone has been appointed as the chairman of the Advisory Council.
Sir Geoffrey Nice, a British barrister and a law professor, who was a member of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia and Prof. David Crane, a law professor at Syracuse University in the U.S. are the other members of the panel.