Parliament blocks UN Special Rapporteur’s meeting with judges
Posted on July 24th, 2019
Courtesy Adaderana
Sri Lanka’s parliament has blocked a visiting United Nations human rights expert from meeting with judges hearing war crimes cases, citing fears of foreign interference in the judicial system.
Clement Voule, United Nations Special Rapporteur on Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association, travelled to the island nation to discuss civil rights protections in Sri Lanka.
But opposition leader Mahinda Rajapakse told parliament on Tuesday (Jul 23) that Voule’s plans to meet with senior judges overseeing cases concerning military excesses during the former strongman’s tenure amounted to foreign interference.
On Wednesday parliament speaker Karu Jayasuriya said he had intervened and stopped the meeting”.
I thank the opposition for bringing this to my notice, I have taken timely action,” Jayasuriya was quoted as saying by AFP.
UN expert Voule has so far met Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya in the presence of foreign ministry officials. He is due to leave Sri Lanka on Friday
July 28th, 2019 at 12:49 pm
We will only get justice for crimes committed in the island in the land of Suddas.Remember the one time rebel leader was given a diplomatic passport. Our high powered criminals walking in and out of court houses with a smile in their faces showing no remorse. I remember when Buddarakita came out of the court house in hand cuffs smiling and the country was shocked because we had part of the bits of the just culture left behind by the colonials.
If they have murdered our top politicians today they will be given a room in a private hospital or sent to Singapore. Our justice system is a joke just like our politicians and officials.