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Sri Lanka joins India, Russia
in Supporting Mandate, Not Mandate Holder
The Permanent Mission of Sri
Lanka to the United Nations Office at Geneva
05th June 2008
Sri Lanka's statement at the Review,
Rationalization and Improvement (RRI) of the mandate of the Special
Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions
05-06-2008
Sri Lanka joined India, the Russian Federation, Singapore, the Philippines,
Bangladesh and Algeria in the Human Rights Council supporting the extension
of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or
arbitrary executions, while expressing concerns with regard to the execution
of this important mandate by the present mandate holder Prof. Philip
Alston.
The full text of the statement delivered by Mr. Shavindra Fernando,
Deputy Solicitor-General is as follows:
"Mr. President, Sri Lanka has a long-standing record of co-operating
with the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary
or arbitrary executions. The mandate holder has visited Sri Lanka twice
since the establishment of the mandate and a number of recommendations
have been made. The second and the latest visit to Sri Lanka was conducted
by the present mandate holder in 2005.
As we have confirmed in our statement during the interactive dialogue
with the Special Rapporteur yesterday, Sri Lanka is firmly committed
to continue its cooperation with the mandate of the Special Rapporteur
on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and therefore we strongly
support the extension of the mandate, which in our view, is one of the
most important in the international human rights protection system that
we all endeavor to further strengthen.
At the same time Mr. President, my delegation would like to support
several statements made during this debate highlighting the distinction
between the renewal of the mandates and renewal of the mandate holders,
and expressing some concerns with regard to the execution of this important
mandate by the present mandate holder.
Mr. President, while acknowledging the commitment and enthusiasm with
which the present mandate holder set about his task, it is our view
that the present mandate holder has failed to understand the terms of
reference and proper nature of his mandate.
Further, we are of the view that the present mandate holder has failed
to achieve the required standards of mandate holders with regard to
cooperation, transparency and dialogue with all stake holders, in particular
with States. This has resulted in a failure to fully observe the Code
of Conduct, resulting in loss of confidence in his ability to continue
to discharge his mandate in an objective and balanced manner.
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