by Melani Manel Perera

Announced by the recently established government Commission for Human Rights. Local and Commonwealth experts will participate in the investigation. For the British Prime Minister it is "insufficient" and urges Colombo to accept a completely independent commission of inquiry.

Colombo ( AsiaNews) - For the first time , the government of Sri Lanka has agreed to conduct a national survey on human rights violations between 2009 to present, with the technical assistance of the Commonwealth Secretariat . This was announced today by the, Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka ( Hrcsl).  The move responds to pressure from the international community after the recent meeting of the leaders of Commonwealth ( Chogm ) . However, the UK has already expressed its disappointment at the decision, stating that they want to see an independent inquiry into alleged violence that occurred during the civil war . The victims of the conflict said they "do not trust" this survey .

According to the agreements reached, a delegation from the Commonwealth - which includes representatives of the Division for Human Rights - will arrive in Colombo on December 2 . The investigation will last for 18 months. According Prathibha Mahanamahewa , director of Hrcsl , this review will be completely independent thanks to the presence of local and foreign experts .

However, the British Prime Minister David Cameron said that an inquiry carried out by the Sri Lankan government can never be "completely independent" because military directly involved in the alleged violations will also take part.

Too many victims of the civil war they do not believe in the efficacy of the measure: "We have no confidence in this national survey because too many similar measures, initiated by the government on several issues, have not led to any results ."

 

• SRI
• LANKA
• GOVERNMENT
• INQUIRY
• HUMAN
• RIGHTS
• WAR
• CRIMES
• COMMONWEALTH