by Melani Manel Perera

Mgr Rayappu Joseph refuses to testify at an investigation by the Presidential Commission in his district. In a letter explaining his decision, he says, "Sri Lanka's problem is the lack of political will to end impunity".

Mannar (AsiaNews) - For Mgr Rayappu Joseph, bishop of Mannar, the Presidential Commission charged with investigating into civil war abductions is a "whitewash." The prelate made the statement as the Commission concluded its session in Mannar District (8-11 August).

Commission officials had invited the bishop to appear as a witness, an invitation he declined. In motivating his decision, Mgr Joseph wrote to the Presidential Commission.

"I thank you for your kind visit and your personal invitation to testify before the Commission," the prelate said. However, "Over the years, many commissions like yours have been set up, but most - if not all of them - have only come up with a whitewash."

"Even though I was aware of this," the bishop said, "I testified in the past before the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission." Yet, "The government has not acted in a serious way in any of the issues presented by Tamil people, myself included.

"Given this experience, it is impossible for me to ask myself to appear before your Commission. Sri Lanka's problem is the lack of political will to end impunity."

(Dinasena Rathugamage contributed to this article)

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