Rights Group faults AG for Chemmani prosecution delays

[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 January 2006, 12:10 GMT]
Noting that "six years after the exhumation of the graves however, the police were only able to tell the court that as there have been no instructions forthcoming from the attorney general’s department, they have been unable to proceed with the case," the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC), in a press release issued Thursday, accused the Attorney General's Department of "failing in its duties promptly and effectively prosecute perpetrators of serious crimes," and urged the AG's Department to "immediately initiate effective legal proceedings on the basis of the Chemmani exhumation."

"The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) understands that after the exhumation, the forensic experts submitted their reports to the attorney general’s department and steps were also taken for DNA identification of some of the uncovered remains. As a result, two of the bodies were positively identified.

"Under any other justice system, the next step would be the filing of indictments at a high court. Six years after the exhumation, the Sri Lankan justice system has kept the case pending in a magistrate’s court with no indictments being filed. Furthermore, the office of the attorney general, the agency responsible for such matters, has given no reason for the long delay in the proceedings. This situation raises radical concerns regarding its accountability and responsibility," the press release said.

Noting other serious failures of effectively prosecuting perpertrators of serious crimes in cases including Bindunuwewa massacre and Embilipitia disappearance of 48 school children, the AHRC said, "Yet another failing of the attorney general's department is the prolonged delays in justice found throughout the country, an issue the AHRC has raised previously. These delays in court trials as well as due process amount to a clear betrayal of justice. Being primarily responsible for criminal prosecutions, the attorney general’s department cannot escape its duties by blaming other agencies for the delays. In the case of Chemmani in particular, the responsibility for the lack of progress in the last six years lies solely with the attorney general."

AHRC called for the "establishment of a commission of inquiry, headed by senior members of the judicial and legal professions, as well as other imminent persons, to review the work of the attorney general’s department."

The Asian Human Rights Commission is a regional non-governmental organisation monitoring and lobbying human rights issues in Asia. The Hong Kong-based group was founded in 1984, the Organizations website said.


Related Articles:
25.10.05   ACHR exposes Bindunuweva massacre report


External Links:
AHRC: Six years after Chemmani exhumation

 

Latest 15 Reports
24.04.22 05:44  
தீவின் நெருக்கடிச் சூழலில் ஈழத்தமிழர் தேசம் கடைப்பிடிக்கவேண்டிய நிலைப்பாடுகள்
09.04.22 14:44   Photo
குறிதவறும் ஈழத்தமிழர் தலைமைகளுக்கு வரலாறு தருகின்ற எச்சரிக்கை
21.01.22 07:24   Photo
ஈழத்தமிழர் தேசத்தின் தலைமைத்துவம் தேர்தல் அரசியற் கட்சிகளுக்கு அப்பாலானது
02.11.21 15:32   Photo
13 ஆம் சட்டத்திருத்தத்தால் கட்டமைக்கப்பட்ட இன அழிப்பை எதிர்கொள்ள முடியுமா?
15.09.21 08:19  
English version not available
17.05.21 19:23   Photo
Ananthi blames war criminal Silva for blocking collective memorial at Mu'l'livaaykkaal
09.04.21 14:46  
English version not available
23.03.21 12:41   Photo
No focus on Tamil genocide, geopolitics gets played out in Geneva in favour of QUAD formation
21.03.21 13:34   Photo
Navi Pillay explains ‘human rights’ limitations in Geneva on Tamil genocide
15.03.21 20:36   Photo
Deceived Tamil activists in UK falsely claimed ‘substantial changes’ to Zero draft
09.03.21 21:34   Photo
UK repeatedly wronged Tamils says hunger-striker, demands genocide justice
26.02.21 11:53   Photo
Tamils witness false dilemma in Geneva as geopolitical formations pit against each other
19.02.21 14:02   Photo
UK not prepared to push for ICC option in new UNHRC Resolution
07.02.21 23:16   Photo
Unprecedented P2P uprising paves the way for rights-oriented politics of Tamils and Muslims
22.01.21 08:01   Photo
Gotabaya sets up deceptive COI citing ‘sovereignty’ and ‘non-aligned’ foreign policy
 
Find this article at:
http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=16759