Dear Friends,
 
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to forward to you the following press release from the International Independent Group of Eminent Persons.

Asian Human Rights Commission
Hong Kong

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FORWARDED PRESS RELEASE
AHRC-FPR-010-2008

A Press Release from the International Independent Group of Eminent Persons forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)

SRI LANKA: The Members of IIGEP Stand by their Concluding Public Statement

IIGEP
International Independent Group of Eminent Persons
FOR RELEASE ON 30 April 2008
Colombo, 30 April 2008
Contact: IIGEP Public Information Office
Colombo Hilton Residence, Suite 705
No. 200, Union Place, Colombo 02, Sri Lanka
Tel: +94 (0)11 230030618/9
Email: iipgep@iigep.org

PRESS RELEASE
The Members of IIGEP Stand by their Concluding Public Statement
The Government of Sri Lanka has proclaimed that Justice PN Bhagwati, Chairman of the IIGEP, has clarified the IIGEP’s assessment that the Government of Sri Lanka lacks the political will to ensure the success of the Commission of Inquiry. The Members of the IIGEP stand by the clear assertions of their Concluding Public Statement, and disassociate themselves from any attempt by the Government of Sri Lanka to reformulate and re-interpret that unanimously agreed text.

In fact, the letter to H.E. the President from Justice PN Bhagwati merely expresses the obvious, namely that the IIGEP cannot know for sure, but fears (‘apprehends’) that the political will is absent. It is lamentable that the Government of Sri Lanka continues to divert attention from the central truth in this matter — that is, the problem of impunity for serious human rights violations and the need for the Commission to get to the bottom of that impunity.

The IIGEP’s positions, including its observations of the work of the Commission, are reflected in the six public statements it has made, which are available at the IIGEP website (www.iigep.org). They contain all the information necessary to refute all the smears and misrepresentations levelled by the Government of Sri Lanka against the IIGEP and its eminently professional Assistants.

END
The IIGEP consists of the following 11 Eminent Persons: Justice P.N. Bhagwati (India) (chairman), Judge Jean-Pierre cot (France), Mr. Marzuki Darusman (Indonesia), Mr. Arthur E. ‘Gene’ Dewey (USA), Prof. Cees Fasseur (Nethelands), Dr. Kamal Hossain (Bangladesh), Prof. Bruce Matthews (canada), Mr. Andreas Mavrornmatis (cyprus), Prof. Sir Nigel Rodley (UK), Prof. Ivan Shearer (Australia) and Prof. Yozo Yokota (Japan).

IIGEP — PRESS RELEASE 30 April 2008 Page 1 of I

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About AHRC: 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.