Denying allegations that the controversial Geneva Resolution moved in 2015 calls on setting up a hybrid court to address accountability issues in Sri Lanka, the government yesterday said the mechanisms on truth-seeking and accountability issues mandated by the Resolution will be finalised within the next 12 months.
In a brief interview with the Sunday Observer, Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Dr. Harsha de Silva said there was no mention of a hybrid court in Resolution 30/1 passed unanimously at the Council in 2015 as well as the follow up Resolution 34/1 which approved an extension of two years to implement the first resolution in full.
Rejecting the Joint Opposition (JO) allegation that the Government was making blueprints to entertain international judges and prosecutors in the transitional justice mechanism that is to be finalized within the coming 12 months, he said “The international community is not pushing us on that either.” He added that it is only the ‘bankrupt joint opposition’ that is harping on the possibility of a ‘Hybrid Court’.
“At no point have we agreed on a hybrid court, where both Sri Lankan and foreign judges sit in judgment,” he added.
“It contravenes our constitution.” But he did not reject the likelihood of foreign judges taking part in the domestic mechanism in an advisory capacity. The Deputy Minister said many reports have been submitted on Sri Lanka including the High Commissioner for Human Rights, with various recommendations.
But, despite the allegations, he emphasized, that the government has not agreed to implement anything that infringes on the country’s sovereignty.
The Deputy Minister led the delegation to Geneva on March 21 when the consensual resolution was moved at the Council before it was passed without a vote. The Government is expected to draw up the final contours of the truth-seeking mechanism within the next few months and the subject of accountability is to be taken up during the final year.