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Human rights violation probes: Nawaz J’s panel’s term extended
View(s):President Ranil Wickremesinghe has granted a further extension to the Justice A.H.M.D. Nawaz Commission, set up by his predecessor Gotabaya Rajapaksa, to find out whether earlier Commissions of Inquiry and Committees that looked into human rights violations have revealed any such misdeeds, serious violations of international humanitarian laws and other serious such offences.
Last month, Foreign Minister Ali Sabry told the UN Human Rights Council that the recommendations of this Commission had, among other things, “resulted in the establishment of an Advisory Board under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), progressive amendments to the PTA and the release of detainees”. He said further recommendations are awaited.
The term of the three-member commission–the others are retired Inspector-General of Police Chandra Fernando and retired District Secretary Nimal Abeysiri—has now been extended till December 31, 2022. The extension was granted last month.
The Commission was first appointed in January 2021 and given six months to produce its final report but the deadline was renewed several times.
In February this year, the group — titled the Presidential Commission of Inquiry for Appraisal of the Findings of Previous Commissions and Committees and the Way Forward — handed over its second interim report to President Rajapaksa. The first interim report was submitted in July last year.
The Commission has already made several recommendations based on the testimonies of 75 war-affected residents of the Jaffna and Kilinochchi Districts. It also proposed that the findings of the 2015 Paranagama Commission that inquired into complaints of abductions and disappearances be looked into, court cases filed and compensation duly provided.
Among the terms of reference of the Commission is to study how the recommendations of earlier Commissions and Committees have been implemented in terms of existing law and further steps needed to be taken in line with the prevailing Government policy.
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