14.06.2015 Views

sri lanka's commissions of inquiry - Law & Society Trust

sri lanka's commissions of inquiry - Law & Society Trust

sri lanka's commissions of inquiry - Law & Society Trust

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

Forensic Skills/<br />

Mass Graves<br />

The Police investigations be done in respect <strong>of</strong> the<br />

recommendations <strong>of</strong> all Presidential Commissions on<br />

Disappearances with regard to perpetrators <strong>of</strong> disappearances<br />

and not be done on a case by case basis 101 . II.5<br />

The investigations be done in such a manner as to give the<br />

victims confidence in the impartiality <strong>of</strong> persons conducting<br />

such investigations 102 . II.6<br />

Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) to be trained to detect sexual<br />

abuse 103 . II.2<br />

It would be undesirable to disinter Mass Graves until requisite<br />

skills exist. VII.1<br />

All Island,<br />

Final (82)<br />

All Island,<br />

Final (82)<br />

Southern, Final<br />

(171)<br />

Southern, Final<br />

(178)<br />

2001<br />

2001<br />

1997<br />

1997<br />

101.<br />

“In response to the recommendations <strong>of</strong> the earlier Commissions that the independence <strong>of</strong> investigations be safeguarded, a Disappearances<br />

Investigation Unit (DIU) has been set up under the Deputy Inspector General <strong>of</strong> Police <strong>of</strong> the Criminal Investigations Department.” All Island<br />

Commission Report, 2001 p. 15.<br />

102.<br />

Amnesty International recommends “ensuring effective investigations, due process and swift prosecution <strong>of</strong> all perpetrators, including those<br />

enjoying political influence and high social status;” Amnesty International, June 2009 at p.13.<br />

103.<br />

The failure by JMO’s to detect and report sexual abuse persists. In Nandini Herath’s case the victim was shown to the Kandy General Hospital<br />

JMO who recorded only two contusions and a fracture, whereas she was a victim <strong>of</strong> sexual assault and forensic medical evidence submitted<br />

seven months after her arrest testified to such assault. It is also documented that forensic medical experts lack the training, equipment and<br />

vehicles necessary. see Kishali Pinto-Jayawardena, “The Rule <strong>of</strong> <strong>Law</strong> in Decline, Study on Prevalence, Determinants and Causes <strong>of</strong> Torture<br />

and other Forms <strong>of</strong> Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment in Sri Lanka,” The Rehabilitation and Research Centre for Torture<br />

Victims (RCT), May 2009, Denmark [hereinafter referred to as RCT Study] at p. 126 (Nandini Herath case) and at p. 174.<br />

86

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!