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
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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