7 January 2020 04:07 am Views - 2051
The government has decided to review the Office of Missing Persons (OMP) Act enacted by Parliament during the former regime, an official said.
The Act was brought in as part of the previous government’s commitment to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in terms of resolution 30/1. It provided for the establishment of the Office of Missing Persons as part of that government’s reconciliation process. Resolution 30/1 envisaged the setting up of such a mechanism to trace the fate of persons who went missing, particularly during war time, to maintain a database of them.
The rulers of the incumbent government -- who were in the opposition at that time -- were then opposed to the Act saying it would be a step in the direction of pressing war crime charges against the military.
An official attached to the Justice Ministry said a preliminary discussion was held on the Act and that the government would review it and decide what needed to be done.
“It is too early to say whether it would be repealed or not. We have to review it properly and then decide,” he said. (Kelum Bandara)