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‘Only individuals can be indicted, not a Govt.,

22 Sep 2022

  • Wijeyadasa responds to People’s Tribunal indicting GoSL over Lasantha’s murder
BY Mirudhula Thambiah   Countering the indictment issued against the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) in the murder of editor and Attorney-at-Law Lasantha Wickrematunge by the People’s Tribunal on the Murder of Journalists in The Hague, the Netherlands, Minister of Justice Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe PC stressed yesterday (21) that it is impossible to issue an indictment against a government, and that indictments can only be issued against individuals who are responsible.  Speaking to The Morning, Dr. Rajapakshe PC noted: “They cannot issue an indictment against the Government. They can issue such actions against those who are responsible.” When queried about the Government’s view regarding the indictment, he further noted: “This is an individual matter regarding which I have no knowledge; it is up to the investigators. So far, I really do not officially know what they are going to do.” He noted that if the indictment is issued against a particular individual, they will have to take responsibility and face it.  “If that is so, those persons will have to face it. If there is a charge, that is up to them,” he added. The said People’s Tribunal on Monday (19) issued the indictment against the GoSL over the murder of Wickrematunge. Judge Eduardo Bertoni, who is part of the panel of judges of the said tribunal, noted that the indictment was filed on the basis that the tribunal’s prosecutor holds the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka responsible for the grave violation of the international human rights of the slain journalist.  


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