(AFP) – 30 June 2011
GENEVA — The UN’s human rights chief welcomed Thursday Bahrain’s move to launch an independent probe of recent unrest and said she was confident it would meet international standards.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay also revealed she had held back an assessment mission to the country at the King of Bahrain’s request, “because I always encourage credible national investigations.”
(AFP) – 30 June 2011
GENEVA — The UN’s human rights chief welcomed Thursday Bahrain’s move to launch an independent probe of recent unrest and said she was confident it would meet international standards.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay also revealed she had held back an assessment mission to the country at the King of Bahrain’s request, “because I always encourage credible national investigations.”
Bahrain on Thursday appointed a five-man panel to investigate the bloody unrest that erupted during anti-regime protests in February and March.
Pillay noted that two members of the panel — Mahmud Sharif Bassiouni and Philip Kirsch — were also part of the inquiry commission ordered by the Human Rights Council on violations in Libya.
“I would trust those individuals, their knowledge of justice and international law to carry out an investigation, in terms of acceptable international standards,” she said.
“They are highly respected individuals and I would prefer then to see the outcomes of the investigations” before sending in her own assessment team, she added.
Kirsch is a Canadian lawyer and former president of the International Criminal Court.
Bassiouni, who is leading the Bahrain probe, chaired the UN Security Council’s commission to investigate war crimes in the former Yugoslavia in 1992 to 1994.
Despite an apparent calm in Bahrain, tensions are high in the kingdom where the Shiite majority has been hardest hit by a wave of layoffs and law suits that has been denounced by human rights organisations.
Twenty-four people died in the repression of popular protests between mid-February and mid-March, according to official figures from Manama. Four protesters have since died in custody.
UN welcomes Bahrain probe of unrest
(AFP) – 30 June 2011
UNITED NATIONS — UN chief Ban Ki-moon welcomed a move by Bahrain to launch a probe to investigate the violent repression of pro-democracy protests, but stressed its independence was key.
The secretary-general “welcomes this development and underscores that the commission should be granted full access to all individuals, organizations and information relevant to the investigation,” his spokesperson said.
Ban insisted the five-man panel appointed to investigate the bloody unrest that erupted during anti-regime protests in February and March must “be able to work with full independence in accordance with international norms and standards.”
The commission, which must submit its findings by October 30, will have “free access to any person it deems useful,” including “the alleged victims and witnesses of alleged violations of human rights,” according to a royal decree.
“The government should not interfere in any way in the work of the commission,” which may recommend “to try any person, including officers or employees” in order to “prevent a repeat of events” in the tiny Gulf kingdom.
Ordered by King Hamad on Wednesday, the five-man panel will be chaired by Mahmud Sharif Bassiouni, an international expert in criminal law.
It will also include Philippe Kirsch, a Canadian lawyer and former president of the International Criminal Court, and Sir Nigel Rodley Simon, member of the UN Commission for Human Rights.
The king decreed that cases not yet heard by military courts will be referred to civil courts, and that verdicts issued by the former may be appealed.
Despite an apparent calm in Bahrain, tensions are high in the kingdom where the Shiite majority has been hardest hit by a wave of layoffs and lawsuits that has been denounced by human rights organizations.
Twenty-four people died in the repression of popular protests between mid-February and mid-March, according to official figures from Manama. Four protesters have since died in custody.