Lankan Judge in the UN panel resigns

7 June 2013 12:55 pm - 6 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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A member of a UN’s five-man tribunal set up to hear the Philippines’ complaint against China over South China Sea, has resigned saying his wife is a Filipino, the Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Friday.

In a letter addressed to Solicitor General Francis Jardeleza dated May 6, 2013, Judge Chris Pinto of Sri Lanka stepped down as judge of the Arbitral Tribunal, citing his wife is a Filipino national, Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez told a press briefing.

“The resignation of Judge Pinto will not affect the procedure of the arbitral proceedings,” Hernandez said.

He said the Philippines is prepared to present its case once the fifth judge to replace Pinto is appointed by International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea or Itlos President ShunjiYanai and soon as the panel advises Manila to meet on the case.

“The Solicitor General acknowledged the disclosure statement and requested the President thru a letter dated May 27, 2013 to name another judge to ensure the impartiality of the arbitral proceedings,” Hernandez said.

Jardeleza also asked Yanai to “assure that any Award that might be rendered in these proceedings is accorded the full degree of respect to which it is entitled, and is as safe as possible from attack by anyone who might be motivated to undermine it.”

The Itlos President has 30 days to make the appointment of his replacement.

“We expect the replacement judge within June,” Hernandez said.

The Philippines is locked in a long-running dispute with China over the South China Sea or West Philippine Sea, where Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also have overlapping claims over the waters where undersea gas deposist have been discovered in several areas.

Manila took a bold step when it initiated an arbitration process under the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea or UNCLOS on January 21 to try to declare as “illegal” China’s nine-dash claim, which covers nearly the entire resource-rich waters, where some parts are called by the Philippines as West Philippine Sea.

China has resisted the Philippines’ move to let a U.N. body intervene in the disputes, saying the Philippines’ case was legally infirm and carried unacceptable allegations.

UNCLOS is a 1982 accord by 163 countries that aims to govern the use of offshore areas and sets territorial limits of coastal states. The Philippines and China are both signatories to the treaty.

It also allows member-states to seek legal remedy on territorial disputes through mediation.

Manila insisted that arbitration is “a peaceful and durable form of dispute settlement pursuant to international law.”

China, which frowns upon efforts to involve a third party in the disputes, prefers to negotiate one on one with other claimants which would give it advantage because of its sheer size compared to rival claimants which are smaller and have less military force. - VVP, GMA News

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Comments - 6

thusitha Friday, 07 June 2013 12:00 AM

ShiraniB would never do... via DM Android App

IBNUABOO Friday, 07 June 2013 03:14 PM

it is in orderto aoid divorce . clever judge

zh Friday, 07 June 2013 12:00 AM

why don't we initiate a similar exercise against India for its fisherman encroaching onto and poaching in our waters via DM Android App

IBNUABOO Friday, 07 June 2013 03:22 PM

is he srilankan or philiphino

Fair N Square Friday, 07 June 2013 06:23 PM

Duh the heading says.. LANKAN judge ion the UN panel...

Upali Sunday, 09 June 2013 07:34 AM

A great judge. 'Nemo Judex Causa Sua"

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Lankan Judge in the UN panel resigns

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