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Witness and Victims Protection Bill almost ready
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The Legal Draftsman’s Department has almost finalised the Witness and Victims Protection Bill and would refer it to the Justice Ministry for the next step of enacting it, officials said yesterday.Certain sections of the international community pressured the government to enact this bill as soon as possible because of its importance with regard to investigations into some of the incidents that happened during the war.
It was first presented in Parliament on April 2, 2008 but it was not enacted at that time. After a debate in Parliament, the Government shelved the bill and put off its enactment on a later date with some new amendments. Meanwhile, the Bill lapsed from the Order Paper of the House following the prorogation of Parliament. The Government later decided to introduce fresh legislation in this regard.
The Bill seeks to ensure the safety of witnesses and to establish a national authority under the provisions of the proposed bill to deal with witness protection.
The International Commission of Jurists requested Justice Minister Rauff Hakeem in writing to establish an independent body comprising state officials. The Commission said the Bill required a “threat assessment” to be carried out prior to the provision of protection.
“Furthermore, the involvement of Government officials in the Authority and police officers in the Division, both of whom are responsible for threat assessments, will result in an assessment that lacks independence,” the ICJ said.
When asked about the present status of the Bill, Legal Draftsman G.S. Aruna Shantha de Silva said he had almost completed his work in transforming government policy into a legal format and that he would be in a position to send it to the Justice Ministry for the next step.
The subject ministry has to take the initiative in submitting it to the Cabinet for approval. Once the cabinet endorses the Bill, it will be referred to Parliament for enactment.
Justice Minister Rauff Hakeem when asked said the Bill would be enacted very soon.
“We are waiting for the Legal Draftsman to complete his work. Once it is done, we will take it up in the Cabinet,” he said. (Kelum Bandara)
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