Press Release: Embassy of the United States of America- Colombo
U.S. Pacific Command Law Exchange Program promotes importance of transparency, accountability and human rights in military justice
Military law professionals from the U.S. Pacific Command, in partnership with the American Embassy in Colombo, hosted a Military Law Exchange Program with the Sri Lankan Ministry of Defense to exchange ideas on ways to improve transparency, accountability and human rights in military justice. A five-member American team met with thirty five Sri Lankan Army, Navy and Air Force personnel last week at the Galadari Hotel to foster the mutual exchange of ideas and discussion of law affecting military commanders.
The three-day program, led by Colonel Anne E. Ehrsam-Holland, Director of the U.S. Defense Institute of International Legal Studies, and Captain Pete A. Pedrozo, Staff Advocate Judge with the U.S. Navy, provided an important opportunity for military lawyers and staff from the United States and Sri Lanka to exchange information on improving military justice systems.
"Defense Secretary Rajapaksa and I agreed that it would be very useful to bring together military justice experts from Sri Lanka and the United States to exchange information, perspectives and best practices," Ambassador Blake said at the program opening on August l 5. "It is valuable to discuss the challenges both our countries face in pursuing effective counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism practices, while ensuring respect for human rights and international law in such operations."
The Military Law Exchange Program was established by the U.S. Pacific Command, a department of the U.S. Navy, in 1995 as a means by which to exchange views on legal issues at the military-to-military level. Since then, the Pacific Command's Judge Advocate Staff has conducted legal exchanges with Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Australia, Nepal, Mongolia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and Russia.
"We are pleased to add Sri Lanka to the distinguished list of partners in the Military Law Exchange Program," Ambassador Blake said in his opening remarks. "In the heat of battle, soldiers will occasionally act outside the law. What is important is that there are laws and institutions set up to investigate and respond appropriately to such transgressions. The successful empowerment of such institutions and the full implementation of such laws are measures of a strong and well-regulated military and a strong and healthy democracy."
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