The 50th annual session of the Asian African Legal Consultative Organisation (AALCO) will open here on June 26 against the backdrop of increasing incidents of piracy in the region, and at a time when some nations are pushing for higher cooperation in legal matters.
Eminent jurists, lawmakers from 47 member countries, and the president of the International Court of Justice, Hisashi Owada, will attend the six-day deliberation, which does not list mutual legal assistance in criminal matters as part of the agenda.
“Some member countries have reservations in acceding to the Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters,” said Sri Lankan Minister of Justice Rauff Hakeem, who is chairing the conference, when asked if the issue will be part of the conference, given that incidents of piracy are being reported right at the doorstep of The Maldives of late. “I am willing to include this and other matters if there is consensus among member nations,” he said.
Mr. Hakeem conceded that two of the largest areas of concern for international trade — the region from the Gulf of Aden to the Arabian Sea and the Malacca Straits — were infested with pirates. This called for special tools and close cooperation between member states. “We ourselves [Sri Lankans] have been affected by piracy and there are still hostages held by the pirates,” he said.
According to the International Maritime Bureau’s Kuala Lumpur-based Piracy Reporting Centre, this year (till June 13) there have been 243 incidents of attacks on ships worldwide and 26 incidents of ships being hijacked. Of this, the notorious Somalia-based pirates accounted for 154 incidents of attacks on ships, and 21 hijackings. Total number of hostages taken this year by Somalia-based pirates stands at 362. Seven of the hostages have been killed. In all, Somalis hold 439 hostages and 23 ships.
Rajapaksa to inaugurate session
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa will inaugurate the 50th session. The recommendations of AALCO are taken note of by the U.N. and have often influenced the making of international law. This is the fourth time that Sri Lanka, a founder member, is holding a session.
Over 200 foreign delegates will participate in the golden jubilee session. This also includes about 10 Ministers of Justice from AALCO member states. This landmark Legal Conference is jointly organised by the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of External Affairs and the Attorney-General’s Department.
