Commonwealth gets a warning: Reform or become irrelevant

The idea of having a rights commissioner has run into opposition from India,Sri Lanka and South Africa.

With Commonwealth leaders buying time on its key recommendation of appointing a rights commissioner,the Eminent Persons Group on Saturday warned the 54-nation body that it ran the risk of becoming irrelevant on the world stage if it did not carry out urgent reforms.

In a presentation to Commonwealth heads of government,Abdullah Ahmad Badawi,former prime minister of Malaysia who chairs the EPG,cautioned: If this CHOGM does not deliver reforms… (it) will be remembered not as the triumph it should be,but as a failure.

The EPG,tasked by the Commonwealth to produce a report on reform,made 106 recommendations,including the possibility of a Charter for the Commonwealth and the appointment of a commissioner responsible for democracy,rule of law and human rights.

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Acceptance of its recommendations in principle with an early timetable is imperative, Badawi said.

But the idea of having a rights commissioner has run into opposition from India,Sri Lanka and South Africa. India has said this amounts to duplication since the UN is already doing that job.

Sri Lanka,host for the next CHOGM in 2013,is under international pressure to allow an independent inquiry into allegations of war crimes during its final offensive against the Tamil Tigers.

After the EPG warning,Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard told reporters that the leaders had agreed on a Charter for the Commonwealth.