UN human rights chief urges war crimes investigations in Sri Lanka

[News_Editor]

UN human rights chief urges war crimes investigations in Sri Lanka

2011-04-27 04:39:28 GMT+7 (ICT)

UNITED NATIONS (BNO NEWS) -- Navi Pillay, the United Nations human rights chief, on Tuesday urged further investigations into the reports of war crimes in the last armed conflict in Sri Lanka.

Navi Pillay, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, added that a UN panel determined that the reports into the conduct of the final stages of the conflict in Sri Lanka were credible.

"I hope that the disturbing new information in the report of the three-member panel will shock the conscience of the international community into finally taking serious action;" said the human rights chief.

The document, which was released on Monday by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, reported violations of international humanitarian or human rights law during the conflict that ended in May 2009 when after the defeat of the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

According to UN data, thousands of people died during the conflict which expanded over three decades. Furthermore, the fighting ended with large numbers of internally displaced persons (IDPs), especially in the country's northern region.

The UN panel found credible allegations of serious war crimes committed by the Sri Lankan government, including killing of civilians through widespread shelling and the denial of humanitarian assistance.

On the other hand, the rebel LTTE are also accused of numerous serious violations, including using civilians as a human buffer and killing civilians attempting to flee LTTE control.

Pillay remarked that the three-member panel determined that the Sri Lankan government should initiate an effective accountability process beginning with genuine investigations to respond the to serious allegations.

"The eyewitness accounts and credible information contained in this report demand a full, impartial, independent and transparent investigation," High Commissioner Pillay said.

However, the Sri Lankan government has not responded to the allegations. Pillay added that the response has been "one of total denial and blanket impunity," and called for considering a full-fledged international inquiry instead.

The panel members, Marzuki Darusman of Indonesia, Yasmin Sooka of South Africa and Steven Ratner of the United States, urged the government to implement a series of measures to satisfy joint commitment of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Secretary-General Ban.

Among the measures suggested by the panel are :repealing the Emergency Regulations and modifying provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism Act; resolving outstanding cases of disappearances; and ensuring due process for the remaining LTTE detainees.

The Sri Lankan government previously convened a Lessons Learned and Reconciliation Commission but the UN panel determined it was deeply flawed. The panel began their work in September 2010.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-04-27

[Steely Dan]

Surely some mistake!

Is this the same Sri Lanka commended by the human rights council for this piece of self-congratulatory back patting.

http://www.news.lk/home/9860-unhrc-adopts-sri-lankas-resolution

The resolution adopted praised the government of Sri Lanka for its commitment to human rights, while condemning the LTTE. The resolution also allows the government to let aid agencies' have access to camps for the internally displaced "as may be appropriate." This is a significant achievement given that the Swiss-led move sought to obtain free and unhindered access of unnamed 'humanitarian agencies'.