Sri Lankan president criticizes UN war crimes report

[News_Editor]

Sri Lankan president criticizes UN war crimes report

2011-05-02 03:55:12 GMT+7 (ICT)

COLOMBO, SRI LANKA (BNO NEWS) -- Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Sunday claimed that external forces were trying to destabilize the country with allegations of war crimes, the local Daily Mirror reported.

Rajapaksa was indirectly referring to the United Nations report on war crimes that were reportedly committed during the later stages of Sri Lanka's war against Tamil Tiger rebels. He alleged while addressing a massive crowd during a May Day rally that those who wrote reports against Sri Lanka had not paid a single visit to the North.

"They are playing with the lives of the people of this country. If they are successful in their attempt, not only the people in the North but the entire nation and the country would plunge into an abyss of no return," he said, as cited by the Daily Mirror.

"This government is determined to put an end to the blood-letting that was experienced in 1971, 1989-90 and during the 30 year conflict. Therefore, the government would not let any power, any individual, organization or even a country to destabilize Sri Lanka."

The president praised the humanitarian operation carried out by the Sri Lankan government during the last stage of the ethnic conflict, saying it surpassed the expectations of UN agencies like the World Food Programme.

"This is transformation the North–East has gone through after the return of peace and stability any one can witness. These youth have a new life, new expectations and new hopes. They have realized that their future is not darker like the previous generation. But unfortunately for some western powers and organization's this is war crime and violations of human rights," Rajapajsa said.

On Sunday, Sri Lanka's ruling party United People's Freedom Alliance held a massive rally to celebrate May Day and protest against the report by the Panel of Experts appointed by the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Sri Lanka. The Colombo Page reported that participants carried placards protesting against the report and shouted slogans against Ban, his Panel of Experts and the international community.

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, 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.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-05-02

[kropotkin]

Can somebody enlighten me?

Who won THE BLOODSHED ?

The buddhists or the hindus?