An Australian man who says he saw hospitals deliberately attacked by Sri Lankan forces has filed war crimes charges against Sri Lanka's president in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court.
The federal Attorney-General Robert McClelland will need to give final approval for the Australian indictments to proceed.
Lawyers in the case have asked the federal Attorney-General to become involved, but a spokesman for Mr McClelland says the Attorney-General has not been informed of any criminal matter or charges relating to Mr Rajapaksa.
"We've written to the commissioner of the AFP and we've written to the Commonwealth Attorney saying here's your opportunity, Mr Rajapaksa will be in Australia, it's appropriate to conduct those investigations," said Mr Waran's lawyer, Rob Stary.
Last Thursday, Victoria's chief magistrate authorised the charges brought by Mr Waran to proceed, noting that they satisfied Victoria's Criminal Procedure Act.
"These are not frivolous or vexatious complaints; they are bona fide credible complaints," Mr Stary said.
The Sri Lankan government declined Lateline's offer of an on-camera interview and issued a statement, which said in part:
"The issue of the proceedings which are apparently to be the subject of your story are plainly a violation of Australia's obligations under public international law. Furthermore, the purported proceedings are incompetent under Australian law."
ABC Australia
The federal Attorney-General Robert McClelland will need to give final approval for the Australian indictments to proceed.
Lawyers in the case have asked the federal Attorney-General to become involved, but a spokesman for Mr McClelland says the Attorney-General has not been informed of any criminal matter or charges relating to Mr Rajapaksa.
"We've written to the commissioner of the AFP and we've written to the Commonwealth Attorney saying here's your opportunity, Mr Rajapaksa will be in Australia, it's appropriate to conduct those investigations," said Mr Waran's lawyer, Rob Stary.
Last Thursday, Victoria's chief magistrate authorised the charges brought by Mr Waran to proceed, noting that they satisfied Victoria's Criminal Procedure Act.
"These are not frivolous or vexatious complaints; they are bona fide credible complaints," Mr Stary said.
The Sri Lankan government declined Lateline's offer of an on-camera interview and issued a statement, which said in part:
"The issue of the proceedings which are apparently to be the subject of your story are plainly a violation of Australia's obligations under public international law. Furthermore, the purported proceedings are incompetent under Australian law."
ABC Australia
