UN sets up Sri Lanka war crimes probe

[lkdood]

UN chief Ban Ki-moon Tuesday set up a panel to investigate allegations of human rights abuses in the final months of the civil war in Sri Lanka, his spokesman said.

Ban launched the investigation "to advise him on the issue of accountability with regards to any alleged violations of international human rights and humanitarian law during the final stages of the conflict in Sri Lanka."

Spokesman Martin Nesirky said in a statement that the three-strong panel would be chaired by Marzuki Darusman from Indonesia, the UN's special envoy for North Korea, and hoped to complete its work in four months.

Sri Lankan authorities have faced numerous allegations of war crimes during a final military offensive against Tamil rebels in the northeastern part of the island last year that ended the 37-year war.

Videos, photographs and satellite images presented by human rights groups as evidence of war crimes have been rejected as forgeries by Colombo.

Last week Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse denied his troops fired at a "single civilian" and dismissed calls for a war crimes probe.

"Our troops carried a gun in one hand and a copy of the human rights' charter in the other," he said at an anniversary victory parade attended by thousands of troops.

"Our guns were not fired at a single civilian," he added.

The government declared military victory over the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LITE) in May 2009, after the group had been fighting for an independent territory since 1972.

According to the United Nations, between 80,000 and 100,000 people were killed during the conflict, and 7,000 Tamil civilians were killed in the last four months of fighting.

The military has also been accused of executing surrendering rebels.

The panel, which will also include Yasmin Sooka from South Africa and Steven Ratner from the United States, "hopes to cooperate with concerned officials in Sri Lanka," the statement added.

"The secretary-general remains convinced that accountability is an essential foundation for durable peace and reconciliation in Sri Lanka."

Ban's decision follows a visit last week to Sri Lanka by the UN under secretary general for political affairs, Lynn Pascoe, to discuss national reconciliation and allegations of human rights violations.

The United States has also been calling for months for an independent investigation into the war crimes allegations.

But a Sri Lanka official said Monday in Colombo that his country was "deeply unhappy" with Ban's decision, announced Thursday by Pascoe, calling it "unwarranted and uncalled for."

AFP


UN statement

[SIZE=+1]22 June 2010 - Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General on Sri Lanka[/SIZE]

The Secretary-General has appointed a Panel of Experts that will advise him on the issue of accountability with regard to any alleged violations of international human rights and humanitarian law during the final stages of the conflict in Sri Lanka. Its members are:

Mr. Marzuki Darusman (Indonesia) - Chair
Ms. Yasmin Sooka (South Africa)
Mr. Steven Ratner (USA)

The Panel will advise the Secretary-General on the implementation of the commitment on human rights accountability made in the Joint Statement issued by President Rajapaksa of Sri Lanka and the Secretary-General during the latter's visit to Sri Lanka in May 2009.

It will look into the modalities, applicable international standards and comparative experience with regard to accountability processes, taking into account the nature and scope of any alleged violations in Sri Lanka. It will be available as a resource to Sri Lankan authorities should they wish to avail themselves of its expertise in implementing the commitment.

In the conduct of its mandate, the Panel hopes to cooperate with concerned officials in Sri Lanka. It is expected to complete its advisory responsibilities within four months of the commencement of its work.

The Secretary-General remains convinced that accountability is an essential foundation for durable peace and reconciliation in Sri Lanka. Through the Panel the Secretary General expects to enable the United Nations to make a constructive contribution in this regard.

http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=4627

 

[lkdood]

Lanka rejects UN panel


The government has strongly opposed the appointment of the UN Expert Panel by the UN Secretary General in New York yesterday and has called the move as unwarranted and unnecessary interference with a sovereign nation.

A statement released by the External Affairs Ministry a short while ago said that this interference, moreover, has potential for exploitation by vested interests hostile to the process of reconciliation taking place in Sri Lanka.

“Sri Lanka is a sovereign state with a robustly independent judiciary and a tried and tested system for the administration of justice. The Government of Sri Lanka has consistently promoted and protected human rights. Indeed, this has been explicitly acknowledged by legitimate organs of the United Nations system. The Human Rights Council of the United Nations has formally adopted, after the cessation of the conflict situation, a resolution commending, inter alia, the commitment of Sri Lanka to the promotion and protection of human rights," the statement said.

The statement further said that Sri Lanka was ravaged by the scourge of terrorism for over 30 years and the people of Sri Lanka have, during this period, suffered violence and terror of unimaginable proportions, unleashed on them by the LTTE.

It added that after a long and difficult struggle the Government of Sri Lanka has successfully rid the country of terror, and is in the process of rebuilding the lives of her people.

“As an important part of this process the President of Sri Lanka has appointed a Commission on “Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation” under the Commissions of Inquiry Act, a statutory regime available under Sri Lankan law. The Government is confident that the Commission would make a most significant contribution to the further strengthening of national amity, through a process of restorative justice,” the statement said.

The Government of Sri Lanka notes that the joint statement of the President of Sri Lanka and the Secretary – General issued at the conclusion of the Secretary – General’s visit to the country on 23rd May 2009 makes no reference to “allegations of violations of international humanitarian law committed during military operations between the Government of Sri Lanka and LTTE, the statement said.

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