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Message: <blockquote data-quote="lkdood" data-source="post: 7716866" data-attributes="member: 92282"><img src="http://www.france24.com/en/files/imagecache/aef_ct_wire_image/images/afp/photo_1277225979123-1-0.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" />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."AFPUN 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.      <a href="http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=4627" target="_blank">http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=4627</a></blockquote>

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