Sri Lanka failed to keep war probe promises: UN
Sri Lanka has failed to honour promises to investigate serious rights abuses and allegations that thousands of civilians were killed in the final stages of its ethnic war, a UN report says.
The report by human rights experts, which was submitted to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on Monday, found that investigations by local authorities were inconclusive and were not independent or impartial.
“The steps taken to investigate allegations of serious violations of human rights have been inconclusive, and lack the independence and impartiality required to inspire confidence,” according to the report seen by AFP on Wednesday.
The document, compiled by experts who visited Sri Lanka in September, asked the government to establish a “truth seeking mechanism” to address “transitional justice” in a country emerging from nearly four decades of ethnic strife.
It said grave human rights violations, including the killing of 17 aid workers of a French charity in August 2006, had not been probed despite government promises swiftly to bring perpetrators to justice.
There was also no transparency in alleged military investigations into claims of summary executions during the final stages of the war.
UN figures show that up to 100,000 people were killed between 1972 and May 2009, when security forces declared victory over Tamil Tiger separatists who had fought for independence for minority Tamils in the Sinhalese-majority state.
The bloody finale to the ethnic conflict drew international condemnation and sparked allegations that up to 40,000 civilians were killed by security forces in the last months of fighting, a charge Sri Lanka denies.
The UN expert report was commissioned after the United States moved a resolution at the UNHRC asking Sri Lanka to probe war crimes and ensure accountability for civilian loss of life.
The experts said that “continuing reports of extrajudicial killings, abductions and enforced disappearance in the past year highlight the urgency of action to combat impunity”.
The US has already announced that it will move another censure motion against Sri Lanka at the current UNHRC sessions in Geneva to force the government of President Mahinda Rajapakse to deliver on his promises.
The experts said attacks on independent media and rights activists continued in Sri Lanka and there were also allegations of extra-judicial killings of prisoners. (Source: Times of india)
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This is an LTT initiated report which contains a viewpoint consistently paraded by the diaspora.
We have an excellent team in the UN consisting Ravinatha Aryasinghe, Palitha Kohonna and Shavendra Silve who are seasoned campaigners in protecting our just rights.
The war has ended and lifes are being mended and rebuilt; as the President said at Buddha Gaya a couple of days ago, “come and see for yourself” and that invitation includes Madam Pillay.
Too little too late.
….a big avalanche by the name of Human Rights Abuse is coming…
Run SL government…Run…..
Where???? is the question?
Pillay is a tamil tigers B…..;Why she does not go to srilanka and find out,that entire srilankans are very happy and live peacefully,after having finished the bloody Tamil tigers.And she does not has to forget,that srilankan Forces fought against the one of world ruthless terrorists call Tamil Tigers.
The UN is producing many reports at enormous cost; there was Darusman who wrote a report, followed by Petrie. hese reports do not get anywhere. Now OUNHRC has produced another report. Bureaucrats are earning big dollars satisfying the needs of diaspora LTT supporters.
As blogger 1 says we do have an effective team at the UN. Now that Tamara Kunanayagam has been removed from the UN, our defence at the UN sessions will be extremely effective in dealing with attempted interference in internal affairs.
Pillay is thinking LTT is governing North and East Sri Lanka. Mrs Pillay, please realise Sri Lanka is on the path to Wonder of Asia driven by Mahinda Chithana Idiri Dekama. We all know you are friends with Pacha kiya sothy Saravanamuttu who is a traitor earning big US dollars.
Padukka Perera says:
….Wonder of Asia…….
funny most of you think like that, channel a head doctor,PP!