The Tamil Civil Society Forum (TCSF) has condemned the plans for a domestic accountability mechanism in Sri Lanka, as detailed in a UN memo obtained by Channel 4.
In a statement, the group said they “condemn and reject these moves hatched in secrecy to establish a domestic mechanism solely negotiated between the Government of Sri Lanka and the UN”.
The TCSF further said that the UN “clearly does not see the Tamil people as being partners” in the accountability process on the island, despite human rights chief Zeid Hussain’s repeated call for consultations with victims in establishing a mechanism.
“TCSF has consistently maintained that establishing a credible domestic mechanism in Sri Lanka would be impossible. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, if he is to maintain the dignity of his office, cannot be silent anymore. He must respond immediately,” the statement further said.
The forum, made up of several civil society actors from across the North-East, released a letter earlier this month, signed by 15 organisations, raising concerns about the UN in Sri Lanka's collaboration with the Government of Sri Lanka to set up a domestic mechanism in Sri Lanka.
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