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The first step should be international investigation

"The video showing summary executions during the final days of Sri Lanka's war in May 2009 provides clear-cut evidence of war crimes.

"Beyond what is evident in the video, Human Rights Watch (HRW) has gathered information on the likely time and place of the executions, the identity of one of the victims, and the specific army unit likely to have been involved.

The need for a criminal investigation is obvious, yet the Sri Lankan government has refused to conduct one, even when confronted by such disturbing footage.

"In fact, the Sri Lankan government has increasingly made it clear that it does not intend to investigate this or any other allegations of wrongdoing by its forces during the decades-long conflict with the Tamil Tigers."

- Meenakshi Ganguly, South Asia Director of Human Rights Watch, on footage included in Channel 4's documentary on Sri Lanka's war crimes. See her full comment here.

See also by HRW:

UNHRC should ensure accountability (June 2011)

Sri Lanka's deliberate targeting of civilians (April 2011)

India should back UN panel on Sri Lanka war crimes (March 2011)

Sri Lanka will not return to a rights-respecting government soon (Jan 2011)

Evidence of war crimes in Sri Lanka (June 2010)
 

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