The Green Party’s human rights spokesperson and Member of Parliament Jan Logie has called on the New Zealand government to support an international inquiry into war crimes in Sri Lanka, as the lack of accountability "puts the lives of people today at risk, as well as future peace in the region.”

Speaking on the resolution on Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council, Logie said,

“The Human Rights Council session presents an opportunity for New Zealand to push for accountability and protection of human rights action in regard to the worrying situation in Sri Lanka… Our representatives at the United Nations should be doing all they can to support an independent investigation into alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka.”

Calling for an international inquiry, Logie, who was detained by Sri Lankan authorities last year after speaking out against sexual abuse and land confiscation, also said,

“Five years after the bloody civil war ended in Sri Lanka there has been no accountability for thousands of civilian deaths and this puts the lives of people today at risk, as well as future peace in the region.”

“The Sri Lankan Government has set up a number of internal processes that have been discredited… Given this was the regime in power during the final months of the civil war this seems hardly surprising."

“Countries such as New Zealand need to support the long overdue international investigation into the allegations of war crimes and abuse.”

Slamming New Zealand’s “inaction” during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting last year, Logie went on to add,

“New Zealand cannot continue to bury its head over human rights issues.”

“It is vital that we speak out on behalf of those who have died in the Sri Lankan conflict and those that continue to suffer persecution."

“New Zealand is still accepting Tamil refugees under the UN quota system and they deserve to know that we are advocating on their behalf internationally."