The Tamil Civil Society Forum (TCSF) spokesperson, whilst speaking on the findings of Sri Lanka’s Presidential Commission of Inquiry into Complaints of Abductions and Disappearances, called on Sri Lanka’s government to take the reconciliation process forward by telling the truth about the United Nations Human Rights Council resolution on accountability in Sri Lanka.

Noting that the government was downplaying the international component of the criminal investigation that it signed up to at the UNHRC, Guruparan Kumaravadivel said,

“The new government cosponsored the UN resolution on accountability in Sri Lanka which called for foreign judges and prosecutor participation but they have been playing down the foreign involvement part of the resolution and suggesting merely involvement of experts.…They are not speaking truth about the resolution let alone being prepared to speak about what really happened in Sri Lanka, not just in the last phases of the war but over the last 30 years. And this is where the problem is. If even this government is not willing to talk to the Sinhalese on the need for an honest recounting of what happened. They should start by honestly telling the Sinhalese the honest purpose of the resolution.”

Responding to a question on whether a truth commission would satisfy the victims needs, he added,

“Not just Tamil population, but OHCHR says there needs to be criminal prosecutions. To tackle impunity truth telling is not enough. Prosecutions as guarantees of non-recurrence for Tamils to start in process of reconciliation in Sri Lanka. Tamils and victims have been very vocal for an international inquiry. Willing to consider hybrid mechanisms with a very strong international component. Majority of in judges a prosecution team led by international prosecutors and more importantly where investigation is internationally managed in the way evidence is gathered and victims and witnesses are brought into process.”

Noting that Sri Lanka’s new government was downplaying the international nature outlined in the accountability process that Sri Lanka signed up to, the BBC South Asia Editor Charles Haviland, said,

“Any government in Sri Lanka, including the newish government of Sirisena ha to respond to the Sinhalese electorate first of all, And we have seen recent events at the UN being spun down by the Sri Lankan government to play down the international element.”